The Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) has been inundated with applications for recreational cannabis licenses.

An influx of cannabis applications in Oregon, if submitted after June 15, has been paused by the commission. When the backlog is cleared, applications will reopen.  

Licensing staff will be shifted temporarily to exclusively oversee all recreational cannabis license renewals received by the cut-off date. Applications submitted after this date will be dealt with once the outstanding submissions are processed by the OLCC.

Oregon cannabis applications are on the incline

Since April 2016, as many as 1,900 recreational cannabis licenses have been issued by the commission. In addition to this, close to 29,000 cannabis worker permits have been issued.

The number of people placing cannabis applications in Oregon is not easing up either.

According to the agency, the review process is going to be longer due to the rate at which applications are being received.  

New applications won’t be reviewed as quickly as renewals. The same applies for applications submitted prior to the commission announcing its backlog.  

Agency staff juggle numerous jobs to meet demand for Oregon cannabis applications

An increasing number of staffers is starting work for the OLCC to handle the rise in license and work permit application submissions.  

Two obligations must be met by the OLCC when servicing existing licensees: provide license renewals and changes in business structure filings.

The legislature’s decision to hire extra staff to meet the spike in demand for cannabis licenses has not necessarily made life easier for those employed by the OLCC. Workload has not reduced for workers, what with increased industry interest prompting more people to submit cannabis applications in Oregon than ever before.

Over the last two years, the agency’s attention has been drawn to the time it takes staff to complete cannabis license renewals in Oregon, as well as the resources required to do so.

Agency staff is now faced with the task of changing license locations, overseeing and dealing with license renewals, as well as giving the go-ahead for making changes to existing licensed premises. 

Cultivation laws contributing to backlog of Oregon cannabis applications

Oregon’s cannabis cultivation laws have changed somewhat, contributing to the delay in reviewing applications.

A maximum of 2,000 (OMMP) grow sites must now register with the state’s Cannabis Tracking System (CTS) no later than July 1, 2018.

CTS technology will be used by the OLCC to carry out proper compliance auditing and inspection of these cannabis grow sites.

There is a good reason why the OLCC will be combining the auditing of both the state’s recreational and medical cannabis markets – it will provide a broad insight into legal cannabis production.  

“Public and consumer safety are guiding priorities for the OLCC and our work with regulators, law enforcement, and the marijuana industry,” said Marks.

“The success of our regulated system will continue to rely on our cooperative effort to encourage legitimate participants in this system, while deterring and shutting down illegal activity,” he added.

Compliance activity is also of great importance to the OLCC, with the commission striving to spotlight Oregon’s 2018 fall outdoor harvest.

License suspension will help the agency improve operations

According to OLCC executive director, Steve Marks, temporarily suspending new licenses will aid the agency in meeting its regulatory duties and responding to cannabis business inquiries in a timely manner.

“In order to ensure that the OLCC is fulfilling its regulatory duties and providing timely responses to businesses in the industry, we must focus on the current participants in the system and preserve for the Oregon Legislature its consideration of the necessity for further statutory controls on marijuana licensing in 2019,” said Marks.

Next year, the Oregon Legislature will assess the issue.