TIME TO BREATHE

After a backlash from Oregon’s cannabis community over new regulations for cannabis testing facilities set out in October 2016, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) created new temporary guidelines for testing last month, and they will last until April of this year. October’s permanent rules were setting some major records for being the strictest in the country. The rules mandated everything from production to testing to packaging. Many laboratories, growers and dispensary owners were finding it difficult to comply with these regulations in such a short time frame.

Apparently Oregon Governor Kate Brown heard the criticism from cannabis businesses, understood the plight of the people in the cannabis industry, and decided to let up a little, at least for a few months. The governor sympathized with producers and wanted to give them an easier transition, while still keeping safety standards high in the recreational cannabis industry. It’s important that manufacturers deliver a safe product, but the regulations also need to be realistic. October’s permanent rules put cannabis producers and growers in a difficult situation, so the Governor called on the OHA to create rules that would protect consumers from harmful substances, and still also allow for a thriving recreational industry. The OHA’s mission for recreational cannabis is to put standards in place to keep cannabis safe, but also to keep it affordable for the consumer.

“The cannabis industry has become a staple in the state’s economy, and losing large amounts of tax money at this point would be bad for Oregon.”

While all cannabis still requires testing at a registered laboratory testing facility, those paying for the testing are now able to test fewer samples and pay much less to do so. Cannabis business people and entrepreneurs warned lawmakers that the new rules that were put into place in October would make state cannabis revenues much lower, taking a lot of money away from the Oregon government. The cannabis industry has become a staple in the state’s economy, and losing large amounts of tax money at this point would be bad for Oregon.

The new rules were so difficult to comply with in such a short period of time that the effects would also be fatal for many in the cannabis industry. People would be laid off and many dispensaries would be forced to close their doors. Perhaps the worst outcome of all would be an increase in black market sales, which would really make a joke out of the recreational industry as a whole. All these complaints came just two days after the new rules were instated.

By changing the rules slightly and giving business owners more time to comply with them, Kate Brown hopes to provide some relief for people in the cannabis industry. However, the Governor, along with the Oregon Health Authority, want to ensure that dispensaries are still providing a safe product for public use. The new temporary process is said to be much more efficient, leaving many to wonder why the temporary rules couldn’t work on more of a long term basis.

“The OHA’s mission for recreational cannabis is to put standards in place to keep cannabis safe, but also to keep it affordable for the consumer.”

Even though many people are appreciative of the extra time to get everything up to date, the new temporary regulations are still very particular, and leave cannabis workers scrambling to get on board. And believe it or not, the temporary regulations are still more strict than in any other cannabis state. The new temporary rules went into effect on December 15, 2016 and will be in effect until May 30, 2017, at which point October’s permanent rules will reign once again. This may be a lot to keep track of, but those working in the recreational cannabis industry are very glad to be saving on costs, and to have a little breathing room while they try to comply with new regulations.