Governor Tina Kotek recommends Craig Prins as Interim Director of Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission

February 16, 2023 by MJ News Network Leave a Comment

Prins has served as inspector general of the Department of Corrections and executive director of the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission

OREGON: Governor Tina Kotek announced she is recommending that the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission appoint Craig Prins as interim director. The commission will meet on Wednesday, February 15, to consider this recommendation.

“Craig Prins brings the necessary experience in change management to correct the course of the commission and support the employees doing the work everyday,” Governor Kotek said. “He shares my commitment to accountability and transparency, and his appointment will create an opportunity to strengthen oversight, improve customer service, and begin to rebuild the public’s trust.”

Prins has over 25 years of experience in criminal justice and public safety. As the inspector general for the Oregon Department of Corrections since 2016, he has led the oversight of investigations, hearings, grievances and more, while also providing strategic planning and leadership for the agency.

He previously served as executive director of the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission from 2004 to 2014. Among other priorities, he coordinated Oregon’s Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI), culminating in passage of HB 3194 in 2013 to help control prison population growth in Oregon. From 2014 to 2016, Prins was the director of research for the Public Safety Performance Project at Pew Charitable Trusts.

Prior to that, he was deputy director of the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training where he oversaw the investigations of cases submitted to the Board on Public Safety Standards for the revocation or denial of officer certifications. Prins also served as deputy district attorney for Multnomah County for four years.

“If appointed, I will implement the changes in leadership requested by the Governor, fully cooperate with the Department of Justice, and work collaboratively with OLCC’s dedicated workforce,” Craig Prins said. “I will lead with integrity, transparency and an unwavering commitment to serve Oregonians.”

The search for a permanent executive director will begin in the coming weeks and details will be announced as they are available.

Legal Marijuana Remains in Abundant Supply

February 2, 2023 by MJ News Network Leave a Comment

OLCC releases biennial report to Oregon’s Legislature

OREGON: The Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) today submitted to the Oregon Legislature the 2023 Marijuana Supply and Demand report reflecting the quantity of cannabis available in Oregon’s legal commercial market. This is the fourth biennial report produced by the OLCC, and it shows a similar pattern as in previous reports, that supply still outpaces demand.

In 2022, the demand for legal cannabis products was 63% of supply, compared to 52% of supply in 2021. This difference is likely a reflection of cannabis producers planting less crop in 2022 after a record harvest in 2021 led to plunging prices.

While the self-correction in the market has led to a closer balance in annual supply and demand, it also reveals the precarious economic position of Oregon’s cannabis industry. Declining prices combined with slower growth in consumer purchasing resulted in the first-ever decrease in sales, from $1.2 billion in 2021 to $994 million in 2022.

Declining wholesale and retail prices for usable marijuana can be attributed to the build-up of supply from previous years, and the slowdown in converting usable marijuana (flower) into more shelf-stable THC products like edibles, oil and tinctures. The leftover supply of both usable marijuana and value-added THC products is likely to continue the downward pressure on prices.

In a letter to legislators that accompanied the report, OLCC Executive Director Steve Marks observed that while steady improvements have been made to improve regulatory standards, reduce economic harm to the industry, and poise the state to be ready for legal inter-state commerce, federal barriers remain that continue to stifle the industry.

“Federal regulatory activity remains uncertain, and we must consider what public policy is needed to protect this nascent industry from an existential crisis in the face of federal inaction,” said Marks.

As indicated in previous Supply Demand reports Oregon’s recreational marijuana market has been able to withstand the whipsaw up and down cycles of the market. In the market’s current status, low prices have attracted consumers from the illicit market, which was an objective of legalization. However what’s been good for the consumer has put pressure on cannabis businesses to survive on low margins.

“We will look to the Governor and Legislature during the 2023 legislative session for direction on how to further strengthen our regulated marijuana system by providing stability to the industry, maintaining our obligations to keep our communities and the public safe and secure, and fulfilling our consumer protection responsibility to Oregon’s cannabis users,” said Marks in the conclusion of his letter to legislators.

OLCC Issues Recall of Cannabis Vape Products

January 12, 2023 by MJ News Network Leave a Comment

Cartridges contain prohibited additives

OREGON: The Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) is issuing a recall for four vaping products produced by an OLCC licensed processor. The products were sold to recreational marijuana licensed retailers; the processor also sold the products to non-licensed (general market) retailers.

The products do not conform to state standards regarding cannabis additives and therefore should not be sold in either the cannabis or general market. The licensee’s records indicate the products contain CBN, an artificially derived cannabinoid; they also contain a synthetic form of the cannabinoid CBC.

