By The official who oversaw Michigan’s cannabis regulatory department and helped shape the state’s nascent recreational cannabis market is leaving his post.
Andrew Brisbo, who has served as Executive Director of the Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency since 2019, is stepping down from his role to take up a new position with the state’s Office of Licensing and Regulation. of detroit free press reported on Tuesday.
A spokesperson for Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer confirmed the move to free press.
“We are proud of the incredible team at the Cannabis Regulatory Agency who have established Michigan as one of the top cannabis markets in the country,” said Governor Spokesperson Bobby Reddy. told the newspaper in a statement.
Brisbo has led the agency since its inception. In 2019, as the state geared up to launch a recreational cannabis market, Whitmer consolidated the state’s cannabis regulations under a single entity, the Cannabis Regulatory Agency.
Brisbo was appointed head of the new agency after previously serving as director of the Marijuana Regulatory Agency, which was replaced by the CRA.
“Andrew will be key in determining and achieving solutions as we develop new marijuana regulations in Michigan,” said Whitmer. Said A statement at the time detroit free press“He brings a wealth of expertise on the subject, which will be essential throughout this implementation process while protecting Michigan residents.”
Michigan voters legalized medical cannabis in 2008. Ten years later they did the same for recreational pot use.
as free press report In 2019, Whitmer created the only regulatory agency launched in early 2020 “to better coordinate the medical marijuana market and adult recreation.”
The agency, which was renamed from the Marijuana Control Agency to the Cannabis Control Agency in February, was tasked with regulating “the future processing, distribution and sale of both hemp and marijuana.”
“Consolidating multiple government functions into the newly named Cannabis Control Agency will help us continue to grow our economy and create jobs,” Witmer, a Democrat, said in a statement at the time. said. “And, frankly, legal cannabis entrepreneurship, farming, and consumption will help diversify the enormous tax revenues from this new industry into bigger, bolder projects for local schools, roads, and first responders. By directing our investments, we help put Michigan residents first.”
Whitmer’s office said the reorganization, made via the governor’s executive order, “allows for more effective and efficient administration and enforcement of Michigan’s laws regulating all forms of cannabis.”
Whatever the name of the agency, it’s Brisbo in charge, and Michigan’s recreational cannabis industry is thriving.
“Under Brisbo’s leadership, Michigan’s recreational cannabis industry has expanded rapidly.” free press report on tuesday.
Last year, Michigan added more jobs to the cannabis industry than any other state that legalized cannabis. Leafly reports that the state’s regulated weed market had 18,000 jobs at the time.
of free press report This week, Whitmer spokesperson Reddy said Michigan’s adult cannabis industry has led to “more than 20,000 jobs in the cannabis industry and $500 million in tax revenue.”
“There are now more cannabis workers than police officers in Michigan,” Leafly said in a report last year. “In states known for their auto industry, the number of cannabis workers is now about the same as the number of auto mechanics.”
However free press I got it That the still young industry is experiencing “growing pains” in recent months. “In-state sales and cannabis business continue to grow,” free press report“Marijuana flower prices have plummeted, squeezing the profits of many businesses, forcing them to lay off employees or shut down operations altogether.”
