Oregon Approves Home Delivery of Marijuana

Saturday, October 24, 2015

GoLocalWorcester News Team

The Oregon Liquor Control Commission on Thursday approved the final versions of the rules for full-scale marijuana retail sales that will begin next year, including the rules for home delivery for marijuana.

Many in the industry actually advocated against allowing retail marijuana shops, according to Rob Patridge, OLCC Chairman.

“The home delivery issue, I was a little surprised that even the industry was not supportive generally of the home delivery provisions," Partridge said. He noted that the rules still may evolve overtime. "Some of those things need to get teased out. We're looking for legislative direction.”

Home delivery of marijuana will be permitted under the new rules. Retailers can only deliver in the city in which they are licensed to operate, and can only transport $100 worth of marijuana at any one time.

These are the final version regulations will take effect in January, and two drafts had been published earlier, as GoLocal reported. They include rules on the on-site consumption of marijuana by employees, delivery of marijuana, background checks on budtenders edible packaging, and more.

Under the new rules, employees at licensed facilities who are medical marijuana patients will be allowed to consume cannabis at work, provided they are not intoxicated.

“Budtenders”, the staff at dispensaries who help customers select their products and offer advice, must apply for a marijuana handler’s permit and are disqualified if they have a felony conviction. Those with misdemeanors will still be allowed to work as budtenders.

Edibles have long been a key issue in marijuana regulation. As GoLocal reported, dispensaries are longing for the days when they can sell edibles to recreational customers.

In order to do so, edible packaging must be prepared by the liquor commission. Any changes to the flavor must also be reviewed by the state.

The rules also set guidelines for production limits for cannabis growers.

There will four tiers of marijuana growers, based on size. Tier I for indoor growers allows up to 5,000 sq. ft. of space, while Tier II allows up to 10,000. For outdoor growers, a Tier one license will allow cultivation of 20,000 sq. ft, while a Tier II will allow for up to 40,000.

The regulations will also impose a seed-to-sale tracking system on marijuana that will be sold recreationally. This will allow regulators to know exactly how much marijuana is being produced, who is selling it, and whether businesses are following the rules and paying the proper amount in taxes.

Related Slideshow: The Highest Marijuana Prices in 2015 in New England by State

Forbes.com recently released a graphic that looks at how much an ounce of marijuana costs in every state in America, as well as the District of Columbia. The national average is $324.

Below is a look at where New England states fall in the rankings, as well as where marijuana is the most expensive and least expensive nationally.