As expected, the Omnibus Cannabis bill has been drafted, and dropped on the desks of the Co-Speakers of the House. Designated HB 3664, We expect the bill to be referred to the House Rules Committee shortly. Other committees that would normally hear this bill are now "closed" for new legislation. Rep. Olson had to use one of his two "Priority Bills" to get this introduced, and that is a sign of his seriousness in sponsoring this legislation.

The two Co-Chairs of the House Rules Committee are Rep. Andy Olson, who put this measure together, and Rep. Dave Hunt, a Democrat. Both Co-Chairs must agree before this bill will get a hearing. We strongly suggest urging your membership to contact Rep. Hunt to ask him to deny this bill a hearing, or get it assigned to Greenlicks Health Care Committee. In addition to the negative clauses of the bill, here are talking points about the bill's process:

* This bill was crafted in secret

* This bill is circumventing the normal process for a bill that should have been considered by the more-knowledgeable House Health Care and / or House Judiciary Committees

* Rep. Olson rejected OMPI offers of informational briefings, and rejected all OMPI suggestions for positive changes to the OMMA - he has not been willing to work with us productively.

* Similar bills have already been heard in the House and Senate, where they failed to move forward - there is no broad political will to change the OMMA this session

The primary contact person here is Dave Hunt, Olson's co-chair of Rules. If co-chairs do not agree, there is not action. We need to convince Hunt not to work on the bill even if it gets an obligatory hearing in that committee. We can also get it assigned to Greenlicks Health Care Committee, though it may not be. You can contact Rep. Hunt at 503-986-1900 or by email at -   rep.davehunt@state.or.us

Other members of the House Rules Committee can also be contacted. You can find a list of those Committee members here:   http://www.leg.state.or.us/committees/   Also - Health Care Committee, Contact co-speakers here: rep.brucehanna@state.or.us ... and ... rep.arnieroblan@state.or.us - Also, write your own legislator, even if a sponsor of this bill and let them know you will not support this bill!

STATUS:   05/19 (H) Public Hearing and Possible Work Session scheduled.
Date: Thursday-May 19
Time: 3:00 P.M.
Room: HR E
at The Capitol - 900 Court Street NE, Salem, Oregon 97301

Note(s): Co-Chair Rep. Andy Olson will be presiding day-of. There are a number of items to be discussed that day, including Possible Introduction of Committee Measures.

In the Public Hearing and Possible Work Sessions, HB 3664 FIRST PUBLIC HEARING Modifies provisions of Oregon Medical Marijuana Act.

Staff respectfully requests that you submit 15 collated copies of written materials at the time of your testimony and, if possible, an electronic copy of materials provided to staff 24 hours prior to the meeting.

Persons making presentations, including the use of video, DVD, PowerPoint or overhead projection equipment are asked to contact committee staff and provide an electronic copy 24 hours prior to the meeting.

ADA accommodation requests should be directed to Karen Hupp, or Juliene Popinga, ADA Coordinators, at employee.services@state.or.us or by telephone at 1-800-332-2313. Requests for accommodation should be made at least 72 hours in advance.