ST. PAUL, Minn. – The new Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management continues to work on staffing, including the director position which has been vacant since Erin DuPree stepped down one day after being appointed to the lead agency.
Charlene Briner has been serving as interim director:
“I would say that I am in this role for at least a little longer,” Briner said. “The governor is determining his next steps. In terms of what the next steps [are], and what that search will look like – we’re still waiting. So, no, new news there.”)
Gov. Tim Walz is looking for a director with extensive regulatory experience.
DuPree resigned in late September following allegations she sold illegal products at her Apple Valley-based cannabis company.
In the meantime, Briner said the office will be growing its workforce. About two dozen people are working there now and some are from other state agencies.
“We’ll be making roughly about 130 new hires,” Briner said. “Plus, we’ll be absorbing the team over at the Office of Medical Cannabis because eventually they will come over in early 2025.”)
Briner said adult-use marijuana, medical cannabis and hemp-based THC will all be under one umbrella.
Officials are working to develop regulations and a licensing system.