Under Oregon law, inhalable products like vape cartridges cannot contain artificially derived cannabinoids. Additionally, the synthetic CBC does not comply with OLCC requirements for non-cannabis additives in inhalable products, and is also prohibited under Oregon law.

The vape cartridges have been sold under the brand name Firefly Extracts and were manufactured by Hillsboro-based Plank Road Laboratories, Inc., an OLCC licensed marijuana processor. A preliminary investigation by the OLCC indicates that a combined total of more than 5,000 units of the products were manufactured between August 2021 and February 2022; not all of the products were distributed. The licensee has been cooperating with the OLCC to track down the distributed product.

The recall is for the Firefly products identified below:

Product name: Firefly – Strain T1 vape cartridge | Manufacture Date: 2/16/2022 (Label ID 5658) | Sold starting 03/16/2022

Product name: Firefly – Special Sauce vape cartridge | Manufacture Date: 12/22/2021 (Label ID 5658) | Sold starting 03/11/2022

Product name: Firefly – Hawaiian Haze vape cartridge | Manufacture Date: 12/22/2021 (Label ID 5658) | Sold starting 02/11/2022

Product name: Firefly – Cherry Wife vape cartridge | Manufacture Date: 8/31/2021 (Label ID 5658) | Sold starting 09/11/2021

Plank Road Laboratories, Inc. originally distributed vape cartridges to about 80 OLCC licensed marijuana retailers; about 30 retailers still have nearly 200 units on hand. The manufacturer also distributed at least 300 units that can be accounted for to six retailers in the general market; this includes four retailers licensed by the OLCC to sell alcohol.

The OLCC and the licensee are notifying licensed marijuana retailers about the recall; OLCC inspectors are making in-person contact with general market retailers to inform them about the recall because they may not be familiar with the agency’s recall process. In 2021, the legislature assigned the OLCC authority to regulate the sale of certain cannabis-based products in the general market.

The OLCC discovered the prohibited additive issue during a random audit of the Cannabis Tracking System (CTS). Investigators reviewing the Firefly Extracts testing results also determined that at least three of them contained the synthetic cannabinoid CBC. Under the Oregon Board of Pharmacy standards, non-cannabis derived CBC is considered a Schedule 1 substance.

Consumers who purchased the recalled products are encouraged to destroy them. The OLCC has not received any health-related complaints from the use of the recalled products. Consumers with health-related concerns about a recalled product should contact the Oregon Poison Center at 800-222-1222, or their medical provider.

If consumers have other product related complaints related to this recall, they should notify the OLCC at olcc.recalls@oregon.gov and include any information they have, including the consumer’s name and phone number, or alternative means of contact

OLCC Issues Pre-Roll Testing and Labeling Guidance

January 6, 2023 by MJ News Network Leave a Comment

OREGON: The Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) and Oregon Health Authority (OHA) are providing the following guidance to all marijuana licensees and hemp certificate holders regarding the testing of infused pre-rolls. This bulletin updates guidance contained in OLCC Compliance Education Bulletin 2019-05.

This guidance applies to any batch of infused pre-rolls that have not yet received any compliance testing. Any infused pre-rolls that have already received compliance test results may not be retested under this new interpretation.

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 or OHA for help.

Compliance Education Bulletin CE2023-01 covers the following issues related to infused pre-rolls:

Testing guidance
Labeling guidance

Background

OHA and OLCC have received questions regarding infused pre-rolls and whether they must include the filter or tip in order to comply with testing and labeling rules. Previous guidance indicated that these parts of the infused pre-roll should be included in the sample for testing and be included in the labeled weight of the item. A problem arises when the filter or tip is a material like glass, plastic, cardboard, or wood. These materials cannot easily or homogeneously be ground up by a laboratory for analysis. In the case of glass, plastic, or wood filters or tips, their weight may significantly under-report the concentration of cannabinoids as well as the results of other compliance tests.

OHA and OLCC intend to address this issue in 2023 by using rulemaking to better clarify how infused pre-rolls should be tested and labeled. Until the issue is addressed through future rulemaking, the OLCC, in coordination with OHA, is providing guidance in this bulletin on how infused pre-rolls may be sampled, tested and labeled under existing rules.

Read a complete version of the bulletin here

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

OLCC Issues Mandatory Recall for Marijuana Extract Products

December 5, 2022 by MJ News Network Leave a Comment

Products potentially contaminated due to improper pesticide testing

OLCC continuing to investigate to determine cause

OREGON: The Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) has issued a mandatory recall for several marijuana products due to the potential presence of pesticides. The possible marijuana product contamination is a result of failure to follow OLCC and Oregon Health Authority (OHA) rules for tracking and isolating marijuana products where the presence of pesticides has been detected.

