OLCC reports results of outdoor marijuana grow inspections
(Update: OLCC corrected Eugene rate, Bend region is lowest)
The Oregon Liquor Control Commission announced Monday the results of recent enforcement inspections of outdoor recreational marijuana producers. They found most of the inspected licensees are complying with state laws and OLCC rules, though the Bend region fared worse than other areas of the state.
“Operation Good Harvest” was a saturation compliance effort focusing on Oregon’s fall legal outdoor cannabis harvest.
During “Operation Good Harvest,” OLCC inspection teams were in the field from September to early November and conducted 354 inspections across the state, with a particular focus on Southern Oregon. The OLCC found that 259, or 73 percent of outdoor producer licensees did not have any “deficiencies” or potential violations.
The Bend region was lower than the rest of the state, at 55 percent compliance, but OLCC spokesman Mark Pettinger noted only 11 sites were inspected in the region, the fewest of any area of the state.
Of the 95 licensees with discrepancies, 41 of the licensees have potential violations that could lead to the cancellations of their licensees. That represents about 12 percent of the outdoor producer licensees inspected.
“The results of Operation Good Harvest are promising, but just as when we started minor decoy activity focusing on licensed retailers, producer licensees not in compliance need to improve to stay licensed and operational,” said Steve Marks, OLCC executive director.
“The inspections reflect our agency’s effort to prevent diversion from Oregon’s legal cannabis market, and we’ll continue compliance activity across all license categories to maintain the well-regulated market that Oregonians expect.”
Pettinger said the names of the specific licensees with deficiencies or possible license cancellations are not being released at this stage, as it’s an administrative process, not as transparent as a criminal one.
Eventual “charge letters,” if sent, would be a public document, but Pettinger said it could be months before investigations are completed.
