• Home
  • MJBA.net
  • MJNews | PRNewswire
  • MJChannelOne
  • MJHeadlineNews
  • Advertise on MJNews
    • 2023 Rate Card
  • MJBA PR
  • Subscribe

MJNews Network

"The Voice of Legal Cannabis Since 2013"

  • MJNewsNetwork.com
  • MJNews | PRNewswire
  • MJ Business
  • MJ Legal
  • MJ Events
  • BlPOC in Cannabis
  • Subscribe
You are here: Home / Archives for cannabis industry news

The “Father of Cannabis Research,” Hebrew University of Jerusalem Prof. Raphael Mechoulam, Dies at 92

March 10, 2023 by MJ News Network Leave a Comment

American Friends of the Hebrew University Mourns His Passing and Recognizes His Contributions to Science

NEW YORK: American Friends of the Hebrew University has announced the passing of the world pioneer in cannabis research, Prof. Raphael Mechoulam. Known as the “Father of Cannabis Research,” Mechoulam died in Israel at age 92.

A professor in the Hebrew University School of Pharmacy, Mechoulam began his cannabinoid experiments in the 1960s in Israel. His research team was the first to isolate delta9-THC (THC), the psychoactive component of cannabis, which affects the brain, consciousness, and creativity as well as Cannabidiol (CBD), the most important substance in the plant with medical benefits. Among Mechoulam’s many other achievements are the design and synthesis of numerous important novel cannabinoids that have important therapeutic potential as pharmaceutical drugs.

Mechoulam also helped form The Hebrew University Multidisciplinary Center for Cannabinoid Research (MCCR) in 2017 based on his significant discoveries in this field over the past 55 years.

Hebrew University President Asher Cohen says, “Most of the human and scientific knowledge about cannabis was accumulated thanks to Prof. Mechoulam. He paved the way for groundbreaking studies and initiated scientific cooperation between researchers around the world. Mechoulam was a sharp-minded and charismatic pioneer. This is a sad day for the academic community and for the university. I send my sincere condolences to his family.”

“The world has lost a giant in the scientific research community and a pioneer in the medical cannabis field,” says Joshua Rednik, American Friends of the Hebrew University CEO. “We send our condolences to Prof. Mechoulam’s family. The Hebrew University has become a global leader in cannabis research thanks to his efforts; his significant contributions will live on in future research and exciting new discoveries in Israel and beyond.”

Since the inception of his research in the 1960s, Professor Mechoulam has been nominated for over 25 academic awards, including the Heinrich Wieland Prize (2004), an honorary doctorate from Complutense University in Madrid (2006), the Israel Prize in Exact Sciences – Chemistry (2000), the Israel Chemical Society Prize for excellence in research (2009) and EMET Prize in Exact Sciences – Chemistry (2012). Mechoulam is one of the founding members of the International Association for Cannabinoid Medicines and the International Cannabinoid Research Society. In 1994, he was elected as a member of the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities.

Mechoulam was born in Bulgaria in 1930 and immigrated with his family to Israel in 1949, where he later studied chemistry. He received his PhD at the Weizmann Institute, Rehovot (1958), with a thesis on the chemistry of steroids. After postdoctoral studies at the Rockefeller Institute, New York (1959–60), he was on the scientific staff of the Weizmann Institute (1960–65), focusing on the isolation, structure elucidation and total synthesis of the main active principles of cannabis.

Mechoulam moved to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and became a full professor (1972) and then the Lionel Jacobson Professor of Medicinal Chemistry (1975). Between the years 1979-1982 he served as the University’s Rector.

Filed Under: Business, Events, Homepage Tagged With: "Father of Cannabis Science", cannabis industry news, Dr. Raphael Machoulam, Hebrew University, marijuana business news, mjnews, nternational Association for Cannabinoid Medicines, nternational Cannabinoid Research Society., Professor Mechoulam, science of cannabis, THC

WSLCB Cannabis Canopy Enforcement and Education Update

March 9, 2023 by MJ News Network Leave a Comment

WASHINGTON: In November 2021, LCB communicated the Enforcement and Education Division’s protocol related to cannabis canopy enforcement. The protocol was designed to ensure consistent application of cannabis canopy rules described in WAC 314-55-075.

