Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has signed an executive order that puts the regulation of hemp and marijuana under one agency in a move “to improve efficiency.”
“Consolidating multiple government functions into the newly named Cannabis Regulatory Agency will help us continue growing our economy and creating jobs,” said Whitmer said.
“And to be blunt-safe, legal cannabis entrepreneurship, farming, and consumption help us put Michiganders first by directing the large windfall of tax revenue from this new industry to make bigger, bolder investments in local schools, roads, and first responders,” the governor said.
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) currently regulates hemp, while the Marijuana Regulatory Agency is responsible for the marijuana sector. Whitmer’s order renames the Marijuana Regulatory Agency as the Cannabis Regulatory Agency and tasks it with regulating the processing, distribution, and sale of both hemp and marijuana.
Oversight of hemp cultivation will remain with MDARD. The executive order was filed with the legislature and will take effect in 60 days.
