About the Cannabis Program

Information
Two people working at a cannabis retail shop. One of the workers holds a jar full of cannabis while the other uses red tongs to place cannabis on a scale to weigh.
The City of Portland’s Cannabis Program oversees all regulatory, licensing, compliance, community impact, and equity initiatives for the City’s legal cannabis industry, both medical and adult-use.
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About the Cannabis Program

The City of Portland’s Cannabis Program oversees all regulatory, licensing, compliance, community impact, and equity initiatives for the City’s legal cannabis industry, both medical and adult-use. In addition, the Cannabis Program oversees the Social Equity & Educational Development (SEED) Initiatives. Supported by an ongoing $1 million in cannabis tax revenue allocation, SEED Initiatives was launched as the Cannabis Program's vehicle for the single-source monitoring, measuring and reporting on the city's cannabis tax revenue, including administering the SEED Grant Fund.

(Please note: As of April 1, 2023, the SEED Initiatives are overseen by Prosper Portland. This page will be updated with new information as it becomes available.)

As the cannabis industry grows, we continue to find ways to support equitable policies, help communities impacted by cannabis prohibition, and provide pathways for businesses to meet regulations and stay compliant. We believe this is the best way to ensure Portland’s cannabis business community creates local jobs, supports public health and safety, employs a diverse workforce, invests in their staff and their communities, and provides consumers with safe, legal options to buy and consume cannabis. 

Our efforts are advised by Portland’s Cannabis Policy Oversight Team (CPOT); they provide insights and advise on the development and adoption of policies to deliver diversity, equity, accessibility, and sustainability to the cannabis industry. Find out more about CPOT.

Cannabis Program Staff

Christina Coursey, Cannabis & Liquor Programs Manager

Christina.Coursey@portlandoregon.gov; 503-823-6253

Nate Werner, Lead Compliance Specialist

Nathaniel.Werner@portlandoregon.gov; 503-823-6587

Brook Geffen, Compliance Specialist

Brook.Geffen@portlandoregon.gov; 503-823-8272

Joey Polanco, Licensing & Compliance Support Specialist

Joseph.Polanco@portlandoregon.gov; 503-865-6687

Michelle Hansberry, Technology Lead

Michelle.Hansberry@portlandoregon.gov; 503-823-8721

Phil Keim, Policy Coordinator

Phil.Keim@portlandoregon.gov; 503-865-6997

Nicole Taylor, Administrative Coordinator

Nicole.Taylor@portlandoregon.gov; 503-823-6475

Mailing address

Cannabis Program
Bureau of Development Services
1900 SW Fourth Avenue, Suite 5000
Portland, OR 97201

Call us at 503-823-9333 or send an email message to cannabis@portlandoregon.gov.

Cannabis Program Fact Sheet