Oregon Lawmakers Might Consolidate the State’s Marijuana Agencies

In Oregon, the recreational and medical marijuana programs are operated by two separate regulatory systems. Lawmakers are considering consolidating the two to follow the same regulations. Several bills have been filed to put the control of the medical marijuana program in the hands of the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC).

An additional proposal is expected to regulate the marijuana industry, according to Wallowa County Chieftain.  The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has overseen the medical marijuana program since its inception in 1998. Tom Burns, marijuana policy consultant, thinks that the OHA has been slow to rollout rules and dedicated resources for the medical marijuana program.

Burns believes that lawmakers have found that two separate systems didn’t make much sense. He believes that OHA is disinterested in regulating the state’s medical marijuana program.

He said, “The medical suppliers, growers and patients said let us get it out of OHA to somebody who does want it and will work with us to make a program that works for us.”

Some are worried that the fees charged by the OLCC will be too much for medical marijuana dispensaries. OHA charges lower fees which helps keep the cost of medical marijuana products lower for patients.

Representative Carl Wilson said, “A lot of people have griped about OMMP (the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program) and OHA over time, but as they look at OLCC, they are starting to fall in love with OHA and OMMP again.”

Wilson supports consolidation only if lower fees are charged to those growing, processing and selling medical marijuana. He’d also be on-board if medical marijuana growers were permitted to make sales to recreational markets.

Manager of OHA’s medical marijuana program Andre Ourso said, “It’s definitely taken its share of criticism, and in some cases, rightfully so. But overall I think we’ve done a very good job in handling the duties that have been handed down to us.”

Ourso also said, regarding consolidation, that, “We can see that for bureaucratic efficiency’s sake, there really shouldn’t be two parallel regulatory systems, but there is still going to be a necessity for patients to have a program to be in.”

Medical marijuana patients don’t pay tax on purchases. The products available to medical marijuana patients are also stronger and are permitted to possess more than recreational users.

Ourso closed his comments with, “I do think there is a place for the registry program within the state of Oregon. It’s up …. This Legislature to determine exactly how that would be shaped.”