This recall has been issued for 9,300 units that were still on the market and affects 13,600 units that were sold to consumers. The recall is being issued to ensure that licensees do not sell, and customers do not consume the effected products, because OLCC investigators cannot determine if the potential contamination is isolated or is widespread through the product lines.

The recalled products are concentrated forms of psychoactive THC; they range from inhalable items including jars of THC extract and THC vape cartridges to an ingestible form of THC known as Rick Simpson Oil (RSO).

The recall is for the marijuana products identified below. These products were manufactured by OLCC licensees under the trade names Bobsled and Quantum Alchemy.

Bobsled products

Product Name: Bobsled – Dolato Cured Resin Vape Cartridge | Manufacture Date: 9/12/2022 (Label Id 5368) | Sold starting 10/4/22
Product Name: Bobsled – Larry OG Cured Resin | Manufacture Date: 8/29/2022 (Label Id 5326) | Sold starting 9/15/2022
Product Name: Bobsled – Larry OG – Dabs Sugar Sauce | Manufacture Date: 8/29/2022 (Label Id 5326) | Sold starting 9/26/2022
Product Name: Bobsled – Stardawg Cured Resin | Manufacture Date: 9/12/2022 (Label Id 5326) | Sold starting 10/10/2022
Product Name: Bobsled – Frostbite Cured Resin| Manufacture Date: 6/13/2022 (Label Id 5326) | Sold starting 9/21/2022
Product Name: Bobsled – Sunburn Cured Resin| Manufacture Date: 6/13/2022 (Label Id 5326) | Sold starting 9/22/2022
Product Name: Bobsled – Sunburn Sugar Sauce Extract| Manufacture Date: 6/13/2022 (Label Id 5326) | Sold starting 11/23/2022

Quantum Alchemy products

Product Name: RSO Raspberry GMO | Manufacture Date: 11/29/21 (Label Id 5764) | Sold starting 11/28/22
Product Name: HTE Distillate R#ntz | Manufacture Date 11/30/21 (Generic Label) | Sold between 12/10/21 and 1/6/22
Product Name: HTE Distillate McR#ntz | Manufacture Date 2/21/22 (Generic Label) | Sold starting 9/23/22
Product Name: Cart 1g HTE Distillate Milo | Manufacture Date 2/21/22 (Generic Label) | Sold starting 9/23/22

Photos of many of the recalled products and packaging are contained in the press release found here on the OLCC website product recall page.

The OLCC has notified cannabis retailers about the recall, advising that these products are under a mandatory recall with instructions on how the products must be destroyed or returned to a licensed supplier for destruction. The OLCC utilized the state’s Cannabis Tracking System (CTS) to detect the potentially tainted products, contact the licensees that produced the impacted brands and locate all the questionable items distributed and sold through Oregon’s regulated market.

OLCC inspectors will follow up with licensees in possession of the affected products to ensure they are removed from sale, isolated from other inventory, and then ultimately destroyed according to OLCC rules. Customers who have purchased this product can either return it to the OLCC-licensed retailer they purchased it from or destroy the product.

The OLCC has not identified any fault by the laboratory that conducted the pesticide analysis. The items identified as subject to the mandatory recall are related to batches that originally failed testing for pesticides.

Under OHA rules, manufacturers must follow certain procedures to retest any failed batches, and may only remediate the suspect product under certain circumstances. The manufacturers of the products identified did not follow proper procedures in tracking, retesting, and isolating the affected marijuana products.

The OLCC started its investigation on November 29, 2022. The companies that produce Bobsled products (Bobsled, LLC) and Quantum Alchemy products (Happy Hollow Farms, Inc.) are cooperating with OLCC in the isolation and destruction of the affected items. Although the discovery of these incidents occurred simultaneously, OLCC is investigating them as separate incidents.

Consumers with health-related concerns about a recalled product should contact the Oregon Poison Center at 800-222-1222, or their medical provider.

OLCC METRC Batch Tagging

December 2, 2022 by MJ News Network Leave a Comment

METRC Batch Tagging

AGENDA & PROPOSED RULE

10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Monday, December 19, 2022

Location: Virtual – Microsoft Teams meeting

Click here to join the meeting on Teams

Or call in (audio only): 1-323-553-3576; Access Code: 649575093#

Currently, OLCC producers and medical growers reporting in METRC are required to use single-use RFID tags on all individual plants 36 inches or higher. OLCC staff have heard concerns regarding the cost of these tags, both in terms of the material cost as well as the labor cost of affixing and managing individual tags.

OLCC staff propose amendments to plant tagging requirements that would reduce the number of RFID tags required in order to balance accountability for reporting and compliance with lower costs for producer licensees and medical growers required to report in METRC.

OLCC Public Meetings Website

Turn On. Tune In. Subscribe. | Marijuana Channel One

Governor Kate Brown Grants Pardon for Oregon Marijuana Offenses

November 22, 2022 by MJ News Network Leave a Comment

Approximately 45,000 people will be impacted, more than $14,000,000 in fines and fees will be forgiven

OREGON: Governor Kate Brown today announced a pardon for prior Oregon offenses of simple possession of marijuana, an act that will impact an estimated 45,000 individuals across the state and forgive more than $14,000,000 in associated fines and fees. The pardon will remove 47,144 convictions for possession of a small amount of marijuana from individual records, eliminating barriers for thousands of people seeking employment, housing, and educational opportunities who have otherwise been ineligible.

The pardon applies to electronically available Oregon convictions for possession of 1 ounce or less of marijuana, in pre-2016 cases in which the person was 21 years of age or older, where this was the only charge, and where there were no victims. This pardon does not apply to any other offense related to marijuana or other controlled substances. More information can be found here.

“No one deserves to be forever saddled with the impacts of a conviction for simple possession of marijuana — a crime that is no longer on the books in Oregon,” said Governor Brown. “Oregonians should never face housing insecurity, employment barriers, and educational obstacles as a result of doing something that is now completely legal, and has been for years. My pardon will remove these hardships. And while Oregonians use marijuana at similar rates, Black and Latina/o/x people have been arrested, prosecuted, and convicted at disproportionate rates.

“We are a state, and a nation, of second chances. Today, I am taking steps to right the wrongs of a flawed, inequitable, and outdated criminal justice system in Oregon when it comes to personal marijuana possession. For the estimated 45,000 individuals who are receiving a pardon for prior state convictions of marijuana possession, this action will help relieve the collateral consequences arising from these convictions.”

Following the Governor’s pardon, the Oregon Judicial Department will ensure that all court records associated with these pardoned offenses are sealed, as required by law.

Psilocybin Services Launches First Platform Connecting Psilocybin Clients & Facilitators in Oregon

November 15, 2022 by MJ News Network Leave a Comment

Psilocybin Services seeks to help facilitators and clients take the next step together.

OREGON: Psilocybin Services is now accepting applications for early access to Oregon’s first and only psilocybin services directory. Prospective clients and facilitators alike are invited to sign up in advance of the full launch of the directory in early 2023.

A passion project of professional photographer and psilocybin advocate Rory Finney, Psilocybin Services is a free service that helps prospective clients find the right psilocybin services facilitator for their psilocybin session. Psilocybin Services connects clients with facilitators based on their specific needs and goals as they embark on their next steps toward healing and growth.

Finney, a long-time supporter of alternative wellness therapies, is enthusiastic about the possibilities offered by medical psilocybin’s debut in Oregon. “Healing can come when we connect directly to the origins of our discontent—that is the magic of this program,” says Finney. “One or more facilitators will sit by your side while the psilocybin-containing mushrooms reacquaint you with yourself.”

To sign up or learn more about Psilocybin Services, please visit their website at psilocybinservices.org. Psilocybin Services was also featured in CNN’s recent coverage of the legal and technical challenges confronting Oregon’s fledgling psilocybin industry.

In November 2020, Oregon voters approved Ballot Measure 109, which directs the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) to license and regulate psilocybin products and facilitators, starting January 2, 2023.

Oregon is the first state to legalize and regulate the clinical use of psilocybin. One of the primary goals of Psilocybin Services is to skillfully match clients with facilitators. Their relationship is the foundation of a successful psilocybin program.

“The better we do at our job,” notes Finney, “the more likely it is for psilocybin programs to emerge beyond Oregon. For the people in the dark, we are lighting the match.”

Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic compound found in more than 200 species of fungi. It has been used for millennia by indigenous and tribal communities for spiritual, ceremonial, and other purposes. Therapeutically, psilocybin shows promise in the treatment of depression, addiction, anxiety, and trauma, among other mental health conditions. Research also shows psilocybin can enhance spiritual well-being.

OLCC Task Force on Cannabis-Derived Intoxicants and Illegal Cannabis Production

October 19, 2022 by MJ News Network Leave a Comment

AGENDA

Friday, October 21, 2022

11:00 AM – 1:00 PM