WHEN THE Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) was tasked with handling Oregon’s adult use cannabis program—AKA the recreational weed sales that we have come to know and love—the news didn’t send massive throngs out dancing in the streets. To say that Oregonians have a complex relationship with the OLCC is an understatement.
Among the agency’s new, cannabis-related responsibilities? Issuing all the recreational licenses in the state—be they for dispensaries, growers, processors, wholesalers, labs that test cannabis and cannabis products, and the makers of edibles.
So how is that going? Not great, if you look at the numbers. As of August 23, here’s where we stand:
• Number of licenses that have been applied for, and the fees paid: 1,289.
• Number of licenses that have been issued: 195.
• Number of those 195 issued licenses that are for growers: 194.
• Number of wholesaler licenses that have been issued: 1.
• Number of dispensary, processor, or lab licenses that have been issued: 0.
• Number of additional licenses that have been submitted, but with unpaid fees: 770.
• Number of remaining licenses to be issued if everyone who applied gets approved: 1,864.
• Percentage of licenses applied and paid for that are currently unissued: 85 percent.
• Number of months the OLCC has had to issue licenses: more than 7.
“All right, all right, Poindexter,” you say. “Maybe stop killing my buzz with all your math numbers. I got my weed. Who cares?”
If you want to keep having your weed, you should care.