PORTLAND, Ore. – A vast majority of cannabis growers who fall under certain Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP) rules are currently out of compliance.
But for Brent Kenyon, who’s been working with medical growers and patients for decades, it’s not surprising.
“OHA over the last two years has changed policy several times sending out several conflicting information to the growing community,” said Brent Kenyon, Southern Oregon Alternative Medicine.
The OHA says 1,618 of the 1,903 registered growers didn’t report their inventory as of February of this year. The law applies to all medical growers except for patients who grow their own marijuana for themselves, at their own home, and don’t give it to anyone else.
“We want to effectively and efficiently regulate the production, transfer, and testing of medical marijuana,” said Jonathan Modie, Oregon Health Authority.
The OHA says growers are supposed to use the Oregon medical marijuana online system to upload data about their inventory and transfers, so products don’t go to the black market.
“When that happens then that’s less of that product that is accessible to medical marijuana patients,” said Modie.
Kenyon agrees, but he says it’s how the OHA is telling growers about the reporting system that’s the real problem.
“It’s really been damaging to the medical side to have this conflicting information, which is why patients are suffering because they’re not getting the growers that they need from a lot of the frustration,” he said.
If growers don’t get in compliance, the OHA says they face fines and could lose their grower card registration.
Although Kenyon says he understands growers frustrations with the system, he says it’s not worth losing growers and marijuana for patients who need it.
“Now is the time for growers and patients who make sure their growers, if they have a grower, you need to make sure your grower is participating correctly in the system… that they’re registering so it doesn’t put your license in jeopardy when it comes to your supply,” said Kenyon.
The OHA says warning letters will be sent to growers later this month and a grace period is being allowed before civil penalties are issued.
You can find out more about OMMP rules HERE.
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