Maryland medical cannabis commissioner resigns

Joy A. Strand, the executive director of the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission, is stepping down, effective Oct. 1.

Strand, a health-care executive, led the commission for almost two years.

The commission oversees the regulations and implementation of the state’s medical marijuana program.

No reason was given for Stand’s resignation, The Baltimore Sun reported.

Strand was hired to oversee the cannabis commission in December 2017. She replaced Patrick Jameson, who resigned as commission chief for undisclosed reasons in November 2017.

Will Tilburg, the agency’s director of policy and government affairs, will serve as acting executive director.

Strand is leaving as the commission closes in on awarding one of Maryland’s 14 new growing and processing licenses, which are intended to increase diversity in the state’s MMJ industry.

For more on this story, click here.