In August 2022, based on stakeholder concern about the protocol, LCB paused canopy enforcement prioritization, and opened rulemaking to explore whether revisions were needed to WAC 314-55-075. To better understand stakeholder perspective and inform potential rule development, the agency hosted two inclusive and interactive engagement opportunities in October and November 2022.

During the sessions, licensees, industry representatives and members of the public gathered to share thinking around potential rule revisions. Themes emerged that included policy options exceeding the scope of rulemaking, such as deconstruction of the tier system and engaging in individual plant counts, to a weight-based system. However, most participants were interested in consistent application of WAC 314-55-075 in practice rather than rule revision.

To support regulatory stability, the LCB Enforcement and Education Division and Director’s Office are working together to draft an interpretive statement designed to support consistent application of WAC 314-55-075 that supports the Enforcement and Education division’s cannabis canopy protocol. The agency anticipates withdrawing rulemaking related to WAC 314-55-075 during the Board’s regularly scheduled meeting on March 15. An interpretive statement will be issued and filed with the Reviser’s Office on or about April 7, 2023. Prioritization of canopy rule enforcement will resume at that time.







Filed Under: Business, Homepage, Legal, Recreational Tagged With: cannabis industry news, cannabis regulations 2023, Canopy 2023, LCB, marijuana business, mjnews, the business of cannabis, WA, Washington, WSLCB

WSLCB Releases CCRS Updates: Issues Identified – User Action Required

January 11, 2023 by MJ News Network Leave a Comment

WASHINGTON:The limited issues with the newest version of CCRS have been identified – most can be accommodated by small changes in user submissions.

  • Manifests: Manifest are being processed and a PDF delivered to the submitter as intended.
    • Users can submit the new Manifest.CSV files. The contingency Manifest is still available for use if Manifest PDFs are not received within an hour of submittal of the Manifest.CSV
    • If you submitted a Manifest.CSV on Jan. 9 and did not receive a confirmation, please resubmit.
    • If you submitted a contingency manifest on Jan. 9 or 10, you must ensure that a Manifest.CSV with exactly matching product is uploaded, per the contingency instructions.
  • New Data: Only submit data that has not already been uploaded to CCRS. It is not necessary to include data that was already submitted unless it is being updated (using the update or delete operation, not insert).
  • User Errors: Several large files containing multiple errors have created processing slowdowns. If you have questions about creating these files, or other questions about using CCRS, please review the User Guide. If you receive user error messages that you do not understand, please contact servicedesk@lcb.wa.gov.
    • Large files that cause system stoppage may be quarantined and asked to be resubmit in corrected format.

Future system announcements and updates will be sent directly to system users and will be posted to the CCRS webpage.

As issues arise, we’re working to solve them as quickly as possible and appreciate your patience as we continue to look for performance improvement opportunities.

We are excited about the coming changes and want to make sure that CCRS system users have a positive experience with the new files and processes.

Filed Under: Business, Homepage, Recreational Tagged With: cannabis industry news, cannatech, CCRS, legal cannabis business, marijuana business news, mjnews, the business of cannabis, WA, WSLCB

First Meeting of WSLCB Cannabis Quality Control Standards Work Group Jan. 5

December 28, 2022 by MJ News Network Leave a Comment

WASHINGTON: The LCB will hold the first Cannabis Quality Control Standards Work Group meeting on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023, from 2 – 3 p.m. The agenda is available here.

To connect to MS Teams and watch the meeting on a smart phone or computer, click here, then:

  • If you have the MS Teams app on your device, select “Open Microsoft Teams” when prompted.
  • If you do not have the MS Teams app, select “Continue on this browser” when prompted.

To listen to the meeting by phone:

  • Call 564.999.2000
  • Conference ID: 462 756 786#

Please note that only the Work Group members and LCB staff will have microphone and video functions available during the meeting. Chat features will not be available.

About the LCB Quality Control Standards Work Group

The objective of the LCB Cannabis Quality Control Standards Work Group is to evaluate the effectiveness of rule changes to WAC sections 314-55-101, 314-55-102, and 314-55-1025 that took effect on April 2, 2022. These rules changes updated cannabis sampling and testing standards, and introduced the new rule requiring laboratory pesticide testing for all cannabis products produced and sold in Washington.

