List of United States cannabis regulatory agencies explained

Cannabis regulatory agencies exist in several of the U.S. states and territories, the one federal district, and several areas under tribal sovereignty in the United States which have legalized cannabis. In November 2020, 19 state agencies formed the Cannabis Regulators Association.^[1]

The agencies include:

Federal

• Drug Enforcement Administration
• Food and Drug Administration
• United States Department of Agriculture (hemp)
• Cannabis Justice Office (grantmaking office, proposed under Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act of 2019)^[2]

Territorial or Federal district

• Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands Cannabis Commission, in formation as of October 2018 pursuant to CNMI Cannabis Act of 2018.
• District of Columbia Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA), formerly the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration (ABRA).^[3] Was the Department of Health Division of Medical Marijuana and Integrative Therapy until October 1, 2020;^[4] medical cannabis only – there is no regulatory agency for other use.
• Puerto Rico Medical Cannabis Regulatory Board (a division of the Puerto Rico Department of Health). The Board was created in 2017 under the MEDICINAL Act of 2017.^[5]

State

• Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission^{[6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11]} (as of 13 September 2021, since 8/3/2021, agency has met 3x regular, 2x special/called, but does not yet have a website)
• Alaska Marijuana Control Board (MCB)^[12]
• Arizona Department of Health Services (under 2020 Arizona Proposition 207)
• California Bureau of Cannabis Control
  • San Francisco Office of Cannabis
• Colorado Department of Revenue Enforcement Division Marijuana Enforcement (MED)^[13]
• Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection^[14]
• Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission^[15]
• Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Cannabis Regulation Oversight Officer^[16]
• Iowa Medical Cannabidiol Board^[17]
• Maine Office of Marijuana Policy^[18]
• Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission^[19]
• Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission^[20]
• Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency^[21]
• Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management^[22]
• Montana Department of Revenue^[23]
• Nevada Department of Taxation^[24]
• New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission^[25]
• New Mexico Cannabis Control Division
• New York Office of Cannabis Management
• Ohio Department of Commerce
  • Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program
  • Division of Cannabis Control
• Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority^[26]
• Oregon Liquor Control Commission
• Rhode Island Office of Cannabis Regulation^[27]
• Virginia Cannabis Control Authority
• Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board
• West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources
  • Bureau for Public Health
    • Office of Medical Cannabis

Proposed

• Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission^[28]
• Arkansas Bureau of Cannabis Control^[29]
• Delaware Office of Marijuana Control Commissioner^[30]
• Hawaii Department of Taxation^[31]
• Indiana Cannabis Compliance Commission^[32]
• Kentucky Department of Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Control^[33]
• Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control
  • Cannabis Management Office^[34]
• Ohio Department of Commerce
  • Division of Cannabis Control (Regulate Cannabis Like Alcohol initiative)
• Pennsylvania Cannabis Regulatory Control Board^[35]
• Vermont Cannabis Control Board^[36]

Tribal

• Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Cannabis Commission^[37]
• Puyallup Tribal Cannabis Committee, Puyallup Tribe, Washington
• Squaxin Island Tribe, Washington
• Suquamish Tribe has direct tribal council control via Suquamish Evergreen Corporation (Washington)
• Tulalip Tribal Cannabis Agency, Tulalip Tribes of Washington, became the first tribal regulatory agency in mid-2018
• Cannabis Compliance Office reporting to the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe Cannabis Control Board^[38]
• Swinomish Tribe Swinomish Development Authority^[39]

See also

• Legality of cannabis by U.S. jurisdiction
• List of Canadian cannabis regulatory agencies
• Mexican Cannabis Institute

