Maryland medical cannabis commission looking for new chief

The executive director of Maryland’s medical marijuana commission is stepping down for undisclosed reasons.

Patrick Jameson, who had been at the helm of the commission since April 2016, is resigning effective Nov. 30, the Baltimore Business Journal reported.

His resignation comes only four months after the governor appointed 10 new members to the highly criticized commission.

The Medical Cannabis Commission has been in the spotlight for a variety of reasons, following the slow start of the state’s MMJ program.

A recent lawsuit, for example, alleges that the Medical Cannabis Commission broke program rules when it awarded cultivation business licenses earlier this year.

Here’s what you need to know about Jameson’s departure:

• Brian Lopez, chairman of the commission, told the Business Journal he didn’t know why Jameson decided to quit.
• The commission is already looking for a replacement, and Jameson will help with the transition.
• The commission is in the middle of trying to approve licensees for cultivation, processing and dispensing.
• Jameson’s resignation won’t cause a disruption to the program, Lopez said, because the commission has a compliance director and someone to oversee testing labs on staff.