Oregon marijuana accreditation program on ‘verge of collapse’
SALEM, Ore. As Oregon officials struggle to license all sectors of the recreational marijuana industry before the end of the year, a top official of the agency that accredits labs that test pot says it is overwhelmed a situation that could derail the rollout.
Gary K. Ward, administrator of the Oregon Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program, emailed dozens of labs awaiting licenses, saying his agencys abilities to accredit them is on the precipice of collapse because of the lack of resources and the last minute rush of cannabis labs with applications.
He said in his Aug. 26 email that he had asked for three full-time employees to handle cannabis testing lab accreditation, and received none.
Only three labs have been accredited to test cannabis by Wards agency, known as ORELAP.
If labs arent accredited, then marijuana growers and extractors wont be able to have products tested to be put on the market which Oregon voters legalized in a November 2014 ballot measure and retailers will have bare shelves. Many retailers are also awaiting licenses from the Oregon Liquor Control Commission.
This has been extremely worrisome for the industry, Donald Morse, director of the Oregon Cannabis Business Council, said in a phone interview with The Associated Press. I have spoken with people in all agencies and weve warned them for months this bottleneck was coming because of their inability get these accreditations done.
The Oregon Department of Revenue reported that as of July 31, it has processed $25.5 million in marijuana tax payments this year. New rules require testing by an accredited lab.
The tax revenue will go from that to zero if we have no product to sell, Morse said.
Medical marijuana dispensaries are selling to both patients and so-called recreational users, but after the end of this year they wont be allowed to sell to recreational users. Retail shops will sell to them, but only products that have been tested by accredited labs for pesticides and other impurities, and for potency. Medical marijuana is required to be tested but the labs previously did not need to be accredited.
Jeremy Sackett, co-founder of Cascadia Labs, said he is awaiting accreditation and that an inspection by ORELAP is scheduled for next week. The company has one lab in the Portland area and another in Bend.
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