Oregon Psilocybin Services - Fall Newsletter
Oregon Department of Human Services sent this bulletin at 10/05/2022 12:12 PM PDT
Fall time brings focus as we approach the final steps of the development phase!
Oregon Psilocybin Services (OPS) is working hard to have final rules in place by December 31st and will begin accepting applications for licensure in the new year.
Welcome to the Oregon Psilocybin Services Section’s Quarterly Newsletter.
JOIN US AT THE PSILOCYBIN FALL BUSINESS FORUM
Oregon Psilocybin Services (OPS) is excited to partner with the Secretary of State's Office of Small Business Assistance to host the 2022 Psilocybin Fall Business Forum.
This free virtual event is open to the public and will take place on Wednesday, October 19, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time.
Learn from various state agency partners about the challenges, resources, and opportunities for new businesses in Oregon’s emerging psilocybin sector.
Virtual sessions will be recorded and available on the OPS Fall Business Forum webpage after the event.
Simultaneous interpretation in Spanish and American Sign Language (ASL) will be provided, as well as live closed caption transcription.
If you have any questions about accommodations or need any assistance to participate please contact the Oregon Psilocybin Services team at 971-341-1713, 711 TTY or OHA.Psilocybin@odhsoha.oregon.gov and every effort will be made to respond to requests received in advance. Submitting your request as early as possible is greatly appreciated.
THAT’S A WRAP WITH THE RACs!
Oregon Psilocybin Services (OPS) convened three Rules Advisory Committees (RACs) in September to discuss draft rules on: (1) Packaging, labeling and product transportation, (2) Licensing, facilities, and operations, and (3) Facilitator conduct, preparation, administration, and integration sessions. All meetings were recorded and posted to the OPS Administrative Rules webpage.
The RAC process is designed to include a diversity of opinions and viewpoints. RACs are comprised of individuals who have subject matter expertise, lived experience and who are likely to be affected by the proposed rules. In addition to providing recommendations on the remaining draft rules, the RACs evaluated fiscal and racial impact of the draft rules discussed.
You can read the draft rules discussed during the September RACs here:
Draft Rules for September 2022 RACs
These draft rules will be revised based on RAC input, and the next version of draft rules will be made available for public comment by November 1, 2022.
WE WILL BE READY FOR YOUR COMMENTS IN NOVEMBER!
Members of the public are invited to provide comments on the November draft rules during the public comment period that runs from November 1, 2022 to November 22, 2022. Please remember that we can only accept your comments on the November draft rules during this time. We will be sharing instructions for how to send in comments when we release the revised set of rules around November 1, 2022. Please sign up for our distribution list to receive these important updates.
In addition to submitting comments in writing, you can also plan to share your comments verbally at one of three public hearings scheduled in November:
Tuesday, November 15th, 2022 – 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Pacific Time
Wednesday, November 16th, 2022 – Noon – 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time
Thursday, November 17th, 2022 – 10:00 a.m. – Noon Pacific Time
Simultaneous interpretation in Spanish and American Sign Language (ASL) will be provided, as well as live closed caption transcription.
If you have any questions about accommodations or need any assistance to participate please contact the Oregon Psilocybin Services team at 971-341-1713, 711 TTY or OHA.Psilocybin@odhsoha.oregon.gov and every effort will be made to respond to requests received in advance. Submitting your request as early as possible is greatly appreciated.
More information about the public hearings can be found on the OPS Administrative Rules webpage.
SO YOU WANT TO BECOME A FACILITATOR?
Please check-out our webpage on Facilitator Licenses for updated information, including license requirements, facilitator training programs, and the OPS Facilitator Exam.
LOCAL JURISDICTIONS CURRENTLY CONSIDERING OPT-OUT ORDINANCES
Under ORS 475A, local governments may adopt ordinances that prohibit service centers and manufacturers from operating within their local jurisdictions. Ordinances must be approved by voters at the next statewide general election.
When Oregon Psilocybin Services Section receives notice of local ordinance, we will cease issuing licenses within that jurisdiction. If the ordinance is not approved by voters in the next statewide general election, OHA will then begin licensing those psilocybin businesses that meet the criteria established in statute and rule on the first business day of the January immediately following the date of the next statewide general election.
Ordinances that have been adopted by local governments can be found on the Oregon Secretary of State Local Measures Search website. Use the following search terms to locate local measures related to psilocybin: "2022" or Year, "2022 General Election" or "Election", and "Psilocybin" ”or Ballot Title Caption.
LAND USE COMPATIBILITY STATEMENTS FOR MANUFACTURER AND SERVICE CENTER LICENSE APPLICANTS
ORS 475A: Psilocybin Regulation requires applicants for manufacturer and service center licenses to request a land use compatibility statement (LUCS) from the city or county where the proposed business is located. The LUCS must be completed as a condition of licensure, and it must show that the proposed use is consistent with the location's local zoning. For convenience, the Oregon Psilocybin Services Section developed a standard LUCS form:
Land Use Compatibility Statement (LUCS) Form
OHA RESPONDS TO OREGON PSILOCYBIN ADVISORY BOARD (OPAB) RECOMMENDATIONS
The Oregon Psilocybin Advisory Board (OPAB) is an advisory board that makes recommendations to the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) Psilocybin Services Section. OPAB recommendations were approved in June 2022 and OHA recently responded to these recommendations with a letter that can be found here:
OPS Letter to OPAB - September 19, 2022
OPAB meetings are open to the public and now scheduled for the coming year. Meeting information can be found on the OPS Meeting Calendar. Please visit our homepage www.oregon.gov/psilocybin and scroll down to the Psilocybin Meeting Calendar.
Once the development period ends December 31, 2022, OPAB will determine next steps for providing ongoing recommendations to OPS, as well as strategies for long-term planning and sustainability of psilocybin services in Oregon.
HELP SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT OREGON PSILOCYBIN SERVICES!
In case you missed it, we now have a 2-page Fact Sheet in English and Spanish. The fact sheet will also soon be available in American Sign Language (ASL). We invite you to share these resources in your communities and help spread the word about this new option that will soon be available to people in Oregon.
If you have ideas for how we can work together to raise public awareness and engage with underrepresented communities, please email us at:
OHA.Psilocybin@odhsoha.oregon.gov.
STAY TUNED!
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