The Quality Control Standards Work Group will meet virtually, via Microsoft Teams. The first work group meeting is planned for January 2023, and will last one hour. Depending on participation, the work group may be extended for up to six meetings through 2023. The work group charter is posted here.

Please contact rules@lcb.wa.gov if you have questions about the work group.

Filed Under: Business, Events, Homepage Tagged With: 2023 MJEvents, cannabis industry news, LCB, marijuana business news, mjnews, mjnewsnetwork.com, the business of cannabis, the business of marijuana, WA, Washington, WSLCB

OLCC Recreational Marijuana Program Compliance Education Bulletin

December 19, 2022 by drheins Leave a Comment

 

OREGON: The Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) is providing the following information to recreational marijuana licensees.

This education bulletin is part of OLCC’s compliance education. It is important that you read it and understand it. If you do not understand it, please contact the OLCC for help.

Marijuana licensees are responsible for reading, understanding, and complying with all applicable rules. This bulletin does not supersede any OLCC rule. Failure to understand and follow the rules referenced in this bulletin could result in an OLCC administrative violation and/or civil penalty.

Compliance Education Bulletin CE2022-03 covers the following issues:

  • Discounting Cannabis items

 

Discounting Marijuana Items

This bulletin provides clarification to OLCC’s interpretation of OAR 845-2800 (4) (h) (i).

 OAR 845-025-2800 has been amended to change some of the prohibitions around discounts at marijuana retailers:

  • Removed the prohibition around selling items for a nominal price.
  • The rule allows for discounting marijuana items, but retailers are still not allowed to discount a marijuana item if the retail sale of the marijuana is made in conjunction with the retail sale of any other items, including other marijuana items or hemp items.
    • An example of what is not allowed would be having a sale where a customer can get an ounce half off, but only if they buy another ounce.
    • What would be allowed is having a certain strain half off for an entire period of time.  In this scenario, the sale price is not dependent on any other purchases and would therefore be compliant.
    • Customers can purchase discounted items and non-discounted items at the same time as long as the discount is not dependent on any other purchases.
  • The rule still does not allow for discounting a marijuana item contingent on the purchase of a non-marijuana item.
    • An example of this would be requiring a person to buy something like a jar, to receive discounted marijuana. This type of purchase is not allowed.

This rule ONLY applies to discounting marijuana items and hemp items.

Marijuana and hemp items can ONLY be given away for free to a registered OMMP cardholder or caregiver.


Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can I start a loyalty program, like a punch card or point system, where a customer can receive a discount after they reach a certain threshold?
  • Yes, but the marijuana or hemp item cannot be free, only discounted. You could give the customer something else for free, like a t-shirt or hat. 

 

  • Can I discount marijuana or hemp items without a loyalty program?
  • Yes

 

  • Does a discounted item still need to cost more than I originally paid for it?
  • No, you can discount an item lower than the price you acquired it for.

 

  • Does tax need to be collected on a discounted sale?
  • Yes, you still need to collect the 17% tax and the 3% local tax (if applicable) based on the discounted price.

 

  • Can I give an OMMP cardholder a discount even though they don’t pay tax?
  • Yes, even though you cannot change tax for an OMMP cardholder or caregiver you can still give them a discount, or marijuana or hemp item for free.

 

  • Can I offer a buy one get one (BOGO) free deal?
  • Not for marijuana or hemp items. You could sell a marijuana or hemp item and give a t-shirt for free, but marijuana or hemp items can only be given to OMMP cardholders and caregivers for free. 

 

  • Can a customer buy items that are discounted and full priced items at the same time?
  • Yes, as long as the discount is not dependent on the purchase of a full priced item.

 

  • Can I collect customer information for coupons, discounts or loyalty programs?
  • A. Yes, but you need to ask the consumer if you can record and retain the information, and the consumer needs to agree to the recording and retention of the information.

 

  • Do the daily sales limits apply to loyalty programs?
  • Yes, even with a loyalty program you need to follow the daily sales limit rules.

