Oregon is making clear its desire to be (or, perhaps, stay?) ahead of the curve when it comes to thoughtful hemp policy. This week, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission announced that the amount of THC permittable in hemp concentrates and tinctures will see an increase.
Prior to this new rule, hemp concentrates could contain only up to 10 milligrams of THC. Now, such products can contain up to 50 milligrams of THC—a stark increase that will open doors across Oregon.
While hemp is a federally legal crop, states are responsible for ensuring that the hemp being grown compliant. However, some federal regulations rendered large amounts of hemp unusable. This new rule by the OLCC is the result of efforts to do away with such waste.
According to Jay Noller, the director of OSU’s Global Hemp Innovation Center, the OLCC’s new rule will “provide an out” for hemp crops that come in over the legal limit. Under the previous regulations, the THC limit for hemp products did not accurately reflect the nature of hemp plants.
Steven Crowley, a processing technician for the OLCC, stated that “most whole hemp tinctures seem to contain 20 milligrams to 40 milligrams THC.”
Impact On The Industry
For many companies dealing in Oregon hemp, this new rule means products that were once unsellable can now hit the shelves. Sun God Medicinals, a Medford company, was involved with a 2019 OLCC decision that left much of their product illegal.
SGM’s CEO, Brie Malarkey, decided that the 10-milligram limit wasn’t right for Oregon’s hemp industry. They lobbied for over a year, demanding that the OLCC see reason.
Malarkey had no doubt that the old regulations were borne out of good faith. However, she wanted the OLCC to recognize that they were, ultimately, not reflective of the whole picture.
Malarkey’s efforts didn’t go unnoticed. “Every single one of our tinctures or droppers are back in business,” according to Malarkey.
This new regulation may put Oregon ahead of the curve, but it stems from an approach to hemp that, to Malarkey, seems self-evident.
“What it allows us to do is stay true to whole plant herbalism. We can maintain being certified organic because the naturally occurring levels of THC that are present in the hemp plant would still be allowed in there.”
