Oregon Recreational Marijuana Rules Advisory Committee

In order to implement Measure 91, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission is required to establish a Rules Advisory Committee (RAC). The RAC is charged with assisting in development of the fiscal impact statement and helping the Commission develop the set of rules necessary to implement the provisions of Measure 91. Due to the complexity of the issues surrounding Measure 91, the OLCC will establish technical committees of subject matter experts who will assist the RAC and the OLCC in fully understanding the impact that the draft rules will have upon specific areas of the regulated marijuana market. Two Technical Committees; Licensing, Compliance & Enforcement, and Labs will be ongoing to educate and inform the RAC and OLCC staff on issues and topics in the recreational market. At the time of formation, all committees will engage in a group charter process. Each subject matter technical committee will report to the Licensing, Compliance & Enforcement, and the Labs committees who will in turn, work with the OLCC Director and staff to prepare recommendations for the RAC. All committees will apply rigorous project management methodology to produce accountability and the best possible results for the public.

The OLCC’s Recreational Marijuana Rules Advisory Committee structure is now posted on the OLCC’s website.

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Oregon Liquor Control Commission today announced the 15 members of the advisory committee that will recommend the administrative rules necessary to implement the new recreational marijuana law approved by voters last November.  The Rules Advisory Committee appointed by OLCC Executive Director Steven Marks includes representatives from the marijuana industry, law enforcement and local government, and the public.  “This advisory committee, with representation from the marijuana industry, local government and law enforcement, and the general public, will provide a balanced approach to recommending rules to the Commission that will reflect the will of the voters when they passed Measure 91 last November,” Marks said. “In addition, the OLCC is appointing two permanent technical subcommittees. The first will advise the agency on rules that address the issues of licensing, compliance and law enforcement. The second will provide advice on traceability (seed to sale) and laboratories that will test the recreational marijuana available to the public.”

The Rules Advisory Committee and the subgroups will begin meeting in June.

In addition, OLCC staff will participate with other agencies in statewide interagency work groups to address marijuana-related issues, including land use, banking, energy and other issues. The other state and agencies and offices include Department of Transportation, Department of Revenue, Department of Justice, Oregon Health Authority, Department of Energy, Water Resources Department, Department of Environmental Quality, Oregon State Police, Oregon Department of Agriculture, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Department of Land Conservation and Development, the governor’s office and the state treasurer’s office.

Oregon Department of Justice attorneys advising OLCC during the rule making process include Heather Vogelsong, Shannon O’Fallon and Judith Giers.

Rules Advisory Committee members include:
• Chris Lyons, retired Lottery and OLCC executive director, Gresham – Chair
• Cedar Grey, Siskiyou Sungrow, Williams
• Brent Kenyon, Southern Oregon Alternative Medicine, Ashland
• William Simpson, Chalice Farms, West Linn
• Mowgli Holmes, Pylos Bioscience, Portland
• Hunter Neubauer, OreGrown, Bend
• Anthony Johnson, chief petitioner Measure 91, Portland
• Theresa Marchetti, City of Portland Office of Neighborhood Involvement, Tualatin
• Doug Breidenthal, Jackson County commissioner
• Jeff Kuhns, deputy chief, Keizer Police Department
• Craig Roberts, sheriff, Clackamas County
• Paul Fraiser, district attorney, Coos County
• Paul Lewis, Multnomah County health officer, Portland
• Nicole Rowe, independent consultant, Portland
• Ryan Christensen, entrepreneur, Portland

The members of the technical advisory subcommittee licensing, compliance and enforcement include:
• Jim Mountain, attorney, Harrang Long Gary Rudnick, Portland – Chair
• Amy Margolis, attorney, Emerge Law Group, Portland
• Anthony Taylor, Compassionate Oregon, McMinnville
• Kevin Walruff, lieutenant, Medford Police Department
• Don Morse, Oregon Cannabis Business Council, Portland
• Peter Gendron, industry consultant, Wolf Creek
• Sam Grosz, tax attorney, Portland
• Alan Rappleyea, Washington County counsel, Hillsboro
• Chip Lazenby, attorney, Lazenby and Associates, Portland
• Ellen Osoinach, deputy city attorney, City of Portland
• Glen Banfield, deputy, district attorney, Multnomah County
• Jason Zidell, consultant and real estate developer, Portland

Members of the technical subcommittee on laboratories and traceability include:
• Jeremy Sackett, Cascadia Laboratories, Portland
• Bethany Sherman, OG Analytical, Eugene
• Ric Cuchetto, Pac NW Science, St. Helens
• Bear Kyle, 3b Analytical, Portland
• Rowshan Reordan, Green Leaf, Ashland

The OLCC will also appoint several subgroups to develop draft rules for several areas related to regulating the marijuana industry, including:
• Growers
• Processors, topicals and infused products
• Extracts
• Retail

Subgroup members will be named soon and posted on the agency’s website at www.marijuana.oregon.gov.

Three additional subgroups, advertising and labeling, business (including banking) and wholesale, will be announced later.

Read the full News Release

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