A report funded by the federal government says Oregon produces more than 2 million pounds of marijuana each year, more than six times what it says can reasonably be consumed.
SALEM, OR — In the wake of a new law enforcement report claiming that overproduction of cannabis remains a problem in Oregon, some state lawmakers say they’ll continue to work on improving regulation and enforcement of the state’s cannabis laws when they convene for a session next year.
Meanwhile, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission, which regulates recreational cannabis, says the report and the data it uses require more scrutiny.
This week’s report was authored by the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, or HIDTA, program. HIDTA is a federal program that aims to coordinate law enforcement efforts between agencies and governments and to reduce illicit drug trafficking.
The report appears to bolster claims by the U.S. Attorney for Oregon, Billy Williams, who has said the amount of cannabis produced in the Beaver State far exceeded the amount that Oregonians could reasonably consume and raises concerns about diversion of the product across state lines.
Oregon’s estimated annual production capacity exceeds 2 million pounds, “far outpacing annual state consumption demands,” which range from 186,100-372,600 pounds.
The report also pulls together a wide range of other data points, from cannabis-related emergency room visits to youth exposure to cannabis advertising. [Read More @ Portland Tribune]
