The coalition of marijuana regulators, which works to inform policymaking, has announced a new leadership and is highlighting the expansion of their membership in the U.S., as well as, for the first-time, internationally.
The Cannabis Regulators Association announced its new board of directors on Friday. They were elected this week.
These are the state cannabis regulators that will be on CANNRA’s new board:
* Will Tilburg is the President of the Maryland Cannabis Administration. * Dominique Mendiola is the President-Elect.
Dividens
* Past-President: Tyler Klimas, Executive Director, Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board
* Board Member At Large: Adria Berry, Executive Director, Oklahoma Medical Marijuana
Authority
* Board member at large: Nicole Elliott Director, California Department of Cannabis Control
* Board member at large: Chris Tholkes Director, Minnesota Office of Medical Cannabis
* Board member at large: Andrew Turnage Executive Director, Georgia Access to Medical
Cannabis Commission
In a recent press release, CANNRA’s Executive Director Gillian Schauer stated that the 2023-2024 CANNRA Board is a good mix of all of our CANNRA members states and territories, in terms of politics, people, and places. The board will be able to benefit from the experiences of the veteran board members that have previously served on the CANNRA Board, as well as from the new ideas and engagement from the new members.
The announcement on Friday follows the organization’s external stakeholder event held in Maryland. Members engaged with businesses and advocates to discuss their work and guide regulatory policies. Shaleen Title , former Massachusetts cannabis regulator , declined to attend the meeting because a cannabis group that is funded by large alcohol and tobacco companies participated.
Title wrote an op-ed in Marijuana Moment that said: “As regulators, stakeholders and policymakers sit down to discuss the framework of legalizing marijuana nationwide, they should not invite smelly Joe Camel.”
CANNRA, which does not have a stance on legalization, noted in its latest release that they had continued to add members over the past few months. They now represent 45 U.S. States and Territories. It also created a category for non-voting members from abroad and welcomed Canada’s Cannabis Regulatory Agency to its coalition.
Tyler Klimas , Past-President of CANNRA, said: “It is a crucial time for cannabis regulators. There are ongoing federal policy discussions that will impact states and territories and ongoing regulatory challenges.” This board is well-positioned to help CANNRA negotiate this landscape.
Tilburg, who is the incoming President of the organization and has been a Maryland marijuana regulator in the last five years, stated that CANNRA “has become a respected and nonpartisan voice, helping to shape state and federal cannabis policy and regulations” since its establishment in 2020.
Tilburg said, “I am looking forward to building on the mission as President.” His state, is set to start adult-use marijuana sales on Saturday .
Mendiola, Mendiola’s new president-elect said, “As a group of state regulators, who have navigated and led novel issues, and worked to fill gaps when there was no federal framework in place, it has been an honor to support and learn from colleagues across the country.” “I am inspired by the progress that we have made so far and I’m prepared to seize this opportunity to further support and enhance the incredible influence of our organization.”
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Photo by Mike Latimer.
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