 

  • If I have other questions about discounts or loyalty programs how do I contact the OLCC?
  • You can email us at marijuana@oregon.gov

 

Read a complete version of the bulletin here


A copy of this bulletin will be available on the OLCC website under the Bulletinssection.


For More Information:

www.marijuana.oregon.gov

Email: marijuana@oregon.gov

Phone: 503-872-5000, Option 1

Toll Free: 800-452-6522, Option 1

Filed Under: Homepage, Legal, Recreational Tagged With: cannabis industry news, discounting marijuana, marijuana business news, mjnews, OLCC, OR

Emerald Cup Announces 2022 Harvest Ball Small Farms Initiative Participants

November 1, 2022 by MJ News Network Leave a Comment

Emerald Cup Harvest Ball announces 10 Small Farms who will be awarded a booth space and receive a grant to participate in the 2022 Small Farms Initiative program at the 2022 Harvest Ball in Santa Rosa

CALIFORNIA:  As the Emerald Cup gears up for the highly anticipated 2022 Harvest Ball this December, the organizers are proud to announce the 10 craft and heirloom cannabis farms that will be participating in the 2022 Harvest Ball Small Farms Initiative. California state licensed Mixed Light and Outdoor farms with a canopy of 10,000 sq. ft. or less were able to apply for this opportunity, providing dozens of craft cannabis brands with access to the Emerald Cup’s engaged audience of California cannabis connoisseurs and more.

“We are so excited to bring back this opportunity to the 2022 Emerald Cup Harvest Ball as we continue to celebrate and support the small farmers that are the heart and soul of the cannabis community,” says Associate Producer of the Emerald Cup, Taylor Blake. “We received 101 applications to be a part of this year’s Small Farms Initiative which is 29 more than what we received last year, so this increase – in a year like we are in – feels significant and meaningful. This initiative has continued to connect small sungrown and mixed light cultivators across California and is giving hope in a time that it is really needed.”

2022 HARVEST BALL SMALL FARMS INITIATIVE PARTICIPANTS:

Selected Small Farms and Heirloom Cannabis Farmers:

Hungry Hollow Farm
Shepherd’s Meadow Farm
Sunrise Mountain Farms
Whitethorn Valley Farm
Booney Acres
NATYRE
Foxworthy Farms
Down OM Farms
One Straw Farm 
WAMM Phytotherapies

These 8 Farms have been provided discounted booths in the Craft Cannabis Marketplace at the 2022  Emerald Cup Harvest Ball:

Perrin Family Farm
Humboldt 36 Farms
Sol Spirit Farm
Noble Gardens
Gold Ridge Cannabis
Tilth Farms
Burr’s Place Organics 
Tall Tree Society

Empowered by Emerald Cup founder Tim Blake, the Small Farms Council includes Michael Katz of the Mendocino Cannabis Alliance, Genine Coleman of Origins Council, Chris Anderson of Redwood Roots Distribution, Nicholas Smilgys of Mendocino Cannabis Distribution, Traci Pellar of the Mendocino Producers Guild and Brandy Moulton of Sovereign 707. The council worked with the Emerald Cup to evaluate license distribution among Northern California’s heritage cannabis-producing counties with active ordinances, allocating a proportional number of participants to each county.

Filed Under: Business, Homepage Tagged With: CA, California Cannabis, cannabis industry news, Emerald Cup, Hungry Hollow Farm Shepherd’s Meadow Farm Sunrise Mountain Farms Whitethorn Valley Farm Booney Acres NATYRE  Foxworthy Farms Down OM Farms One Straw Farm  WAMM Phytotherapies, marijuana business news, Mendocino Cannabis Alliance, Mendocino Producers Guild, MJ Events, mjnews, Perrin Family Farm Humboldt 36 Farms Sol Spirit Farm Noble Gardens Gold Ridge Cannabis Tilth Farms Burr's Place Organics  Tall Tree Society, Redwood Roots Distribution, the business of cannabis, the Small Farms Council

Florida Born. Florida Raised. Florida Grown. Get to Know the Gwinn Brothers: Florida’s 1st Black Farmers Licensed to Grow Medical Cannabis

October 14, 2022 by MJ News Network Leave a Comment

By Veronica Castillo

Florida is the largest medical marijuana market in the country with more than $1 Billion in sales so far in 2022, according to Headset research.  Florida has more than 500,000 registered medical cannabis patients and around 450 legal dispensaries that generate many millions in medical cannabis tax revenues annually.

