Section 475C.289 - Certification of cannabis researchers; rules(1) The Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission, in consultation with the Oregon Health Authority and the State Department of Agriculture, shall establish a program for the purpose of identifying and certifying private and public researchers of cannabis.(2)(a) The authority shall assist the commission in identifying candidates for certification under this section with respect to potential medical research.(b) The department shall assist the commission in identifying candidates for certification under this section with respect to potential agricultural research.(3) Subject to subsection (4) of this section, the commission shall adopt by rule or order: (a) Qualifications for certification under this section;(b) The term of a certificate issued under this section;(c) Processes for applying for, receiving and renewing a certificate under this section;(d) Procedures for tracking marijuana, usable marijuana, cannabinoid products, cannabinoid concentrates and cannabinoid extracts received by and disposed or otherwise made use of by a person that holds a certificate issued under this section; and(e) Procedures for disposing or otherwise making use of marijuana, usable marijuana, cannabinoid products, cannabinoid concentrates and cannabinoid extracts.(4) In establishing qualifications under subsection (3) of this section, the commission shall consider the following: (a) A research applicant's access to funding and the overall cost of the proposed research;(b) The overall benefit of an applicant's proposed research to this state's cannabis industry or to public health and safety; and(c) Legal barriers to conducting the proposed research or legal risks associated with conducting the proposed research.(5) In adopting procedures under subsection (3)(d) and (e) of this section with respect to making use of marijuana, usable marijuana, cannabinoid products, cannabinoid concentrates and cannabinoid extracts, the commission shall also adopt procedures by which a person that holds a certificate issued under this section may transfer limited amounts of marijuana, usable marijuana, cannabinoid products, cannabinoid concentrates and cannabinoid extracts to another person that holds a certificate issued under this section or to a premises for which a license has been issued under ORS 475C. 065, 475C. 085, 475C. 093 or 475C. 097.(6) In adopting procedures under subsection (3)(d) and (e) of this section with respect to making use of marijuana, usable marijuana, cannabinoid products, cannabinoid concentrates and cannabinoid extracts, the commission shall also adopt procedures by which a person that holds a certificate issued under this section may give, devise or bequest usable marijuana, immature marijuana plants, marijuana seeds, cannabinoid products, cannabinoid concentrates and cannabinoid extracts to a medical marijuana dispensary registered with the authority under ORS 475C. 833 and owned by a nonprofit corporation organized under ORS chapter 65 for purposes described in ORS 475C. 850.(7) A person that holds a certificate issued under this section:(a) May receive marijuana, usable marijuana, cannabinoid products, cannabinoid concentrates and cannabinoid extracts from a licensee or a registrant under ORS 475C. 770 to 475C. 919; and(b) May not sell or otherwise transfer marijuana, usable marijuana, cannabinoid products, cannabinoid concentrates or cannabinoid extracts to any other person, except as provided in this section and rules adopted by the commission under this section.(8) Except as otherwise provided by the commission by rule, rules adopted under ORS 475C. 005 to 475C. 525 with respect to licensees and licensee representatives apply to persons that hold a certificate issued under this section and persons employed by or who otherwise perform work for persons that hold a certificate issued under this section.(9) A person that holds a certificate issued under this section, and an employee of or other person who performs work for a person that holds a certificate issued under this section, is exempt from the criminal laws of this state for possession, delivery or manufacture of marijuana, aiding and abetting another in the possession, delivery and manufacture of marijuana, or any other criminal offense in which possession, delivery or manufacture of marijuana is an element, while performing activities related to conducting research as described in this section. Section 25, chapter 23, Oregon Laws 2016, provides:
Sec. 25. The Oregon Health Authority shall solicit proposals through a competitive process for the purpose of choosing one or more entities to conduct research for the purpose of developing public health and safety standards for consumers of marijuana and marijuana-derived products. [2016 c. 23, § 25]