PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Some licensed marijuana shops around Oregon sold to minors during decoy operations conducted by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission in December.

The OLCC conducted the operations at 66 stores to make sure marijuana licensees were complying with state laws and OLCC regulations to keep minors from entering licensed retail businesses to buy marijuana products.

However, out of the 66 stores, 16 failed — giving the state an average compliance rate of 76%. Portland had the lowest compliance rate at 43%.

“These overall results are unacceptable,” Steve Marks, the executive director of the OLCC said. “One of the basic tenets of Measure 91 is the protection of children by discouraging their use of marijuana. Oregonians who voted for legalizing recreational marijuana implicitly told the cannabis industry to abide by public safety laws. Clearly they’re not, and we need to continue this type of enforcement activity.”

During the sales check, a minor — supervised by an OLCC supervisor — attempts to enter a licensed marijuana retailer and/or purchase marijuana products from the business to see if staff are checking IDs correctly and refusing entry to anyone under 21. The volunteers carry their own legal ID which identifies them as under the age of 21.

The OLCC tests marijuana businesses every year with each store getting at least one visit.

Here is the OLCC’s data from the December checks:

  • On Dec. 20, 2017, in the Eugene-Springfield area, marijuana inspectors visited 19 licensed marijuana retailers, and 3 failed a check for prohibiting sales to a minor volunteer. Compliance rate: 84%
  • On Dec. 21, 2017, in the Keizer-Salem area, marijuana inspectors visited 23 licensed marijuana retailers, and 5 failed a check for prohibiting sales to a minor volunteer. Compliance rate: 78%
  • On Dec. 21, 2017, in Portland, marijuana inspectors visited 7 licensed marijuana retailers, and 4 failed a check for prohibiting sales to a minor volunteer. Compliance rate: 43%
  • On Dec. 28, 2017, in Central Oregon, marijuana inspectors visited 5 licensed marijuana retailers, and none failed a check for prohibiting sales to a minor volunteer. Compliance rate: 100%
  • On Dec. 29, 2017, in Southern Oregon, marijuana inspectors visited 12 licensed marijuana retailers, and 4 failed a check for prohibiting sales to a minor volunteer. Compliance rate: 67%