OLCC signs contract for online marijuana licensing

The Oregon Liquor Control Commission said Monday it has signed an agreement to build the online application necessary to handle requests for commercial recreational marijuana business licenses.

Under the measure approved by voters last November to legalize recreational marijuana, the OLCC has a deadline of January 4 , 2016, to begin accepting applications for commercial growers, processors, wholesalers and retail outlets.

Under the agreement, NIC USA, Inc. will build a secure online application that will be used by recreational marijuana license applicants to apply for a new license, renew an existing one, pay license fees by credit card, pay marijuana taxes in accordance with new law, and update license information.

“The agreement with NIC USA is an important step on the path to getting the marijuana program up and running by January of next year,” said Tom Towslee, acting communications director for the OLCC. “The next step is to appoint a rules advisory committee to help write the rules necessary to implement the new law.”

The application design will begin immediately and be completed in time to meet the statutory deadline of Measure 91. The agreement has an annual subscription fee of $80,000 and no up-front costs.

NIC USA, Inc. manages, markets and operates the E-GOV Program web portal for the State of Oregon, under a master agreement that the Department of Administrative Services administers.