Gretchen Whitmer, the Democratic Governor of MIchigan, had eliminated the state’s medical marijuana licensing board earlier this month and citing “inefficiencies” for the move.
She has issued an order establishing the Marijuana Regulatory Agency that will take effect on April 30, 2019, unless it is rejected by the Legislature.
The new agency will assume the powers of Michigan’s Bureau of Marijuana Regulation along with the medical marijuana licensing board and an advisory panel.
“This executive order will eliminate inefficiencies that have made it difficult to meet the needs of Michigan’s medical marijuana patients,” Whitmer stated. “All elements of this agency have been designed to serve and better protect Michigan residents, and I’m eager to have a unified effort across state departments to make sure this process runs effectively and efficiently.”
The new agency will also regulate businesses entering the market for recreational marijuana. Michigan voted to legalize recreational marijuana last November.