Pubdate: Fri, 06 May 2016
Source: Register-Guard, The (OR)
Copyright: 2016 The Register-Guard
Contact: http://www.registerguard.com/web/opinion/#contribute-a-letter
Website: http://www.registerguard.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/362
Author: Dylan Darling

OREGON RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA MARKET EXPANDING TO EDIBLES, EXTRACTS 
IN EARLY JUNE

The recreational marijuana market in Oregon will grow beyond flower, 
into edibles and extracts, in less than a month.

Starting June 2, medical marijuana dispensaries registered with the 
Oregon Health Authority will be able to sell low-dose edibles 
containing no more than 15 milligrams of THC, the psychoactive 
chemical in marijuana, and extracts with 1,000 milligrams of THC or 
less to recreational customers. Currently, only people with -Oregon 
- -Medical Marijuana -Program cards are able to purchase -edibles and extracts.

Edibles are foods that contain marijuana, such as brownies. Extracts 
are concentrates processed from marijuana and used to make edibles. 
Extracts also can be smoked or vaporized.

Customers must be older than 21, and dispensaries may sell only one 
edible and one pre-filled receptacle of extract to each -recreational 
customer per day, according to a bulletin -issued by the Oregon 
Health -Authority this week.

The state regulations make for weak edibles and potent extracts, said 
Amanda Berry, manager at Sweet Tree Farms, a dispensary on West 11th 
- -Avenue in Eugene.

The store sells medical marijuana edible products with 100 to 200 
milligrams of THC.

"So 15 milligrams is very low for a dose," she said.

Edibles includes candies, drinks and popcorn.

"We even have jerky that is medicated, and ice cream," Berry said.

Top sellers at Sweet Tree are gummies and chocolates, she said.

Topicals, such as lotions and balms, made with 6 percent or less THC, 
also will be available for recreational sale starting June 2.

Edibles and extracts have been available at dispensaries to medical 
marijuana cardholders, but the Legislature earlier this year approved 
a bill that allows dispensaries to sell recreational edibles and extracts.

The health authority's directive expands the sale of the products to 
the new legal recreational marijuana market. -Extracts and edibles 
sold recreationally are subject to the same 25 percent state sales 
tax that is applied to marijuana flowers.

The market for edibles, extracts and topicals could be as big as the 
market for recreational marijuana flower, Berry said.

She's hiring more -workers, from 14 currently to about 20, because of 
the expected boost in -business.

"It is going to be a crazy, crazy day," she said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom