Legislation extending the state’s moratorium on new marijuana business licenses has been signed into law by Oregon Governor Tina Kotek.
Governor Kotek has signed House Bill 4124 into law, following its overwhelming passage in the state legislature; the House passed it 55 to 1, with the Senate giving it approval by a vote of 20 to 7.
The new law prohibits the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission from accepting any new applications for new marijuana production or retail business licenses, until there are significant increases in population growth.
Specifically, for production and retail licenses there can not be more than one active license per 7,500 residents. For processor and wholesale licenses, there can be not more than one active license per 12,500 residents.
The measure was supported by the Cannabis Industry Alliance of Oregon, which argued that the state is already oversaturated with marijuana stores, with around 3,000 retail outlets currently licensed in the state.
The law was signed by Governor Kotex just days before an existing pause on new marijuana business licenses in Oregon was set to expire.
According to data released by the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission, there was $82,352,507 worth of legal marijuana sold in March.
Oregon legalized marijuana via the initiative process in 2014, two years after Colorado and Washington became the first to do so. The law allows those 21 and older to possess up to two ounces of marijuana in public and up to eight ounces at home, as well as one ounce of marijuana extracts, 16 ounces of marijuana-infused solids, and 72 ounces of marijuana-infused liquids. Licensed marijuana retail outlets are authorized to sell marijuana to anyone 21 and older.
