- Ryan Alexander-Tanner
Those seeking to participate in Oregon’s recreational (AKA adult-use) cannabis industry are feverishly preparing license applications for January 4, 2016. Meanwhile, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) on October 22 released rules for those who wish to grow, process, and sell adult-use cannabis in 2016: 78 pages of government-crafted regulations, covering a wide range of details, and—surprise—very few people are happy. (Note: Barring a late start by Phish, I’ve never seen so many weed smokers so grumpy. Can’t any of the world-class growers in this state create an “OLCC Kush” to deal with the effects of working with this agency?)
Some are unhappy with the “delivery service” rule, which will limit the amount a home-delivery service can provide to $100’s worth of flower. And that doesn’t just mean they can’t sell more than $100 at a time to any buyer—it means they can’t have more than $100 of cannabis on them at any time. It puts us on a collision course with our CO2 reduction goals if drivers have to keep zipping back and forth to re-up.
Others aren’t wild about the fees imposed (up to $5,750 for growers), or the myriad other rules that are going to make entering this new industry cost prohibitive for many—not to mention a paperwork nightmare. These complaints have merit, and I too would be upset and stressed if I were about to wade into these waters. (If you have insomnia, treat it by reading all the rules on oregon.gov/olcc/marijuana.)
That said, it’s not that bad, at least when you compare it to how other states are proposing adult-use programs. I don’t mean Colorado and Washington, although they have issues. No, I’m speaking of the Seth Rogen-like “round at both ends and high in the middle” Ohio.
