Oregon: Health Authority Issues First Batch Of Dispensary Licenses

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The Oregon Health Authority on Friday announced it had issued licenses to eight medical marijuana dispensaries. "For the first time, a legal and regulatory structure is in place to govern the operation of dispensaries," said Tom Burns, who oversees the dispensary program."The registration process is the first to ensuring safe access to medical marijuana for patients and protecting the safety of our communities." Under the law passed last year, the names and locations of the establishments is private. But the health authority offered applicants the chance to release basic information about their shop names and locations. Seven of the eight allowed the state to release the information.

Among the establishments getting a license: Pure Green, a Northeast Portland dispensary on the site of one of Oregon's first post-prohibition liquor stores. Other establishments getting a license: Oregon's Finest, 1327 N.W. Kearney St., NW Green Oasis, 1035 S.E. Tacoma St., both in Portland; the Releaf Center, 2372 N. First Street, suite B, Hermiston; Cherry City Compassion, 2025 25th St., SE, Salem; Doctor Jolly's, 415 S.E. Third St., Bend; Emerald City Medicinal, 1474 W. Sixth Ave., Eugene.

"You just made our day," said Troy Moore, owner of Oregon's Finest, who learned his establishment was getting a license from The Oregonian. The law directed the Oregon Health Authority to create a registry of medical marijuana facilities. Those facilities must follow security and testing rules, and they have to carefully track the marijuana coming in and out of their stores. The state, meanwhile, has two regulators who will inspect the establishments annually. The health authority began accepting online applications March 3. Dispensary operators filled out an online component of the application, then followed up with supplemental material that had to be mailed to the agency. Agency staff has spent the week reviewing and verifying the materials of the 288 outlets that applied for licenses, said Karynn Fish, a spokeswoman for the dispensary program.

The state so far has processed 50 applications out of 288 it has received since the program's launch. Officials on Friday said the state has issued 22 provisional licenses; those establishments may not open for business until they a security system is in place that is approved by the Oregon Health Authority. Twenty other applications were denied for reasons ranging from incomplete information to facility locations that are within 1,000 feet of a licensed dispensary or a school.

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News Moderator - The General @ 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: Oregonlive.com
Author: Noelle Crombie
Contact: Contact Us | Oregonian Media GroupOregonian Media Group
Website: Medical marijuana in Oregon: Health authority issues first batch of dispensary licenses | OregonLive.com
 
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