The process has begun on the bureaucratic side of things in Oregon in regards to implementing marijuana legalization. Oregon voters on Election Day 2014 passed a marijuana legalization initiative that regulates marijuana like alcohol. The Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) is tasked with overseeing the recreational marijuana industry in Oregon, and has asked for more money for its budget to do so. Per the Oregon Legislative Emergency Board proposal:
Request: Increase the Other Funds expenditure limitation for the Oregon Liquor Control Commission by $333,000 and establish four limited duration positions (1.08 FTE) to begin implementation of Ballot Measure 91, which regulates the production, sale, and possession of recreational marijuana.
Recommendation: Increase the Other Funds expenditure limitation for the Oregon Liquor Control Commission by $583,000 and authorize the establishment of four limited duration positions (1.08 FTE) to begin implementation of Ballot Measure 91.
The OLCC has a deadline of January 1, 2016 to issue Administrative Rules that will govern marijuana businesses in Oregon. Two days later they will start accepting applications. I don’t anticipate any delays in Oregon, like there were in Washington. Unlike Washington, Oregon already had a framework in place for medical marijuana businesses, and can build off of that for recreational marijuana businesses, similar to how Colorado did things.
