Maine has named a new director of its medical marijuana program, a position that had been vacant for a year.
Craig S. Patterson, a former management analyst in the state Department of Health and Human Services, has filled the position that was last held by Marietta D’Agostino, who left the position about a year ago and is now director of compliance for a Massachusetts-based biotech firm that focuses on the cannabis industry.
STATE BY STATE: Maine Cannabis News
A spokeswoman for the state Department of Health and Human Services confirmed Patterson is now the new director, but has not answered any other questions, like his hire date, salary or relevant job experience. According to state records, Patterson has been a state employee for about two years, most recently as a DHHS management analyst.
Patterson inherits a program that oversees a fast-growing and changing industry. In 2016, Maine medical providers printed 51,324 certificates for patients to use medical marijuana, a 36 percent increase from 2015. The number of individual caregivers increased 44 percent to 3,258 in 2016, and their employees jumped from 163 to 224. Dispensary employees increased from 124 to 196.