Yet, in a state where 25% of the population is BIPOC, there isn’t a black owned farm and/or cultivation facility currently putting products on Florida’s dispensary shelves. 

After decades of blatantly holding black farmers back, Florida has finally begun making attempts to right its historical wrongs, but sadly it took a class action lawsuits to do it: the Pigford vs. Glickman case, a class action discrimination suit between the USDA and black farmers. The suit claimed that the USDA discriminated against black farmers on the basis of race, and failed to investigate or properly respond to complaints.  Thousands of Black farmers in Florida won settlements after proving their claims of neglect in the 1980s and 1990s.

In 2017, lawmakers decided to approve one license to grow cannabis out of the thousands of settlement winners. On September 20, 2022, the license was awarded to black farmer Terry Donnell Gwinn, owner of the Gwinn Brothers Farm in McAlpin, Florida (north of Gainesville, FL).

Get to Know the Gwinn Brothers

When the news hit headlines, I contacted the attorney representing the Gwinn Brothers, Jim McKee.  I wanted to know more about the black farmer in my home state awarded a license to grow medical cannabis.

I wanted to know where the Gwinn Brothers were born and raised, and about their family history in agriculture. I learned that brothers — Donell, Clifford, and Robert (who passed away in 2022) — were born and raised in McAlpin, and that they helped their father on the family farm.  

Donell worked for John Deere as a mechanic from age 19 until 26, and then returned to the family farm. He took over running the farm for his aging father who was 57 when Donell was born, and began growing tobacco. 

Donell was recently recognized as Outstanding Agriculturalist of the Year by the Florida Association of County Agricultural Agents; appeared in Florida Trend’s Agricultural 500.  He has served as a District Supervisor for the Suwannee County Conservation District; Secretary and Treasurer of the Florida Peanut Federation; member of the USDA Florida State FSA Committee; and adviser to the Suwannee County Farm Service Agency County Operating Committee.

Clifford left and enlisted in the Army, and helped on the farm when he could from an operations and mechanical standpoint. After the military, Clifford worked in law enforcement for the State Department of Transportation. 

When he retired from law enforcement, he helped Donell with farm operations: administration, finances, maintenance, and compliance with Food and Safety regulations. Robert helped with the farming until he retired around 2008. 

How the Gwinn Brothers Became Class Members in the Pigford v. Glickman Cases

In 1987, Donell tried to obtain a loan to buy additional farm land he heard was being foreclosed on, but was denied by a loan officer who told him not to waste his time completing the application. That loan officer’s family now owns the land that Donell tried to buy with the 1987 loan.

He didn’t let “no” stop him and in the 1990’s, he began expanding the farm by leasing land. In 1996, he tried to obtain a loan, this time to assist with operating expenses, but was again told not to bother applying because it would be denied.  

This resulted in him losing the opportunity to expand his farming operations and the profits from such expansion. Donell knew other similarly situated white farmers had received assistance with their loan applications and had actually received loans.

The 1987 and 1996 incidents resulted in Donell later becoming a class member in the Pigford v. Glickman, 185 F.R.D. 82 (D.D.C. 1999), litigation, which addressed discrimination by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) against black farmers.

The Gwinn Brothers, Determined to Expand and Receiving a License

Donell, who was determined not to let the “no’s” he received stop him, bought a 120 acre tract of farm land with his brother Robert. In 2005 the brothers started growing peanuts, and continued buying farm land. 

In 2017, a statute mandated a license be given to at least one applicant that is a recognized class member in the Pigford v. Glickman, proceedings. Black farmers who wanted to apply were required to pay a nonrefundable application/processing fee of $146,000. This is twice the amount that prospective operators paid the last time an application process was open.

On September 20, 2022, Terry, using the business name Gwinn Brothers Medicinals, was awarded the one class member license.

