Marijuana regulators from across 19 US states have established a nonpartisan organization to share best practices and industry knowledge.
According to a news release, the initiative by The Cannabis Regulators Association (CANNRA) will also assist federal, state, and local authorities that have approved cannabis laws or are considering legalization.
Other government groups involved in similar programs include the North America Securities Administrators Association, which comprises state securities regulators in the US, Canada, and Mexico.
In a statement, CANNRA’s inaugural, Norman Birenbaum said the Cannabis Regulators Association will provide much-needed assistance for regulators to identify and develop the best practices and model policies safeguard public health and safety and promote regulatory certainty for industry participants.
Birenbaum is also the director of cannabis programs for New York, which is set to legalize adult-use marijuana next year. CANNRA’s initiative comes as marijuana legalization gains momentum across the country, with previously staunch conservative states not left behind.
So far, Arizona, Montana, New Jersey, and South Dakota state legalized adult-use markets on Election Day, with Mississippi and South Dakota legalizing regulated marijuana programs.
The regulators affirmed that the association will not advocate for the group or take a formal position for or against cannabis legalization but seek to provide government jurisdiction with unbiased information to help make informed decisions on the regulation of the marijuana market.
The intention of forming the organization is to have CANNRA serve as a resource for policymakers, elected officials, researchers, and other stakeholders to engage with regulators from across the country and receive unbiased information and recommendations regarding the impacts and implement policies, Birenbaum said.
Founding members of CANNRA comprises the principal cannabis regulators from 19 states, including Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, and Washington DC.
