Brisbo to lead new Marijuana Regulatory Agency

The state official who led Michigan’s medical marijuana division will new head the state’s new Marijuana Regulatory Agency (MRA).

Andrew Brisbo will direct the agency as it steers through a new era of legal recreational marijuana in Michigan as it rolls out separate regulations for medicinal pot.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced her appointment of Brisbo on Thursday.

“Andrew will be critical in determining and achieving solutions as we develop new Marijuana regulations in Michigan,” Whitmer said in a statement. “He brings a wealth of expert knowledge on this subject, which will be essential through this implementation process while protecting Michigan residents.”

Brisbo is currently director of the Bureau of Marijuana Regulation in the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA).

His appointment is still subject to state Senate approval. However, Senate Advice and Consent Committee Chair Pete Lucido (R-Shelby Twp.), which oversees the process, has said he does not intend to hold up Whitmer’s appointments, as the Michigan Advance previously reported.

Whitmer’s previous March executive order created the MRA and scrapped a licensing board within LARA that approved or rejected medical marijuana business licensing applications.

The governor’s office has said the new agency will allow the state to regulate medical and recreational marijuana more efficiently.