Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission Chair Steps Down as Regulatory Authority Transitions to Alcohol and Tobacco Commission

Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission Chair Tiffany Rudolph announced during the commission’s Dec. 15 meeting that she will step down from her role as the regulatory authority over the state’s cannabis program transitions to the Alcohol and Tobacco Commission.

Rudolph has served on the commission since 2017, when she was first appointed by the governor to serve as a member filling the required role of an attorney with knowledge about medical cannabis laws. She was reappointed and named vice chair in 2019 before becoming the commission chair in 2021.

Rudolph will resign as of Dec. 31.

“It has been a distinct pleasure and honor to serve on the Medical Cannabis Commission,” Rudolph said in a public statement. “Over the past five years commissioners and staff have established Maryland as a model medical cannabis program and helped prepare the state for a transition to an expanded medical and adult-use market. I would like to express my gratitude to my colleagues on the commission for their hard work and continued dedication to this program.”

Rudolph also served as chair of the Application Review Committee, where she oversaw the state’s issuance of 14 medical cannabis grower and processor licenses to minority- and women-owned businesses in 2020.

“The commission has benefitted significantly from Commissioner Randolph’s leadership and cannabis legal and policy expertise,” Executive Director Will Tilburg said in a public statement. “The state is better off from her service as are the patients of Maryland. I wish her the very best and thank her for her dedication and friendship throughout the growth and expansion of our program.”

Maryland voters approved Question 4 in the November election to legalize adult-use cannabis. The measure, which legalizes the possession of cannabis for adults 21 and older beginning in July, also transitions the regulation of medical cannabis from the Medical Cannabis Commission to the Alcohol and Tobacco Commission in 2023.

Dr. C. Obi Onyewu, the commission’s vice chair, will serve as acting chair during the transition. Onyewu has served on the Medical Cannabis Commission since 2019 and has led the commission’s Budget and Finance Committee since 2020. He also serves on the commission’s Compliance and Executive Committees.