Oregon OLCC Fines Producer $60,000 for Employing Workers Without Valid Oregon Cannabis Handler Permits (April 2025)

Oregon Handler Permit Requirements

ORS 475C.245 and OAR 845-025-7000 require all cannabis workers who have access to cannabis — including harvest workers, trimmers, and transport personnel — to hold a valid Oregon Marijuana Handler Permit (MHP). An MHP requires passing a background check and completing an online training course. Permits must be renewed every five years.

Violation Details

OLCC compliance investigators conducted a surprise inspection during a harvest operation on April 9, 2025. Of 18 workers on-site:

• 6 workers had no MHP and had never applied for one
• 6 workers had expired MHPs (expired more than 90 days prior)
• 2 workers had applications that had been previously denied due to disqualifying criminal records; they had been rehired without a valid permit

Civil Penalty Calculation

Under OAR 845-025-8340, OLCC may assess penalties of up to $5,000 per worker per day for MHP violations. The Commission calculated the penalty as follows:

| Category | Workers | Days | Rate | Subtotal | |---|---|---|---|---| | No permit, never applied | 6 | 14 | $3,000/worker/day | $36,000 | | Expired permit >90 days | 6 | 7 | $1,500/worker/day | $18,000 | | Previously denied, rehired | 2 | 3 | $3,000/worker/day | $6,000 | | Total | | | | $60,000 |

Compliance Guidance

Producers using seasonal harvest crews should implement a pre-employment MHP verification step in their onboarding process. Permit status can be verified through the OLCC online portal. Using temporary employment agencies that are not cannabis-licensed does not relieve the producer of responsibility for worker permit compliance.