OLCC drops 'Control,' adds 'Cannabis' to name years after recreational marijuana legalized

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Oregon agency that regulates alcohol and marijuana within the state had a name change on Monday – becoming the Oregon Liquor & Cannabis Commission.

The OLCC’s acronym will remain the same, exchanging the agency’s post-Prohibition era “Control” for the word “Cannabis” to reflect the regulation of recreational marijuana, which began five years ago when voters approved Measure 91.

“The industries we regulate matter, they matter a lot to the state of Oregon’s economy,” said Paul Rosenbaum, Chair of the Oregon Liquor & Cannabis Commission. “The cannabis industry in Oregon has become a billion dollar business and changing our agency name reflects our role in generating revenue to fund state programs.”

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The new name will be reflected on newly-issued licenses and worker permits within the alcohol and marijuana industry.

Existing documents will still be valid, but will be replaced with the new logo and name when renewed.

The OLCC was initially created in 1933 after prohibition was repealed and the U.S. adopted the 21st Amendment, aimed at selling distilled spirits and licensing businesses to sell beer and wine.

“Our name may have changed, but our mission to serve the businesses we license, the consumers we protect, and the communities we support by generating revenue for the state – all of those things remain the same,” said Steve Marks, OLCC Executive Director. “For the next two years we’re going to concentrate on helping the cannabis and hospitality industries re-establish and grow their business, while ensuring revenue stability for the state. That’s the immediate focus of the Oregon Liquor & Cannabis Commission.”