Portland Pot Shops Catch a Break, City Council Lowers Fees

PORTLAND, OR – That whiff you're getting from pot stores in the city is the smell of breaks that they've just been given by the city council. The city is cutting a series of fees that businesses in the cannabis industry.

From now on, it will be cheaper to do business. And easier.

The council is reducing fees for licenses, easing up on some permitting requirements, and even offering a payment plan for some license fees. Get all the latest information on what's happening in your community by signing up for Patch's newsletters and breaking news alerts.

"Though Oregon voted to legalize cannabis in 2014, Cannabis prohibition still negatively impacts individuals and entire communities today," said Portland Commissioner Chloe Eudaly. "While we know our work isn’t done, these changes are a small step toward reducing some of that impact.

"We're also excited to offer extra assistance and flexibility for small business owners, and to bring down fees for all license types, particularly retailers."

The council says the changes are:

Reduce fees for all license types:

• Retailer license fees are now lowered from $4,975 to $3,500
• Micro-Tier Producers and Processors and Retail Couriers will only pay a $200 application and $1,000 license fee
• Other license types will continue to pay a $3,500 license fee
• Other license types (including Retailers) will now pay just $500 for both the initial and the renewal application fee

Create a Social Equity Program with further reduced fees and other assistance:

• Discounts on licensing fees for qualifying businesses, specifically for small businesses and for businesses whose owners or staff were directly impacted by cannabis prohibition
• Provide a credit to qualifying businesses that utilize the Bureau of Development Services’ Early Assistance and Preliminary Life Safety Meetings

Offer a deferred payment plan for license fees:

• All license types may defer full payment of their license fees for six months

Modify permitting requirements for processors and producers:

• Extract Processors must continue to demonstrate that all commercial building, mechanical, and tank permitting (if applicable) is final to get a license
• However, all other Processors and Producers must now only demonstrate at least an issued (not final) applicable commercial building permit.

The council says more changes an be expected down the road as they undertake a market study and collect more data.

Photo via Portland City Council.