Minnesota’s marijuana regulatory agency will be led by Erin DuPree, who founded a low-dose THC company she will leave behind to oversee the state’s move to a legal market for full-fledged cannabis products.
Gov. Tim Walz on Thursday named DuPree the first executive director of the Office of Cannabis Management. Walz said his appointee “is a proven and effective leader, who will be successful in standing up Minnesota’s new adult-use cannabis market and helping Minnesotans succeed in the industry.”
In that role, DuPree will take charge in refining and enforcing boundaries around aspects of marijuana from growth to sale. DuPree, 43, said in an interview that she has a firm grasp of the cannabis landscape having founded Loonacy Cannabis Co. and done other business consulting for about two decades.
“I’m a good fit because I am young enough to be able to connect with the people who are going to be actively entering this industry as we create it,” DuPree said. “But I'm experienced enough to deal with the real problems that businesses are going to run into trying to be a part of this industry. I am here to not only serve Minnesotans but to serve Minnesota businesses.”
Loonacy, which had a store in Apple Valley, Minn., offered low-dose hemp products, including edibles and beverages. It will close because Dupree will be moving to the regulatory side.
DuPree said Thursday that she’s familiar with the regulatory side of cannabis and her lack of prior government service might be an asset.
Source: mprnews.org
Photo Credit: gettyimages-larisa-shpineva
Categories: Minnesota, Business, Crops