New Oregon marijuana rules let customers buy more, and from farther away

Oregon has approved multiple changes to the regulation of the cannabis industry for the new year, including doubling how much marijuana customers can purchase and allowing home delivery across city and county lines.

In a Dec. 28 meeting, Oregon’s Liquor and Cannabis Commission approved new rules that officials say will help streamline oversight of the industry, decrease violations, expand choices for consumers and help prevent children from accessing hemp products containing THC, according to a news release from the agency.

The changes are in response to the industry’s rapid growth, and will put Oregon more in alignment with other states on marijuana use rules as well as position the state in the export market if marijuana is legalized nationally, officials said.

While some of the new rules took effect Jan. 1, others kick in later this year.

The new rules were driven by two bills passed in 2021. House Bill 3000 established a framework for limiting the unregulated sale of hemp products containing THC. Senate Bill 408 provided the commission with an outline for re-structuring penalties for rule violations by licensees.

The following are some of the changes:

• Consumers can buy two ounces of usable marijuana — up from one ounce — beginning Jan. 1. Edible concentration limits will increase from 50 mg THC to 100 mg per package April 1. Single-serving portions (of no more than 10 mg THC) will need to be scored to make the portion sizes obvious. [Read more at Statesmen Journal]