Connecticut, like many other states in the country, has established a state agency dedicated solely to overseeing and regulating its marijuana industry.
CT Mirror reports the office is still under the Department of Consumer Protection but it will have its own wing, the Drug Control Division.
Mirror reported that the move was made after the Drug Control Division officials were accused of performing a “retaliatory” inspection against a licensed marijuana grow.
Lila McKinley will head the newly formed agency. It will oversee all functions of licensing, inspection, regulatory, and state government in relation to recreational marijuana, a fledgling industry, and medical marijuana, a more established one.
In an email sent on Wednesday to licensees of cannabis, DCP stated: “For almost a year we’ve been considering organizational changes to better serve your industry. It is complex and rapidly growing.” The change in our organization reflects the changing nature of your industry. We are restructuring ourselves to better serve your regulatory needs.
In a recent statement, Bryan Cafferelli, the Commissioner for Consumer Protection told the Mirror the restructuring “had been planned and implemented” since nearly a full year. It became necessary as sales grew from the small amounts of medical products to millions of dollars per year.
Ben Zachs of Fine Fettle told the Mirror that the company’s growth in Connecticut is encouraging for the industry.
We’ve been working with Lila now for many years. Zachs said to The Mirror that he has always thought of Lila as thoughtful and open-minded.