Robert Celt
New Member
As GoLocal reported, medical marijuana advocates expressed concern late last year at an Oregon Health Authority announcement that it would be proposing an increase in fees for medical marijuana growers. Now, a new bill in the state senate would make medical cannabis more available.
Senate Bill 1511, introduced in the Oregon State Legislature earlier this week, would allow businesses with recreational licenses to produce, process and sell medical marijuana products tax free.
Previously, the OHA announced an increase that would have would forced growers to pay four times as much per patient than they do currently.
"I hope you are hearing us try to respond to concerns that we are hearing," said Rep. Ann Lininger, D-Lake Oswego, co-chairwoman of the Joint Committee on Marijuana Legalization. "This is going to be an ongoing process that probably goes on for several years, but I hope what you're hearing is we are making a good faith effort to meet people's needs."
Amy Margolis, Executive Director of the Oregon Cannabis Association, told lawmakers this week that reliable access to medical cannabis is hugely important for patients.
"We are also pleased that the Committee is taking up the issue of expanding access for OMMP patients through businesses licensed in the recreational program," Margolis said. "Our members feel strongly that we must ensure access to affordable, safe and high-quality medicinal cannabis for patients who are registered with the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program."
Marigolis also said she believed dispensaries should be able to sell recreational and marijuana simultaneously.
'We do not believe it is necessary or desirable to force business owners to choose between preserving that access and making what is really the only viable business decision for many current dispensary owners and cultivators, which is to pursue a recreational license," Margolis said. "We point to the current landscape in which, thanks to this Committee's work last year, dispensaries are successfully serving both medical and adult-use customers without duplicative licensing."
Other provisions being considered include:
- Decriminalize sharing of up to one ounce of extracts and up to eight ounces of marijuana or with other household members who are 21 or older
- Determine the crime of "open container marijuana" is defined as using the drug while operating a motor vehicle or having an unsealed or partially-used container in the vehicle
- Legalize medical marijuana use for offenders on parole, probation or other conditional release programs
- Change classification of certain marijuana-related crimes. Export of marijuana would be a Class C felony if committed for the purpose of profit and otherwise, a Class A misdemeanor. Manufacturing pot within 1,000 feet of a school would be a Class B felony, while delivering to a minor, a Class C felony
- Form a task group to recommend guidelines for prescribing cannabis and to issue a report to the Legislature by January 1, 2017
- Allocate funds for a pilot program to increase awareness among students about the impacts of using pot
- Allow agreements between the states and Indian tribes to allow tribes to use state programs to sell marijuana
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Oregon: Medical Marijuana May Become More Available
Author: Staff
Contact: GoLocalPDX
Photo Credit: Flickr
Website: GoLocalPDX
Senate Bill 1511, introduced in the Oregon State Legislature earlier this week, would allow businesses with recreational licenses to produce, process and sell medical marijuana products tax free.
Previously, the OHA announced an increase that would have would forced growers to pay four times as much per patient than they do currently.
"I hope you are hearing us try to respond to concerns that we are hearing," said Rep. Ann Lininger, D-Lake Oswego, co-chairwoman of the Joint Committee on Marijuana Legalization. "This is going to be an ongoing process that probably goes on for several years, but I hope what you're hearing is we are making a good faith effort to meet people's needs."
Amy Margolis, Executive Director of the Oregon Cannabis Association, told lawmakers this week that reliable access to medical cannabis is hugely important for patients.
"We are also pleased that the Committee is taking up the issue of expanding access for OMMP patients through businesses licensed in the recreational program," Margolis said. "Our members feel strongly that we must ensure access to affordable, safe and high-quality medicinal cannabis for patients who are registered with the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program."
Marigolis also said she believed dispensaries should be able to sell recreational and marijuana simultaneously.
'We do not believe it is necessary or desirable to force business owners to choose between preserving that access and making what is really the only viable business decision for many current dispensary owners and cultivators, which is to pursue a recreational license," Margolis said. "We point to the current landscape in which, thanks to this Committee's work last year, dispensaries are successfully serving both medical and adult-use customers without duplicative licensing."
Other provisions being considered include:
- Decriminalize sharing of up to one ounce of extracts and up to eight ounces of marijuana or with other household members who are 21 or older
- Determine the crime of "open container marijuana" is defined as using the drug while operating a motor vehicle or having an unsealed or partially-used container in the vehicle
- Legalize medical marijuana use for offenders on parole, probation or other conditional release programs
- Change classification of certain marijuana-related crimes. Export of marijuana would be a Class C felony if committed for the purpose of profit and otherwise, a Class A misdemeanor. Manufacturing pot within 1,000 feet of a school would be a Class B felony, while delivering to a minor, a Class C felony
- Form a task group to recommend guidelines for prescribing cannabis and to issue a report to the Legislature by January 1, 2017
- Allocate funds for a pilot program to increase awareness among students about the impacts of using pot
- Allow agreements between the states and Indian tribes to allow tribes to use state programs to sell marijuana
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Oregon: Medical Marijuana May Become More Available
Author: Staff
Contact: GoLocalPDX
Photo Credit: Flickr
Website: GoLocalPDX
