The Oregon Health Authority has issued temporary rules governing the state’s medical marijuana industry until March 3, when it will begin accepting applications to operate fully licensed and regulated dispensaries.
The temporary rules serve as the blueprint for the permanent regulations. In February, the process begins to make the regulations permanent, a timeline which the health department says will “allow for continued public input on the content of the rules”.
The regulations are similar to those covering the medical marijuana industry in other states, including:
- Licenses will not be provided to individuals with drug convictions in the past five years
- Retail locations must be more than 1,000 feet from schools
- Local zoning rules will apply
- Product testing for mold and contaminants will be required, providing a further boost to the testing industry
- Dispensary premises must be tightly secured
- Products must be closely tracked
More unique is a competitive provision. To avoid development of “green miles” where multiple dispensaries locate in the same neighborhood, no MMJ center may operate within 1,000 feet of another dispensary. Applications for dispensaries to be located in the same territory will be granted on a first-to-file basis.
The Oregon Health Authority administers the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program.
