Bill That Aims To Bring Smaller MMJ Producers Into Rec Market Passes OR Senate

[Robert Celt]

A bill that would make it easier for some smaller medical marijuana growers to enter the regulated recreational market cleared the Oregon Senate on Monday.

Senate Bill 1598 passed in a 20-8 vote and now heads to the Oregon House.

(See related: Oregon Senate signs off on bill allowing recreational pot shops sell to medical patients)

SB 1598 would allow certain growers to apply for a state recreational marijuana license without having to first obtain a land-use compatibility statement. Those statements are issued by local governments and confirm that a marijuana production site meets local zoning rules.

Under current law, all marijuana producers applying for an Oregon Liquor Control Commission license must get a land-use statement.

The proposed legislation removes that requirement for small-scale marijuana growers located outside of city limits, provided they were registered with the Oregon Health Authority before Jan. 1, 2015.

The provision is intended to help bring smaller growers into the regulated recreational marijuana system through a so-called micro-canopy license, which would come with lower fees and fewer requirements.

Senate Bill 1598 also adds medical and research marijuana grows as recognized farm crops, making them easier to locate in exclusive farm use areas and protecting them from lawsuits filed by neighbors over perceived nuisances like odor and noise.

Recreational marijuana grow sites are already recognized as farm crops under state law. The proposed legislation also makes clear that local governments can impose "reasonable" time, place, and manner regulations on those marijuana operations.

The bill also:

• Clarifies that home medical marijuana grows aren't subject to inspection by the Oregon Health Authority.
• Creates a sub-category of dispensaries for nonprofits. These establishments would be allowed to accept excess marijuana from growers and sell to patients for little or no cost.
• Requires the health authority to study medical marijuana access in areas underserved by dispensaries and retailers once the state's regulated marijuana industry is off the ground.

News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Bill That Aims To Bring Smaller MMJ Producers Into Rec Market Passes OR Senate
Author: Noelle Crombie
Contact: The Oregonian
Photo Credit: Beth Nakamura
Website: The Oregonian

 

[OlderGrower]

I liked everything about this article except the clause that says "The proposed legislation removes that requirement for small-scale marijuana growers located outside of city limits, provided they were registered with the Oregon Health Authority before Jan. 1, 2015."
In other words, if you are not already established, you are not welcome. At least they are not saying something like, you must have this specific DNA in order to participate, Oh wait, in a sense they did, since if your not an established grower who was registered before Jan. 1 of 2015 your do not qualify.