I asked Gwinn Brothers attorney Jim McKee, the brothers reactions after hearing the news, he told me, “Donell and Clifford were happy and overwhelmed that their application had been selected over all of the other applications that were submitted. They had become somewhat discouraged after hearing through the grapevine that other applicants were sure they were going to win, so news of the win was even sweeter.”

He went to say that the Gwinns and their team are committed to providing opportunities for minorities, women, and veterans to be involved and will seek out employees, contractors, service providers, and vendors of diverse backgrounds.  “The Gwinns hope that there are future opportunities for other Black Farmers to get involved in the industry, ” he continued, “and will support any legislative efforts that help accomplish this goal.”   

We ended our chat by discussing cannabis cultivation —  and the brothers’ relationship and/or appreciation of the plant. I wondered if the brothers loved cannabis, and if they  would be growing indoor or outdoor.  “The brothers used to joke when times were tough that if they could just grow a crop of marijuana they could catch up on all their bills!,” Jim told me. “All kidding aside, they heard about the Pigford/Black Farmers license application process and with their history of farming in Florida, they figured they were well-suited to apply. They decided to pursue a license and put together an A-list and diverse team of cultivation, processing, and dispensing experts from around the country. As for cultivation, Florida law requires cannabis to be grown in enclosed structures. This will require a change from conventional farming methods, but the Gwinns have partnered with individuals who have substantial experience in the industry.”


Column Sponsors

CLS Med-Can: A medical marijuana transportation service based out of Missouri.

 

 

Sky High PEO: A full-service employment organization that helps companies manage benefits and payroll.

 

Your Highness Podcast: A podcast featuring uncomfortable and honest conversations surrounding inclusiveness, accountability.


Veronica Castillo is a writer from Miami, with a pre-cannabis and psychedelics background in insurance and human resources. Currently, she is a resident of the road covering cannabis, psychedelics, and plant-based lifestyles all over the U.S and soon abroad. Follow her journey on IG: www.instagram.com/vee_travelingvegcannawriter and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vee-traveling-veg-canna-writer/



MJNews is streaming live on @Cannected.TV



MARIJUANA CHANNEL ONE | TURN ON. TUNE IN. SUBSCRIBE. 

 


Filed Under: BIPOC in Cannabis, Blogs Tagged With: BIPOC, black farmers, black-owned cannabis business, cannabis industry news, FL, Florida, Gwinn Brothers, marijuana business news, medical marijuana growers, mjnews, Pigford v. Glickman, racial inequality, social equity, Terry Donnell Gwinn, USDA, Veronica Castillo

OLCC Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Reporting of Sex & Human Trafficking on Marijuana Licensed Premises

September 21, 2022 by MJ News Network Leave a Comment

  • Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

What: Adopts rule that requires reporting of trafficking and unlawful employment of minors at marijuana premises.

Why: The 2022 Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 4074, of which Section 2 sets requirements for reporting sex trafficking or other human trafficking. Employees or workers at a marijuana-licensed premises must report to a law enforcement agency or the OLCC if the employee or worker has a reasonable belief that sex trafficking or other human trafficking is occurring at the premises. Employees or workers must also report if they have a reasonable belief that a minor is employed or contracted at the premises in a manner that violates OLCC rules. This section of House Bill 4074 became effective upon passage, which required OLCC to adopt a temporary rule to implement the legislation and to address possible implications on public health and safety if immediate action was not taken. Upon approval from the Commission, this rule will become permanent.

Last day for Public Comment: 10/15/2022 12:00 PM

Email: OLCC.Rulemaking@Oregon.gov

 

OLCC Laws & Rules Website

 

Filed Under: Homepage, Legal, Recreational Tagged With: cannabis industry news, legal cannabis, marijuana business news, MJ Legal News, mjnews, MJNewsNetwork, OLCC, OR, Oregon, sex trafficking

OLCC Minor Decoy Activity Returns

September 16, 2022 by MJ News Network Leave a Comment

After Pandemic Prolonged Hiatus

Eugene area alcohol retailers perform poorly during checks

OREGON: Inspectors from the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) are again fanning out across the state checking to see if OLCC licensees are allowing minors to purchase alcohol, and so far the results are disappointing. In two recent Minor Decoy Operations (MDOs) in the Eugene region, about two out of three retailers failed to properly check identification and sold alcohol to an OLCC minor decoy. The combined compliance rate for the Eugene MDOs was 35%. 

