Oregon Passes Bill to Allow Cannabis Product Samples Between Companies

The Oregon House of Representatives voted 40-10 on Monday to send a bill to
Gov. Tina Kotek’s (D) desk allowing licensed cannabis companies to offer
“trade samples” of their products to other licensees at regulated industry
trade shows, according to a KOIN report.

Senate Bill 558, which also allows for wholesale transactions at cannabis
trade shows, was already approved by the Senate last month.

State law currently prohibits cannabis operators from offering product
samples in any context. The proposal does not allow product samples for the
general public; however, the change would allow for budtenders and other
retail staff to receive — and experience first-hand — samples of the
products they sell to consumers.

Jesse Bontecou, executive director of the Cannabis Industry Alliance of
Oregon, told KOIN the proposal would be a significant maturation point for
the Oregon cannabis industry:

“Many of the rules in the books today were written when the legal market
was new, untested and we had very little knowledge. They reflect early
fears and not realities of a now-mature, highly competent industry that
employs thousands and contributes hundreds of millions in economic
activity.” — Bontecou, via KOIN

Earlier this week, a federal judge blocked a voter-approved ballot measure
requiring Oregon cannabis companies to set up labor agreements with their
workers, ruling that the measure violates the First Amendment rights of
cannabis business owners.