Oregon lawmakers vote to ease industrial hemp restrictions
The Oregon House approved legislation Thursday paving the way for continued growth in the state’s newest agriculture industry. SB 1015 eases restrictions on the sale of industrial hemp products by allowing growers to sell their crops to OLCC-licensed processors, who would then be allowed to put industrial hemp products up for sale in licensed retail locations.
The bill received broad bipartisan support from lawmakers.
“There are now 177 licensed industrial hemp growers in our state who are excited to jump into the 2017 growing season,” said Representative Carl Wilson (R-Grants Pass). “The continued growth of this industry has the potential to bring good-paying jobs and new economic development to communities around the state, and particularly those in our rural communities.
“Industrial hemp can be used for a variety of different purposes, including creating fiber, seed and oil products, as well as providing positive medicinal benefits through the presences of non-psychoactive cannabinoid compounds.”
In 2009, the Legislative Assembly passed Senate Bill 676, which allowed the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) to license industrial hemp growers and handlers. ODA licensed the first industrial hemp grower in early 2015.
Senate Bill 1015A would allow licensed industrial hemp growers to sell their crop to OLCC-licensed processors and to allow those processors to create (non-psychoactive) cannabinoid concentrates or extracts for sale in OLCC-licensed retail facilities.
The measure further allows ODA-licensed industrial hemp handlers to sell any hemp concentrates or extracts they produce to an OLCC-licensed processor. In either case, as soon as either the hemp flowers or refined products are transferred to the OLCC-licensed processor, the hemp product must be entered into the seed-to-sale tracking program required of all other recreational marijuana establishments.
“This measure provides our industrial hemp growers with an additional pathway to grow their businesses and allows OLCC-licensed producers and retailers to offer an expanded variety of products that are currently in demand by Oregon consumers. I look forward to this bill being signed into law and the economic opportunities that will be realized because of it,” concluded Rep. Wilson.
SB 1015A passed the House with no opposition. Having already passed the Senate, the bill now heads to Governor Brown’s desk, where it is expected to be signed into law.