“The state has never seen these kinds of terrible results in alcohol sales compliance checks since the program was initiated in the 1990’s,” said Steve Marks, OLCC Executive Director. “Every licensee that engages in the sale of alcohol needs to immediately place a priority on the proper training of servers and store clerks.”

The resumption of the MDO activity comes after the OLCC temporarily idled the program because of other pandemic priorities which coincided with the curtailment of in-person activities at licensed bars, restaurants and other alcohol retailers. Also, prior to the start of the pandemic the agency had difficulty recruiting volunteer decoys.

In restarting the program, the agency has carried out a total of five regional operations across the state checking compliance at 64 locations selling alcohol. Two MDOs in Portland produced compliance rates of 70% and 85% and a single MDO in the Salem region resulted in a compliance rate of 88%, which is the best result so far.

At this point, the statewide compliance rate is 63% since the MDO activity started again. OLCC’s objective is to have 90% or more of its licensees in compliance. Individual MDO reports containing more details can be found on the OLCC website.

Inspectors from the OLCC’s Marijuana Program are also ramping up MDO activity, and recently completed an operation in the Medford region that resulted in a 67% compliance rate.

The OLCC’s compliance division started phasing in MDO activity in May, 2022 gradually expanding the effort as the agency recruited and trained new minor decoys. Instead of using volunteers, the agency now employs minors between 18 to 20 years old, who look under the age of 26, to carry out the MDO activity supervised by OLCC inspectors.

The OLCC and local law enforcement agencies frequently partner in operations together monitoring minor decoys who attempt to purchase alcohol. If a clerk or server makes a sale, they as well as the licensee are subject to fines and penalties for the sales violation.

Due to the high rate of non-compliance, the OLCC plans to aggressively conduct compliance operations across the state to ensure alcohol service licensees have better controls in place and are taking the proper steps to ensure public safety in their communities. OLCC Commissioners are aware of the high failure rates and will consider increasing penalties for the sale of alcohol to minors.

The Commission took similar action in 2018 when marijuana retailers had low compliance rates for selling to minors, in order to remind the industry of the importance of this public safety issue, and to get an immediate improvement in results.

Inspectors from OLCC’s Compliance Division are available to provide identification checking classes to alcohol and marijuana retailers at no cost. Information on how to contact an OLCC regional office to schedule an in-person class can be found here on the OLCC website.

Licensees can find an ID checking tip sheet on the OLCC website.

Executive Director Marks noted that the industry has gained expanded privileges to sell and deliver alcohol in recent years. Along with those expanded privileges came an expectation from Oregonians and the legislature that the alcohol industry would take compliance seriously. According to Marks, the industry apparently hasn’t gotten the message.

“The statewide compliance rate as it currently stands is abysmal,” said Marks. “These results are fully unacceptable and be assured that OLCC understands its profound responsibility to Oregonians to ensure sales of alcohol are made properly. We will take action.”

OLCC Minor Decoy Operation reports

Filed Under: Homepage, Legal Tagged With: cannabis industry news, Decoy Activity, Fake ID, ID Check, McLovin, MDO, mj legal, mjnews, OLCC, Oregon, Portland, the business of cannabis

OLCC and Oregon Dept. of Agriculture Webinar – Agricultural Farm Labor Housing in Oregon

August 3, 2022 by MJ News Network Leave a Comment

The OLCC is sharing this information provided from a partner agency.

What is the webinar about?

ODA and OLCC are hosting a webinar on agricultural farm labor housing requirements.  Sarah Rew, with OSHA, will be presenting on requirements and who must meet the requirements.  She will additionally touch on new heat and wildfire smoke rules.

Does this apply to me?

Oregon OSHA’s agricultural labor housing rules apply to any place where there are living areas or other housing provided by someone who recruits workers to work on an agricultural establishment.  Hemp and marijuana are agricultural establishments for the purposes of these requirements

How do I join the webinar?

Join us on August 19, 2022 from 10:00-11:00 am. Join on your computer or mobile app.

