OLCC director briefs House committee on cannabis regulation, testing and youth concerns

Craig Prince, executive director of the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission, told the House Committee on Economic Development, Small Business and Trade on April 23 that Oregon’s cannabis market is “well regulated” in many respects but still faces technical and enforcement challenges, especially around laboratory testing, hemp, and youth access.

Prince framed the state’s regulatory history, noting that Measure 91 created an adult recreational market and later legislative work set statewide tax and licensing structures. “We want to make sure that we’re testing it and making sure people understand how much potency they’re getting,” Prince said, describing the state’s aim to protect public health while supporting lawful businesses.

The nut graf: lawmakers and the OLCC discussed three practical problems that the agency has focused on — inconsistent THC testing by private labs, regulatory gaps between hemp and marijuana, and youth exposure to high-potency products — and the steps the agency has taken or proposed to…