New Year’s means new cannabis regulations for Oregon residents. The regional regulator Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) has approved several changes to the legal statute governing cannabis use in the jurisdiction. The authority gave the final go-forward to these changes on Dec. 28, in line with the efforts it has put in over the last 18 months concerning the legalization of cannabis consumption. The body aimed to cut down on violations of legal provisions and streamline the entire oversight process. Other driving factors include developing suitable safeguards for children and evolving regulations making relatively greater THC potency cannabis consumption legal.
Oregon’s New Cannabis Regulations, Quick Facts:
- Starting Jan. 1, consumers can buy two ounces of cannabis.
- The THC limit on edibles will increase from 50mg to 100mg and require appropriate scoring to indicate portion size.
- Non-intoxicating and artificially derived cannabinoids (like CBN) must undergo the regulatory review process required for all other dietary supplements. Licensees will have 18 months to bring products up to compliance.
- Limiting of hemp edible products available to the general market to 2mg of THC starting July 2022.
While the new rules are “adopted” by the body from Jan. 1, in reality, they will not enforce some of the legal modifications until 2023. According to Executive Director Steve Marks, “These rules try to balance several different concerns — consumer health and safety, interests of small and large operators in our industry, and public safety concerns around loopholes in the Federal Farm Bill of 2018, and the illicit farm production taking place in Oregon.”
The driving force behind many legal changes is House Bill 3000. The Oregon legislature recently approved the bill regarding the trade of THC-containing hemp products in the state jurisdiction. The violation limits and its penalties were based on Senate Bill 408. According to the OLCC, the new law will make Oregon “better aligned with other adult-use cannabis states and [be positioned] as a legal export market as the groundwork [is laid] for federal legalization.”
What Oregon’s New Cannabis Regulations Mean
The law also limits the quantity of THC in each serving of hemp edible products to 2mg. Further, the amount of permissible THC in each container is fixed at 20mg. The provision, which takes effect July 2022, is designed to prevent mixing high THC hemp with other items. Additionally, artificial cannabinoids without intoxicating effects, such as CBN, must go through regulatory review to meet the standard of dietary supplements. The law provides the OLCC with 18 months to bring these into regulatory compliance. Matt Maletis, the authority commissioner, professed that the law would fall short of being a cure-all for everybody concerned. But it would definitely be a great stride forward in the right direction.
All things considered, cannabis lovers are in for a treat, thanks to the liberal provisions of the new legislation; Including one that doubles the ceiling on cannabis buying by consumers from 1 ounce to double that figure. The best thing is that some of the new regulations have already taken effect from Jan. 1 of the current year. Things are all set to get even brighter soon, with THC concentration levels in edibles also doubling from 50mg to 100mg. However, this particular provision will come into effect in April of this year. Further, cannabis delivery by approved firms is now legal in Oregon.
Final Thoughts
However, the body’s Executive Director pointed out the resolve of their organization to “make significant changes to these rules, and I want to reiterate that we have come a very long way.” It is in line with present public opinion. He emphasized that they are “creating a successful business market, a successful consumer market — This is another big turn of progress.” The legal changes will most affect licensees and lead to extensive re-categorization of violations. Such re-categorization will, in turn, lessen penalties and legal violations leading to licensing cancellations.
The new law permits licensees to improve self-distribution and cut down on both the time and cost associated with compliance procedures related to documentation and report of plant and harvest details.
Sounds nice; Looking forward to a relieving joint with friends in Oregon!