Join on your computer or mobile app

Click here to join the meeting

Or join by entering a meeting ID Meeting ID: 255 446 071 274 Passcode: 6YU6DN

Or call in (audio only)

+1 503-446-4951,,693548091#   United States, Portland

Phone Conference ID: 693 548 091#

Find a local number | Reset PIN



Questions? contact:

Sunny Summers, ODA Senior Policy Advisor

sunny.summers@oda.oregon.gov

 

Filed Under: Homepage, Legal Tagged With: Agricultural Housing, cannabis industry news, hemp industry news, MJ Legal News, mjnews, OLCC, OR, Oregon

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 11
  • Next Page »

Connect with Us!

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter
  • Vimeo
  • YouTube

Top Stories

New WHO Study Shows Tobacco, Alcohol and Cannabis Use Among French Adolescents Went Down During COVID-19 pandemic

FRANCE: Tobacco, alcohol and cannabis use among French adolescents has decreased in the last decade, particularly between 2018 and 2021 and following the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, finds WHO/Europe’s collaborative Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study.  In France, as across the WHO European Region, measures taken to control the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the lives Read the full article…

OPINION: The Medical Community Must Embrace Standard Cannabis Education

By Timothy Byars, Director of Cannabis Programs, Pacific College of Health and Science On July 21, 2022, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) filed the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA), a bill that ends federal cannabis prohibition, establishes federal cannabis tax rates, expunges some cannabis convictions, and enables the Read the full article…

Oregon State Research Shows Hemp Compounds Prevent Coronavirus from Entering Human Cells

OREGON: Hemp compounds identified by Oregon State University research via a chemical screening technique invented at OSU show the ability to prevent the virus that causes COVID-19 from entering human cells. Findings of the study led by Richard van Breemen, a researcher with Oregon State’s Global Hemp Innovation Center, College of Pharmacy and Linus Pauling Institute, Read the full article…

Curt’s Cannabis Corner: Cannabis for Inflammation

Welcome to Season 2, Episode 3 in the multi-media educational series Curt’s Cannabis Corner from technical writer Curt Robbins at Higher Learning LV and MJNews Network. This series is intended for cannabis and hemp professionals—and the enterprise organizations that employ them—who wish to gain a better understanding of the nuanced biochemistry, volatile business environment, and Read the full article…

Curt’s Cannabis Corner: CBD For Epilepsy

Welcome to Season 2, Episode 2 of Curt’s Cannabis Corner, an education series from technical writer Curt Robbins at Higher Learning LV and MJNews Network intended for cannabis and hemp professionals—and the enterprise organizations that employ them—who wish to gain a better understanding of the nuanced biochemistry, volatile business environment, and detailed regulatory oversight of Read the full article…

More Posts from this Category

Cookies Announces Global Partnership with Final Bell & 14th Round for Packaging and Co-Manufacturing

Green Dragon Adds Six Additional Medical Cannabis Dispensaries in Florida and Launches Flower from New Grow

WSLCB Social Equity in Cannabis Application Reminders

Tags

CA California Canada cannabis cannabis news CBD changing attitudes CO Colorado DC decriminalization dispensary District of Columbia end failed war on drugs end of failed war on drugs failed war on drugs Hemp I-502 legal cannabis legalization legal marijuana marijuana marijuana business medical cannabis medical marijuana mjlegal mjnews MJNews Network mjnewsnetwork.com mmj New York NORML NY OH Ohio OLCC OR Oregon politicians on pot recreational marijuana the business of cannabis the business of marijuana WA Washington WSLCB

Search By State:

  • Alabama
  • Alaska
  • Arizona
  • Arkansas
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • Delaware
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Hawaii
  • Idaho
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Maine
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • Michigan
  • Minnesota
  • Mississippi
  • Missouri
  • Montana
  • Nebraska
  • Nevada
  • New Hampshire
  • New Jersey
  • New Mexico
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • North Dakota
  • Ohio
  • Oklahoma
  • Oregon
  • Pennsylvania
  • Rhode Island
  • South Carolina
  • South Dakota
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Utah
  • Vermont
  • Virginia
  • Washington
  • West Virginia
  • Wisconsin
  • Wyoming

© Copyright 2014 MJBA Publishing · MJ News Network · All Rights Reserved ·