S. John Collins / Baker City Herald Oregon Liquor Control Commission Chair, Rob Patridge, explains the role of the OLCC in marijuana regulations Thursday at the Baker City Armory.
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While stoners across the state look forward to their first legal toke of wacky weed in July, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) is gathering information to help formulate rules regarding the recreational sale of marijuana in 2016.
About 100 residents from across Oregon attended an OLCC marijuana “listening session” at the Armory in Baker City Thursday.
The purpose of the meeting was to hear from the public about how marijuana regulation should work in local communities across the state.
The ballot initiative passed in November tasks the OLCC with regulating marijuana and products derived from the psychoactive herb. It also gives the OLCC the authority to tax and license the drug in all of its forms.
Klamath County District Attorney and OLCC Commission Chair Rob Patridge outlined the details of Measure 91 and OLCC’s role in a PowerPoint presentation. Patridge pointed out he was personally opposed to the measure.
“It’s the OLCC’s job to put in place the measures to implement the rules to allow for licensing and distribution and those kinds of things. I’m not here to relitigate whether recreational marijuana is good policy or bad policy,” Patridge said. “What I’m here to talk to you about is how can we put this thing together in a safe and responsible manner for communities throughout the state of Oregon.”
