SALEM, Ore. — Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan is in sizzling water, with Republican lawmakers calling for her resignation and the Democratic governor in search of investigations as a result of Fagan took a consulting job with a marijuana agency.
The matter got here to a head Friday after Fagan’s workplace launched an audit of the state’s marijuana regulators, the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission. The audit known as for the OLCC to “reform” some guidelines for marijuana companies, saying they’re “burdens” when mixed with federal restrictions on interstate commerce, banking and taxation.
Fagan, a Democrat, recused herself from the audit as a result of she is a paid advisor of an affiliate of marijuana retail chain La Mota, Fagan’s spokesman Ben Morris mentioned at a digital information convention in regards to the audit’s launch.
La Mota’s co-owner has hosted fundraisers for prime Democratic Oregon politicians, together with Fagan, whereas the co-owner, her companion and their enterprise allegedly owe $1.7 million in unpaid payments and extra in state and federal taxes, in keeping with Willamette Week, a Portland newspaper.
Fagan didn’t seem on the information convention, which included her spokesman, deputy and the audits director. News of the consultancy was first reported Thursday by Willamette Week.
Morris denied Fagan’s exterior work represented a battle of curiosity and mentioned Oregon Government Ethics Commission pointers particularly enable public officers to take care of personal employment.
But hours after the audit press convention, Republican legislative leaders, who’re within the minority within the Legislature, known as for Fagan to resign over the consulting job.
“This appears to be an ethics violation and if it isn’t then Oregon’s ethics laws are broken,” Senate Republican chief Tim Knopp and House Republican chief Vikki Breese-Iverson mentioned in a joint assertion.
Gov. Tina Kotek, a Democrat, indicated she had considerations afterward Friday.
“It’s critical that Oregonians trust their government,” Kotek mentioned in an emailed assertion.
Kotek mentioned she was urging the Oregon Government Ethics Commission “to immediately investigate this situation” and requested the Oregon Department of Justice to look at the audit.
The audit questioned the OLCC’s requirement that marijuana companies hold their stash behind metal doorways and have 24-hour video surveillance programs. The OLCC ought to make marijuana laws extra like these governing distilled spirits, which the company additionally regulates, the auditors mentioned.
The audit additionally mentioned Oregon ought to put together for the U.S. authorities ultimately legalizing marijuana and place the state, with its enormous stockpiles of the drug, as a nationwide chief within the trade.
Oregon, lengthy recognized for its potent marijuana, can be competing with different pot-producing states – notably California, which additionally has an enormous oversupply – for the export market if marijuana is ever legalized nationally.
“Now is the time for Oregon to prepare its system for a future when cannabis is legal nationally,” Oregon Deputy Secretary of State Cheryl Myers mentioned on the information convention.
Oregon Audits Director Kip Memmott famous with a little bit of envy that Canada legalized marijuana and is “a lot more proactive in looking at the benefits financially.”
Oregon can paved the way within the U.S. in how pot is regulated, whereas additionally providing its high-end strains of marijuana, Memmott mentioned.
“We have kind of a signature commodity, along with … our timber and all the other great things that Oregon produces here. And there’s a real opportunity,” Memmott mentioned.
Oregon’s auditors reminded the OLCC to observe its personal strategic plan to place the state as a nationwide chief by growing the variety of talking engagements at nationwide conferences, holding extra statewide conferences and championing a nationwide framework for hashish regulation.
OLCC Executive Director Craig Prins wrote in response that his company is eager to maneuver rapidly if, and when, interstate marijuana commerce is permitted.
Prins mentioned he expects “only the highest quality products from well-regulated systems, that have recognized testing, packaging, labeling, and traceability standards, will be allowed for sale into other states.”
Oregon has for years prioritized these requirements, that are aimed toward defending shoppers, Prins mentioned.
A complete of 21 states and Washington, D.C., have legalized leisure use of marijuana, however activists see little probability of the present Congress transferring towards nationwide legalization. Still, there’s hope the Biden administration will enable pot commerce amongst states which have legalized it.
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