The House Committee on Economic Development, Small Business, and Trade convened on May 5, 2025, to discuss Senate Bill 558, which aims to modernize cannabis regulations in Oregon. The meeting featured testimonies from several stakeholders in the cannabis industry, highlighting the need for regulatory updates to support small businesses and enhance product quality.

The session began with a call for support of Senate Bill 558, emphasizing its potential to address outdated sampling regulations that currently limit cannabis companies to offering samples of only 5% of their products. Tucker Holland, co-founder of Entourage Cannabis, presented a compelling case for the bill, arguing that it would allow retail staff to gain better product knowledge, thereby improving consumer confidence and safety. He noted that the existing restrictions hinder quality control and create inefficiencies that benefit the illicit market.

Jason Lampman, owner of two micro-tier cannabis production facilities, echoed Holland's sentiments, stating that the bill would facilitate essential in-house sampling for product development and quality assurance. He compared the cannabis industry to Oregon's established wine sector, advocating for similar collaborative practices among licensed farms to enhance competitiveness without unnecessary expansion.

Mike Gatlin, a consultant with extensive experience in the cannabis sector, pointed out that Oregon's regulatory framework has not evolved significantly since 2015. He stressed the importance of adapting regulations to reflect the industry's maturity and to prevent further declines in tax revenue, which supports addiction recovery programs in the state.

Courtney Moran, representing Columbia Basin Biosciences and the Oregon Hemp Alliance, provided a neutral perspective on the bill. While she acknowledged the potential for amendments, she expressed concerns about any new authority granted to the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) over hemp production, emphasizing the need for careful consideration to avoid negative impacts on the hemp industry.

The committee's discussions underscored the urgency for legislative action to modernize cannabis regulations in Oregon, with stakeholders advocating for changes that would foster innovation, improve product quality, and ensure the sustainability of small businesses in a competitive market. The meeting concluded with a commitment to review potential amendments and continue dialogue on the bill's implications for the cannabis and hemp industries.