Launch Details: Oregon’s medical marijuana program was one of the first in the country, established through a ballot initiative (Measure 67) in 1998.
Enabling Legislation: Measure 67, the Oregon Medical Marijuana Act, legalized medical cannabis and established the framework for the program.
Regulatory Authority: The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) oversees the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP), which regulates patient registration, dispensaries, and caregiver provisions.
Historical Milestones: The program has evolved significantly, with the 2014 legalization of adult-use cannabis under Measure 91 allowing integration between medical and recreational cannabis systems. In recent years, OMMP has implemented additional rules to protect patient access amid the growth of the recreational market.
2. Patient Eligibility and Registration
Qualifying Conditions: Approved conditions include cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, chronic pain, PTSD, seizures, and other debilitating medical conditions. Physicians may also recommend cannabis for additional conditions at their discretion.
Certification Process: Patients must obtain a recommendation from a licensed physician and submit an application to the OMMP for registration in the program.
Patient ID Cards: Upon approval, patients receive an OMMP ID card, which must be renewed annually with an updated physician recommendation.
Minor Access: Minors may qualify for medical cannabis with parental consent. A parent or legal guardian must act as the minor’s designated caregiver and manage all aspects of the minor’s medical cannabis use.
3. Possession and Usage Limits
Possession Limits: Registered patients may possess up to 24 ounces of usable cannabis, which is significantly higher than the recreational limit to meet medical needs.
Cultivation Permissions: Patients are allowed to cultivate up to six mature plants and twelve immature plants for personal medical use. They may also designate a caregiver or grower to cultivate on their behalf if they are unable to grow plants themselves.
Form Restrictions: Permitted forms include flower, oils, tinctures, capsules, edibles, and topical applications. Patients have access to a wider range of product forms compared to recreational users, allowing for more tailored treatment options.
4. Dispensaries and Access
Licensed Dispensaries: Oregon allows dual-licensed dispensaries to sell both medical and recreational cannabis. Patients may purchase medical-grade products from OMMP-registered dispensaries.
Dispensary Operations: Dispensaries must comply with OMMP regulations, including patient verification, secure storage, and specific operational hours.
Product Availability: Products available to patients include flower, concentrates, edibles, capsules, tinctures, and topicals. Some medical products have higher potency limits than those allowed in the recreational market.
Patient Access: Patients must present their OMMP ID card at dispensaries to access medical-grade products and are exempt from certain taxes applied to recreational cannabis.
5. Medical Cannabis Product Standards
Testing Requirements: All medical cannabis products must undergo testing for potency, pesticides, microbial contaminants, and residual solvents to ensure product safety.
Labeling and Packaging: Products must be labeled with THC/CBD content, dosage, and safety warnings. Packaging must be child-resistant and clearly labeled to distinguish medical products.
Product Safety Standards: The OMMP enforces strict safety standards, including batch testing, to ensure that products meet quality and safety requirements. Dispensaries must follow recall procedures to protect patient safety in the event of contamination.
6. Caregiver Provisions
Eligibility: Caregivers must be at least 18 years old, register with the OMMP, and pass a background check. Each caregiver may assist only one patient unless otherwise approved by OMMP.
Roles and Responsibilities: Caregivers are permitted to purchase, transport, and administer medical cannabis for registered patients. They are also allowed to cultivate plants on behalf of the patient if designated as the patient’s grower.
7. Taxation and Fees
Patient Registration Fees: Standard patient registration fees are $200 annually. Reduced fees are available for veterans ($20) and patients enrolled in assistance programs such as SNAP or the Oregon Health Plan.
Product Taxation: Medical cannabis purchases by OMMP patients are exempt from Oregon’s cannabis sales tax, which applies to recreational sales only. This exemption helps reduce the cost burden on medical patients.
8. Licensing and Regulatory Fees
Dispensary Licensing Fees: Dispensaries are required to pay licensing fees, which vary depending on their business size and scope. Dual-licensed dispensaries may incur additional fees to operate both medical and recreational sales.
Other Licensing Fees: Cultivation, processing, and testing facilities are also required to pay application and renewal fees that support program oversight and compliance under OMMP and the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC).
9. Product Potency and Formulation Restrictions
THC Potency Limits: Medical cannabis products in Oregon may have higher THC potency limits compared to recreational products, tailored to meet the needs of patients with serious health conditions.
Permitted Forms: Permitted forms include flower, concentrates, tinctures, capsules, edibles, and topicals. The OMMP permits a broader range of forms and potency options for medical patients compared to the recreational market.
10. Home Cultivation for Patients and Caregivers
Home Cultivation: Registered patients are allowed to cultivate up to six mature plants and twelve immature plants at their residence or a designated grow site. Caregivers are also permitted to cultivate on behalf of patients who are registered to grow but cannot do so themselves.
11. Insurance and Legal Protections
Insurance Coverage: Oregon does not mandate health insurers to cover medical cannabis costs. Patients are responsible for out-of-pocket expenses associated with their medical cannabis treatment.
Legal Protections: OMMP patients are protected from criminal prosecution for possession and use of medical cannabis within program limits. Additionally, patients and caregivers are shielded from discrimination in areas like housing and medical care, provided they adhere to program guidelines and do not create public safety concerns.
