Legislative Session
The 2021 Oregon Legislature passed two bills that affect the Oregon hemp industry - House Bill 3000 (HB 3000) and House Bill 2284 (HB 2284). Both of these bills have been signed into law by the governor.
HB 2284: Hemp Commodity Commission created
HB 2284 establishes a hemp commodity commission. From Oregon’s iconic Dungeness crab to picturesque wheat acreage, 23 of Oregon’s agricultural and commercial fishery industries are so committed to improving their commodities and the state’s economy that they assess themselves to support industry efforts. These commodity groups are serious about succeeding. Oregon law makes assessments mandatory for the covered commodity. They are paid primarily by producers at first point of sale.
Commodity commissions receive the assessments and commissioners are
responsible for good stewardship of those funds as they decide how to use them. The commissions have have three primary duties - promotion, research, and education about a specific commodity. Commissioners are appointed by the Director of ODA and are generally producers or otherwise have a vested professional interest in and knowledge of the specific commodity they represent. You will be seeing more information this fall about forming the hemp commodity commission.
HB 3000: Hemp and marijuana impacts
HB 3000 was a broad, encompassing bill that addressed various parts of the cannabis industry - hemp and marijuana. One part of HB 3000 has the intention to bring cannabis growers (hemp and marijuana) who are not following the law and rules into compliance.
The bill strengthens enforcement against illegal cannabis growers and increases multi-agency efforts to support Oregon's legal hemp growers.
ODA is conducting focused sampling and testing of registered hemp farms in Southern Oregon (Jackson, Josephine, and Douglas counties). ODA is working with OLCC on this project through an interagency agreement (IAA) that authorizes OLCC staff to work under the ODA Hemp Program. Through this agreement, OLCC staff have the same authority to be on registered hemp farms as ODA staff. ODA is using OLCC teams to take samples and conduct the analysis of the hemp.
HB 3000 also makes regulatory and enforcement changes, ensuring ODA’s Hemp Program aligns with the USDA Hemp Program. For more information on HB 3000, read the recent news release from the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC).
Rule Making Process
ODA will be going through at least two rule making processes this year to implement changes from HB 3000. That process involves meeting with a rules advisory committee (RAC) made up of stakeholders invited by ODA to review draft rules before they are put out for general public comment. The RAC meetings are open to the public. However, only invited RAC members can make comment during those meetings. These meetings are held virtually.
- The first round of rule making will primarily be to adopt rules to allow ODA to submit a state plan for approval to the USDA.
- The second round of rule making later this fall will be to adopt additional changes as required by HB3000 that do not directly relate to ODA submitting a state plan.
The first RAC is next Thursday, July 29th from 1:00 - 3:00 pm
Find meeting details on ODA's Public Meeting Calendar.
Contact
Hemp Program
hemp@oda.state.or.us
503-986-4652
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