OPS 2023 Spring Newsletter
Oregon Health Authority and Oregon Department of Human Services sent this bulletin at 04/06/2023 04:34 PM PDT |
SPRING IS HERE, ALONG WITH OUR FIRST LICENSEES!
Welcome to the Oregon Psilocybin Services 2023 Spring Newsletter.
OREGON PSILOCYBIN SERVICES ISSUES FIRST LICENSES
The Oregon Psilocybin Services (OPS) team issued the state’s first psilocybin licenses in March as part of the nation’s first regulatory framework for psilocybin services.
The role of Oregon Psilocybin Services (OPS) is to license psilocybin facilitators, manufacturers, service centers and laboratories, while ensuring that those licensees and their workers comply with Oregon law. OPS began accepting applications for the four license types on January 2, 2023. OPS expects to issue additional licenses to laboratories, service centers and facilitators in the coming months.
OPS has begun publishing a Weekly Report on Applications for Licenses and Worker Permits. The weekly report includes information about total number of applications received by type and status. The report will be updated on a weekly basis.
At the time of publishing the OPS Spring newsletter, the Weekly Report showed the following:
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HOW DO I ACCESS SERVICES?
Anyone interested in accessing psilocybin services will be able to find service centers and facilitators (once they are licensed) in a new OPS Licensee Directory. The directory will contain licensee names and contact details for all licensees who have requested to have their information published.
Similar to how someone would identify other wellness service providers, people will be able to use the licensee directory, and other internet and community resources to identify and contact psilocybin service centers and facilitators. Each licensed service center, and the facilitators who work with them, will manage their own operations, communications, and scheduling with clients.
For more information, go to:
How do I access psilocybin services?
¿Cómo accedo a los servicios de psilocibina?
NEW PSILOCYBIN BUSINESS RESOURCE GUIDE
The Oregon Psilocybin Services team partnered with the Oregon Office of Small Business Assistance to create a new Psilocybin Business Resource Guide. This guide builds upon the information provided in the 2022 Psilocybin Fall Business Forum and includes information and resources for new businesses in Oregon’s emerging psilocybin ecosystem.
The guide includes resources for creating a business plan, selecting a business structure and business name, registering a business, understanding tax obligations, reviewing the license application process, understanding requirements when hiring employees, and other information that new businesses may need to be aware of for a successful launch.
For those of you starting up a new business, we hope you find the Psilocybin Business Resource Guide useful and welcome your feedback!
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UPDATE ON PRODUCT TRACKING
OPS is working to develop a psilocybin product tracking system that will meet the needs of the OPS section and licensees that will use the system. The new product tracking system will be accessed through the Training Program, Licensing and Compliance (TLC) system, which is the online application portal for psilocybin licenses. OPS expects the new product tracking system to be completed by summer of 2023. Until then, OPS will use an interim tracking solution to comply with the requirements in statue. Once psilocybin businesses are licensed with OPS, they will receive more information about how to begin tracking psilocybin products. OPS is excited to develop this in-house system and has a temporary rule waiver to allow for this internal solution for product tracking.
UPDATE ON LAND USE COMPATIBILITY STATEMENT (LUCS) FORM
ORS 475A 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 location zoning is consistent with the proposed use. For convenience, OPS published a standard LUCS form in late 2022 to be downloaded and used by applicants. After receiving feedback from local planning partners, OPS has revised the instructions in the form for clarity and to promote efficient processing of LUCS applications. The revised LUCS form and instructions were published on March 23, 2023. Although the revised LUCS form was edited slightly for formatting, it may be used interchangeably with the previously published LUCS form. Please reference the revised instructions when completing the form.
OREGON LEGISLATURE CONTINUES TO MEET
The 82nd Legislative Assembly convened in regular session on January 17, 2023. On March 20, 2023, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) presented the Public Health Division (PHD) budget, which includes the Oregon Psilocybin Services budget, to the Joint Ways and Means Subcommittee on Human Services for an informational hearing on SB 5525. The presentation can be viewed here. On March 23, 2023 the subcommittee heard public testimony on SB 5525, which included written and virtual testimony related to OPS. The Legislatively Approved Budget (LAB) will be determined by the end of session, which adjourns by June 31, 2023. For more information on SB 5525, please visit the Oregon Legislative Information System (OLIS) website.
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2023 RULEMAKING
OPS plans to open administrative rules for minor adjustments and technical fixes in 2023. OPS may also open rules associated with any legislation that passes in the 2023 Legislative Session if directed to administer additional work. OPS plans to hold a series of public listening sessions and assemble a 2023 Rules Advisory Committee (RAC) later this summer. OPS will send more details and dates out to the distribution list in the coming months. All scheduled public meetings can also be found on our OPS Psilocybin Meeting Calendar.
OPS will consider recommendations for more significant policy changes from the Oregon Psilocybin Advisory Board (OPAB) made by the Spring of 2024 in preparation for a 2024 fall rulemaking process. Public listening sessions and opportunities to participate in Rules Advisory Committees for significant policy changes will be announced in 2024.
We welcome your feedback.
Please do not hesitate to reach out with comments or questions.
