The Oregon Senate moved forward with a plan to limit the state’s supply of recreational marijuana.
Lawmakers voted 18-10 on April 29, 2019, to freeze marijuana productions at current levels for the next two years. The state will not issue new production licenses to marijuana growers, but current growers will be able to renew their licenses.
Democratic state Sen. Michael Dembrow said the state produces so much marijuana that Oregon has enough supplies to last it for the next 6 1/2 years. That surplus has caused prices to plummet.
Democratic state Sen. Michael Dembrow said the state produces so much marijuana that Oregon has enough of the drug to last it for the next 6 1/2 years. That surplus has caused prices to plummet.
Lawmakers shot down another version of this bill earlier in April 2019. Republicans said at the time that the marijuana industry should be regulated by the free market, not the state.
Some Republicans reversed their vote this time around saying the amended proposal is narrower in scope. Early in April 2019, Oregon lawmakers considered allowing the governor to enter into agreements to sell marijuana to other states when the federal government would allow interstate transactions.
The measure now goes to the House for consideration.
