State Marijuana Regulatory Office
Below is a list of states' regulatory offices for marijuana.
Scroll to the bottom of the chart for more information.
The rules and regulations for marijuana change rapidly. This chart is current as of the date I wrote it, but adjusters should be familiar with their state’s rules. I cannot guarantee the accuracy of the list. Because laws and regulations can change without notice, an attorney should be contacted if there are any questions regarding this chart. These materials are provided for informational and educational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice or legal opinions because I am not an attorney.
STATE | REGULATORY OFFICES |
|---|---|
Fri., June 20 | The Academy, L.A |
Thu., June 19 | Bamboo, Santa Barbara |
Sat., June 28 | Cheers, Santa Cruz |
Wed., July 6 | The Roxy, San Francisco |
Alabama
An appointed 14-member Medical Cannabis Commission is in charge of implementation and the Department of Agriculture and Industries regulates cultivation.
Alaska
Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, and the Division of Public Health: Marijuana Registry oversee the implementation of medical marijuana.
Arizona
Arizona Department of Health Services oversees the implementation of medical marijuana.
Arkansas
Medical Marijuana Commission and the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division regulate medical cannabis businesses. The health department maintains the patient registry.
California
The state Health Department handles a voluntary patient registry and regulates labs and edibles. The Department of Food and Agriculture oversees cultivation, and the Bureau of Cannabis Control in the Department of Consumer Affairs regulates other businesses. The state did not regulate medical cannabis businesses until it began licensing adult-use businesses in early 2018. The two laws were harmonized in 2017, and the same agencies regulate both medical and adult-use businesses.
Colorado
Colorado’s Marijuana Enforcement Division, within the Department of Revenue, regulates both medical cannabis and adult-use businesses.
Connecticut
Connecticut’s Department of Consumer Protection regulates medical cannabis.
Delaware
The Division of Public Health (DPH), authorized by 16 Del.C.Ch.49A - Delaware’s Medical Marijuana Act, regulates the state’s Medical Marijuana Program (MMP).
District of Columbia
DC City Council Committee on Health oversees medical marijuana implementation.
Florida
Florida’s Department of Health regulates the use of medical marijuana.
Georgia
There are currently no regulating bodies but the Department of Public Health issues registry cards and the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia oversees what exists.
Hawaii
The State of Hawaii Department of Health, Medical Marijuana Dispensary Program is in charge of regulating medical marijuana.
Idaho
Not applicable. Cannabis in Idaho is fully illegal for any use, whether recreational or medical.
Illinois
In Illinois, three agencies share regulatory authority. The Department of Agriculture regulates growers, the Department of Financial and Professional Licensing regulates dispensaries, and the Department of Public Health handles the patient registry.
Indiana
Indiana has no controlling body or agency which oversees the use of medical marijuana.
Iowa
Iowa’s Office of Medical Cannabidiol and the Iowa Public Health Department are the regulating agencies for medical marijuana.
Kansas
There are currently no regulating bodies for medical marijuana.
Kentucky
There are currently no regulating bodies for medical marijuana.
Louisiana
The state Board of Pharmacy regulates dispensaries (which are called pharmacies but are not DEA-licensed to dispense other controlled substances), the Board of Medical Examiners registers physicians who recommend and craft related rules, and the Department of Agriculture regulates cultivators.
Maine
In Maine, lawmakers decided to shift the regulatory authority for medical cannabis businesses to the Department of Administrative and Financial Services after legalization.
Maryland
A volunteer commission was appointed to oversee regulation. It operates in conjunction with a paid executive director. An unworkable, flawed law passed in 2013, and a workable one was signed into law in May 2014. Sales did not begin until late 2017, making it one of the slowest rollouts of a state medical marijuana program. It was initially beset by controversy and litigation.
Massachusetts
The regulatory authority for medical cannabis businesses shifted from the health department to the Cannabis Control Commission in late 2018.
Michigan
Michigan’s program is overseen by the Marijuana Regulatory Authority, within the state’s licensing and regulatory affairs department
Minnesota
The state Department of Health--Division of Health Policy--Office of Medical Cannabis regulates the use of medical marijuana.
Mississippi
The state Department of Health oversees the implementation of medical marijuana.
Missouri
Department of Public Health and Human Services regulates the use of medical marijuana.
Montana
The Department of Public Health and Human Services oversees medical marijuana implementation.
Nebraska
There are currently no regulating bodies for medical marijuana.
Nevada
In Nevada, the regulatory authority for medical cannabis businesses shifted from the health department to the Department of Taxation, and then to a new Cannabis Compliance Board. The CCB consists of five board members appointed by the governor. There is also a 12-member advisory commission.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services oversees the implementation of medical marijuana.
New Jersey
New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services and New Jersey Department of Agriculture have enforcement oversight on the use of medical marijuana.
New Mexico
The state regulating bodies are Cannabis Control Division (CCD) for adult use & medical and the Department of Health for patients.
New York
The Office of Cannabis Management for adult use and medical, with a Cannabis Control Board overseeing it. The Cannabis Control Board is currently creating the regulations for the new adult-use market.
North Carolina
The state has no regulating body. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) oversees patients and caregivers.
North Dakota
The Division of Medical Marijuana for patients and caregivers is in charge of the implementation.
Ohio
The Department of Commerce oversees cultivators and testing labs, the Board of Pharmacy oversees the patient registry and dispensaries, and the State Medical Board oversees physicians.
Oklahoma
The State Department of Health, Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority division oversees the implementation.
Oregon
Oregon is the only adult-use state that has a separate entity regulating medical cannabis businesses several years after its adult-use law passed. Following the opening of adult-use businesses, hundreds of separately licensed dispensaries have closed or converted to adult-use. Only one remains operational.
Pennsylvania
Department of Health administers the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Program.
Rhode Island
The State of Rhode Island Department of Health regulates the use of medical marijuana.
South Carolina
There is no regulating body. The Department of Health and Environmental Control oversees what exists; the Department of Ag oversees hemp.
South Dakota
The Department of Health regulates the use of medical marijuana.
Tennessee
There are currently no regulating bodies for medical marijuana.
Texas
The Compassionate Use Program is administered by the Department of Public Safety.
Utah
The Department of Agriculture and Food oversees the licensing and regulation of cannabis production enterprises, testing laboratories, processors, and product packaging. The Department of Health manages the local dispensing “pharmacies,” the patient, caregiver, health provider registry, and other facets of the program. Along with the other two departments, the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Technology Services collectively maintain an electronic tracking system to monitor all aspects of the program.
Vermont
The state Department of Public Safety currently regulates medical cannabis and Cannabis Control Board regulates adult-use cannabis.
Virginia
Virginia’s Board of Pharmacy in the Department of Health Professions regulates medical cannabis. “Pharmaceutical processors” are in charge of producing and dispensing medical cannabis products. While a pharmacist must be in charge of each facility, the name is somewhat confusing since cannabis oils cannot be sold in pharmacies.
Washington
Washington’s adult-use businesses which are regulated by the Liquor and Cannabis Board may receive a medical endorsement.
West Virginia
Bureau of Public health- Office of Medical Cannabis regulates the use of cannabis.
Wisconsin
There are currently no regulating bodies for medical marijuana.
Wyoming
There are currently no regulating bodies for medical marijuana.