A House committee in Oregon has voted in favor of legislation that would direct the Liquor and Cannabis Commission to make changes to the state’s recreational marijuana law.
Filed by State Representative John Lively, House Bill 2516 directs the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) “to adopt rules to allow small-scale marijuana producers to sell marijuana items directly to consumers.” It was passed today by the House Committee On Economic Development and Small Business, sending it to the Committee on Ways and Means.
The proposed law also requires the OLCC to adopt rules “to permit delivery of marijuana items by licensed marijuana retailer to consumer at hotel or inn”, and to allow licensed marijuana wholesaler “to sell or transfer marijuana items to licensed marijuana retailer at trade show or similar event.”
The measure would take effect on the 91st day after the end of the current legislative session.
As noted by the bill’s legislative analysis:
Marijuana is regulated by the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) since voters approved Measure 91 in November 2014. OLCC is the agency responsible for the sale of recreational marijuana in Oregon through the Control, Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana and Industrial Hemp Act. The agency also regulates the production, processing and sale of medical products sold to Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP) cardholders in Commission licensed marijuana retail shops.
Under current law marijuana for recreational use must be purchased at an OLCC licensed retail location. Gifting or giveaways of marijuana is legal as long as there is no financial consideration.
Update: House Bill 2516 has been amended to remove the provision allowing producers to sell directly to consumers. You can find the amended bill by clicking here.
