Michigan Governor Consolidates Cannabis and Hemp Regulation Under ‘Cannabis Regulatory Agency’

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has issued an executive order that consolidates cannabis and hemp regulation in an effort to improve efficiency and advance the growth of both industries, according to a press release.

Currently, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) regulates the state’s hemp market, while the Marijuana Regulatory Agency (MRA) regulates the medical and adult-use cannabis markets.

Whitmer’s Executive Order 2022-1 renames the MRA as the “Cannabis Regulatory Agency” and charges it with regulating the processing, distribution, and sale of hemp and cannabis moving forward, although MDARD will continue to oversee hemp cultivation.

The executive order will take effect in 60 days, according to the press release.

“Consolidating multiple government functions into the newly named Cannabis Regulatory Agency will help us continue growing our economy and creating jobs," Whitmer said in a public statement. “And to be blunt—safe, legal cannabis entrepreneurship, farming, and consumption helps 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."