Oregon increases penalties for selling cannabis to minors

One of the goals of legalizing cannabis is to keep it out of the hands of young people, who are most at risk from this substance. In all legalization templates Under current laws, the sale of cannabis to minors is prohibited, with the age of majority determined by local legislation.

Oregon cannabis sellers caught selling cannabis to minors will now face harsher penalties under a temporary rule approved by state lawmakers last week: heavier fines, longer suspensions of their cannabis sales licenses, and even revocation of an employee’s work permit.

Several stores inspected in 2017 were not strict enough about verifying their customers’ ages. The Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC), which also regulates cannabis in the state, deemed these violations unacceptable.

«It is our mission at the OLCC to prevent the sale of cannabis to minors,» said OLCC Executive Director Steve Marks. «The initial results are unacceptable, and we will hold retailers and their employees accountable until they understand.»

The OLCC chair, for his part, stated that there was «no room for error» when it came to the sale of cannabis to minors. «The integrity of Oregon’s regulatory system depends on the industry’s compliance with the rules.»

A first offense will now be punishable by a 30-day license suspension (requiring the dispensary to close) or a fine of 49,501 TP4T (previously 10 days and 16,501 TP4T).

Two violations within two years will result in a 30-day closure (following a 10-day notice period). Three violations within two years will result in the revocation of the license (following a 20-day suspension).

The OLCC previously had the authority to revoke an employee’s work permit, but notes that the new rule now allows it to do so in cases where cannabis is sold to a person under the age of 21.