Notes and References

1. Web site: Marijuana regulators from 19 states form nonpartisan group to help shape future pot policies. The Washington Times.
2. https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/116/s2227/text Text of S.2227
3. Web site: dc.gov. Medical Cannabis - Laws and Regulations. District of Columbia Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration . The Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration (ABRA) has assumed regulatory authority for the District’s medical cannabis program..
4. News: Thousands Of District Employees Free To Use Marijuana On Their Own Time, Mayor Says. Rachel Kurzius. September 17, 2019. WAMU.
5. https://www.salud.gov.pr/CMS/364 Junta Reglamentadora del Cannabis Medicinal
6. News: Open Meetings Act. Third meeting of the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission.. Alabama Secretary of State's Office. September 9, 2021. Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission.
7. News: Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission meets for the first time. Alabama Political Reporter. Brandon Moseley. August 13, 2021.
8. News: Open Meetings Act. First Meeting special/called. Alabama Secretary of State's Office. August 12, 2021. Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission.
9. News: Open Meetings Act. Special/Called Meeting. Alabama Secretary of State's Office. Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission. August 25, 2021.
10. News: Open Meetings Act. First Regular Meeting, Alabama Cannabis Commission. Alabama Secretary of State's Office. Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission. September 2, 2021.
11. News: Open Meetings Act. Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission Search Subcommittee. Alabama Secretary of State's Office. Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission. September 9, 2021.
12. News: Marijuana in Alaska has long been legal. Now the state is struggling to regulate it.. Washington Post. Emi Sasagawa. July 17, 2015.
13. https://www.sos.state.co.us/CCR/GenerateRulePdf.do?ruleVersionId=6529&fileName=1%20CCR%20212-2 Marijuana Enforcement Division RETAIL MARIJUANA CODE 1 CCR 212-2
14. Web site: Summary of Connecticut's S.B. 1201 — An Act Concerning Responsible and Equitable Regulation of Adult-Use Cannabis . Marijuana Policy Project . June 23, 2021.
15. News: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Dozens of companies apply for six Georgia medical marijuana licenses. Mark Niesse. February 22, 2021.
16. News: Five things you didn't know were in Illinois weed bill. John Pletz. Crain's Chicago Business. May 20, 2019.
17. Web site: Medical Cannabidiol Board . www.HHS.Iowa.gov . Iowa Department of Health and Human Services . October 27, 2023.
18. News: Maine on track for legal marijuana sales by spring 2020. Patrick Whittle . Associated Press. October 6, 2019. ABC News.
19. News: Baltimore Sun. FAQ: What you need to know about medical marijuana in Maryland. Sarah Meehan. March 2, 2018.
20. https://www.mass.gov/orgs/cannabis-control-commission Cannabis Control Commission
21. Web site: 2022-02-17 . Michigan consolidates cannabis, hemp regulatory bodies . 2022-03-08 . Financial Regulation News . en-US.
22. News: What you need to know about Minnesota's marijuana legalization bill. Matt Delong. Ryan Faircloth . Brooks Johnson. Star-Tribune. Minneapolis. May 20, 2023.
23. https://ballotpedia.org/Montana_I-190,_Marijuana_Legalization_Initiative_(2020) Montana I-190
24. Web site: Nevada Department of Taxation prepares for the regulation of recreational marijuana. Nevada Department of Taxation. official website (marijuana.nv.gov). November 10, 2016. press release.
25. News: WLNY. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy Announces Appointments To Cannabis Regulatory Commission. November 6, 2020 .
26. News: Tulsa World. First director: Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority hires Health Department official with tobacco-cessation background. Samantha Vicent . October 4, 2018.
27. News: RI Office of Cannabis Regulation has a new chief, a former policy director for Raimondo. The Providence Journal. Providence, Rhode Island. February 5, 2021.
28. https://www.bamapolitics.com/alabama/bills/2021-alabama-legislative-regular-session/2021-alabama-senate-bills/sb46-alabama-2021-session/ Bill summary: SB46
29. https://ballotpedia.org/Arkansas_Decriminalize_Marijuana_and_Regulate_Cannabis_Industry_Amendment_(2020) Arkansas Decriminalize Marijuana and Regulate Cannabis Industry Amendment (2020)
30. News: 'It's inevitable': Delaware lawmakers introduce bill once again to legalize marijuana . DJ McAneny . Amy Cherry . WDEL. March 17, 2021.
31. https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=767&year=2021 Measure status: SB767 RELATING TO CANNABIS
32. News: The Indianapolis Star. 13 proposals on table for state lawmakers. Rachel. Fradette. January 20, 2022. A1.
33. https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/21RS/hb136.html HB136
34. News: Gov. Walz proposes legalizing marijuana and spending $2.3 billion on health and public safety. Rilyn Eischens. January 26, 2022. Minnesota Reformer.
35. News: Laughlin: PA legislation would make marijuana possession, use legal for adults 21 and older. Matthew . Rink. Erie Times-News. Erie, Pennsylvania.
36. Web site: Vermont Senate Expected To Vote On Legal Marijuana Sales Bill This Week. Evan. Johnson. February 26, 2019.
37. News: Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians approve Cannabis Commission. Kristy Kepley-Steward. December 10, 2019. WLOS. Asheville, North Carolina.
38. Web site: SRMT Adopts Adult Use Cannabis Ordinance. 27 October 2021.
39. https://swinomish-nsn.gov/media/68563/1508cannabis.pdf Title 15 business regulations, chapter 8: cannabis