Former CO regulator tapped as cannabis industry advocate

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Laura Harris has gone from Colorado’s top cannabis rule enforcer to leading one of the state’s industry coalitions.

Harris, who retired from her post as head of the Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division (MED) in 2013, recently accepted a job as executive director of the Colorado Cannabis Chamber of Commerce (also known as C4), according to a press release from the organization.

“We are thrilled that Laura has agreed to come and lead our organization,” C4 board President Dan Anglin said in the release. “Her expertise and knowledge of the industry as well as our complicated regulatory requirements and challenges made her the perfect candidate for this post.”

Harris will take the reins at C4 on Jan. 9, just before the start of Colorado’s 2017 legislative session, in which C4 plans on being heavily involved as an industry lobbying force.

C4’s legislative priorities during the four-month session will include “meaningful business initiatives” and “educational programs related to safe consumption and under-21-access prevention,” Harris said in the release.

Harris is taking over for outgoing executive director Tyler Henson, who has taken a job in Washington DC.