Patients and small businesses press CRC on testing limits, hemp access and licensing delays

During the open public-comment period, a series of patients, hemp‑program operators and small-business applicants delivered direct appeals to the commission on access and safety.

Patient safety and testing: Telephonic commenter Andrea Bridal urged the commission to reduce a temporary 100‑pound testing batch limit that she called “the largest in the country,” to require certificates of analysis (COAs) be posted online and to mandate solvent labeling on packaged products. “You have the ethical responsibility to lower it and the ability to do so with a single motion and vote,” Bridal said, adding that the commission should hire scientific and medical advisors to better evaluate testing and patient needs.

Hemp‑program operators seeking access: Thomas Norsia, a small hemp grower licensed under USDA programs, said his full‑spectrum CBD products would no longer be compliant if an intoxicating‑hemp bill becomes law and said he needs access to Metrc to keep his business operating: “I was operating before the CRC was even thought of … we are not operating under a loophole like smoke shops and gas stations. Now we are the casualties of this hemp pan.” Several speakers asked the commission to coordinate with the USDA and state hemp officials to resolve marketplace access and transition issues for existing hemp operators.

Minority and small-business concerns: Multiple minority‑owned applicants and advocates described long waits, inconsistent timelines and barriers to municipal approvals. Oscar Carrillo, who identified himself as a convicted felon and an awardee, said he has been unable to hire employees or operate despite receiving annual approval and that waiver and inspection processes were “in limbo.” Xavion Jackson and other conditional awardees described delays that cost months of rent for ready‑to‑open facilities and urged the commission to consider special meetings in August to reduce timing gaps.

Patient frustration: Samuel Reichbart delivered a critical and emotional statement, accusing the commission of deprioritizing patients and failing to address product-safety issues such as batch size, RSO product standards and required testing. “Show us that you care,” Reichbart told commissioners, urging follow‑through on promised stakeholder engagement.

Commission response and next steps: Chairwoman Weynu thanked commenters and said staff will take public comments seriously and consider issues internally, noting the commission planned stakeholder roundtables on medical issues later in the summer and that written comments can be submitted through the commission’s website. Several commissioners publicly commended staff for rolling out telephonic testimony and for outreach efforts but acknowledged the operational and policy questions that remain for patients and hemp operators.