PORTLAND, Ore. — The Oregon Liquor Control Commission has approved licenses for 26 recreational marijuana retailers around the state, some of which may open as early as Oct. 1, 2016.
“I appreciate the hard work of the OLCC staff and our government, community and industry partners in achieving our October 1, 2016 goal of licensing our first marijuana retailers,” said Rob Patridge, chair of the OLCC. “We have balanced industry desires, public health, and public safety. Along the way we have been transparent and inclusive in our approach and believe that we have crafted a collaborative regulatory system that meets the spirit of what Oregon voters passed as Measure 91.”
The OLCC has now approved 326 licenses in the following categories: producers, processors, wholesalers, retailers and labs. Ten labs have been approved for licensing: Anova Laboratory in Hood River; Cascadia Laboratories in Tigard; Greenhaus Analytical Labs in Portland; EVIO Labs in Eugene; Juniper Analytics in Bend; pH Labs in Lake Oswego; Green Leaf Lab in Portland; Synergistic Pesticide Laboratory in Portland; Kenevir Research in Central Point; Pixis Labs in Portland. The last four labs are accredited to test for pesticides.
Approved retail licensees will be able to begin operating after surrendering their Oregon Health Authority Oregon Medical Marijuana Program registration and paying their $4,750 license fee to the OLCC.
OLCC staff are continuing to process additional applications and expect to issue additional licenses, including to more accredited labs, in the next few weeks.
“We will continue to educate ourselves and refine and reevaluate our rules and processes as the retail industry blossoms,” said Patridge. “Over the next few months OLCC expects to license several hundred retailers in communities that have opted to allow retail marijuana. I believe the near future will bring substantial policy, legal and other challenges for the OLCC in regulating marijuana and we are up for the challenges.”