Tabatha Robinson, a top official at New York’s Office of Cannabis Management, has been chosen to diversify a $1 billion market as leader of the Maryland Cannabis Administration.
Robinson, New York’s acting chief equity officer, will assume the role of Maryland Cannabis Administration director on Feb. 19, according to Moore.
Robinson will succeed Will Tilburg, who last summer announced his December departure.
Maryland cannabis social equity must overcome hurdles
In a statement, Robinson praised Maryland’s industry as “a national model” and vowed “to continue to build upon the market’s success.”
However, Robinson – a former corporate lawyer who holds law and business degrees from Harvard University – will inherit in Maryland a set of circumstances in stark contrast to New York’s.
New York’s first adult-use sales were guaranteed to social equity applicants, and there are currently no restrictions on the number of marijuana business licenses available.
Maryland has both a license cap and a lengthy head start for big cannabis businesses.
Maryland launched adult-use sales in July 2023 at existing medical cannabis dispensaries, most of them operated by major multistate operators.
MSOs active in Maryland include Curaleaf Holdings, Green Thumb Industries, The Cannabist Co., Trulieve Cannabis Corp. and Verano Holdings Corp.
Marijuana MSOs had head start in Maryland
Maryland’s recreational and medical marijuana retailers took in more than $1.1 billion during the state’s first year of adult-use sales.
In contrast, social equity retailers in New York were given first crack at an adult-use market that recorded $1 billion in sales in 2024.
To diversify its marijuana industry, Maryland in 2024 issued 205 social equity permits via a lottery, and 75% of those permits went to minority-owned firms, according to the governor.
It was not immediately clear Thursday how many, if any, are currently open for business in Maryland.
The state’s Office of Social Equity told MJBizDaily it did not have that information, and a query to the Maryland Cannabis Administration was not immediately returned.
Advocates in New York reacted with accolades for Robinson but worry for the future of a diversified industry in the Empire State.
“Make no mistake, this is a huge loss for NYS and for social and economic equity,” the New York Small Farmers Alliance wrote in an Instagram post.
“Ms. Robinson was outstanding in her position.
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