In a move hailed as groundbreaking, Governor Wes Moore announced the appointment of Audrey L. Johnson and Courtney Davis to the Office of Social Equity and Cannabis Public Health Advisory Council. Johnson, Acting Executive Director, and Davis, Deputy Director, are being entrusted with the critical task of creating a fair and inclusive landscape in Maryland’s burgeoning cannabis industry.
Championing Social Equity and Inclusion
Founded by the Cannabis Reform Act of 2023, the Office of Social Equity (OSE) plays an instrumental role in supporting disadvantaged individuals and businesses looking to step into the adult-use cannabis market. The office is responsible for providing resources, ensuring equity and justice in regulatory frameworks, and supporting key programs such as the Community Repair and Reinvestment Fund and the Cannabis Business Assistance Fund.
Governor Moore described both Johnson and Davis as “exceptionally talented and committed leaders.” These leaders bring their rich experience and firm commitment to social justice to this initiative, placing the state in a strong position to ensure equity remains a pillar of Maryland’s cannabis industry.
Veterans of Social Equity
Johnson, with over a decade of experience in advancing economic development and inclusion, formerly served as Senior Director for Economic Innovation and Strategy at Johns Hopkins University. She expressed her honor in leading the OSE and committed to making Maryland a national leader in promoting access and economic opportunities within the cannabis market for historically marginalized communities.
Davis, previously the Executive Director of Marijuana Matters, a Washington D.C.-based national advocacy organization, also expressed excitement about joining the OSE and supporting Maryland’s commitment to equity and economic growth in the cannabis industry.
Health Advisory Council
Additionally, Governor Moore announced new appointments to the Cannabis Public Health Advisory Council. This council, established in 2022, will study and provide recommendations on the public health impacts of cannabis legalization and strategies to prevent youth access, misuse, and addiction to cannabis.
Governor Moore’s appointments to the Advisory Council are:
- Dorothy Lennig, Incoming Director, Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services
- Dr. Madhumi Mitra, Ph.D., Professor of Biology and Environmental Sciences, University of Maryland Eastern Shore
- Mathew Swinburne, Associate Director, The Network for Public Health Eastern Region, University of Maryland Francis Carey King School of Law
- Dr. Deondra D. Asike, M.D., Clinical Associate, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins Medicine
- Dr. Leigh Vinocur, M.D., Chief Medical Officer and Founder, Ananda Medical Practice
- Dr. Leah Sera, PharmD., Associate Professor, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy
- Dr. David A. Gorelick, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Psychiatry, University of Maryland, Baltimore
- Jocelyn Bratton-Payne, MSW, Director of Substance Use Disorder Programs, New Hope Treatment Center
- Karrissa Miller, partner at Pinnacle CT, LLC, a Maryland independent testing laboratory, and founding partner at US Cannalytics
Advisory Council members are not subject to Senate confirmation and serve four-year terms. The Advisory Council elects its chair.
In summary, Governor Moore’s recent appointments are a significant step forward in creating a fair and inclusive cannabis industry in Maryland. They provide the expertise and vision necessary to ensure that the adult-use cannabis market benefits all Marylanders, irrespective of their socio-economic background.
