About the Cannabis Advisory Council
The Cannabis Advisory Council:
- reviews national cannabis policy
- examines the effectiveness of state cannabis policy
- reviews developments in the cannabis industry and hemp consumer industry
- reviews developments in the study of cannabis flower and other items
- takes public testimony
- makes recommendations to the Office of Cannabis Management
Upcoming meetings
More details about locations and agendas will be announced.
- Thursday, June 20, 10 a.m.-noon
- Thursday, Aug. 22, 10 a.m.-noon
- Thursday, Dec. 12, 10 a.m.-noon
Past meetings
March 29, 2024 (inaugural meeting)
- Angela Dawson – Sandstone, Minn.
Expert in farming or representing the interests of farmers - Jeremy Drucker – St. Paul, Minn.
Patient advocate with experience in the mental health system or substance use disorder treatment system - Stefan Egan – Lindstrom, Minn.
Veteran member - Donna Ennis – Superior, Minn.
Licensed mental health professional - Dr. Denise Johnson – Apple Valley, Minn.
Expert in social welfare or social justice - Dr. Melanie Johnson – Zumbro Falls, Minn.
Expert in pediatric medicine - Bryant Jones – Apple Valley, Minn.
Expert in cannabis cultivation - Eric King – Minneapolis, Minn.
Expert in economic development strategies for under-resourced communities - Jamal Knight – Minneapolis, Minn.
Expert in minority business development - Samantha Lee – Minneapolis, Minn.
Expert in laboratory sciences and toxicology - Kate Makinen – Grand Rapids, Minn.
Licensed mental health professional - Kyle Marinkovich – Burnsville, Minn.
Expert in cannabis product manufacturing - Rachel Moran – Minneapolis, Minn.
Expert in criminal justice reform to mitigate the disproportionate impact of drug prosecutions on communities of color - Carol Moss – Edina, Minn.
Expert in women-owned businesses - Dr. Sara Polley – Minneapolis, Minn.
Expert in prevention, treatment, and recovery related to substance use disorders - Pia Prenevost – Coon Rapids, Minn.
Patient advocate who is a parent or caregiver of a patient in the Medical Cannabis Program - Nic Puechner – Minneapolis, Minn.
Expert representing the interests of employers - Maren Schroeder – Stewartville, Minn.
Patient advocate who is a patient enrolled in the Medical Cannabis Program - Michael Sly – Minneapolis, Minn.
Expert in providing legal services to cannabis businesses - Diana Tastad-Damer – South Saint Paul, Minn.
Expert representing the interests of cannabis workers - Dana Thompson – Minneapolis, Minn.
Expert in minority business ownership - Josh Wilken-Simon – Eden Prairie, Minn.
Expert in cannabis retailing - Jaren Zech – Edina, Minn.
Expert in municipal law enforcement with advanced training in impairment detection and evaluation - Dr. Dylan Zylla – Minneapolis, Minn.
Expert in adult medicine
- Nicole Archbold
Department of Public Safety (appointing authority: Commissioner of Public Safety) - Melanie Benjamin
Mille Lacs Band (appointing authority: Respective Tribal Leader) - Charlene Briner
Interim Director, Office of Cannabis Management (appointing authority, Office of Cannabis Management) - Lisa Brunner
White Earth Band (appointing authority: Respective Tribal Leader) - Martha Burton
Department of Revenue (appointing authority: Commissioner of Revenue) - Damon Chaplin
Local Public Health Association of Minnesota (appointing authority: Local Public Health Association of Minnesota) - Miss Selena Childs
Prairie Island Indian Community (appointing authority: Respective Tribal Leader) - Gabe Cornish
Minnesota State Patrol (appointing authority: Chief of the State Patrol) - Kari Gloppen
Department of Health (appointing authority: Commissioner of Health) - Michael Hanson
Office of Traffic Safety (appointing authority: Office of Traffic Safety) - Anna Hotz
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (appointing authority: Commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency) - Peder Kjeseth
Department of Agriculture (appointing authority: Commissioner of Agriculture) - Catherine Knutson
Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (appointing authority, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension) - Nathan Ratner
Department of Employment and Economic Development (appointing authority: Commissioner of Employment and Economic Development) - Michelle Manivel
Department of Human Rights (appointing authority: Commissioner of Human Rights) - Austin Needham
Red Lake Nation ((appointing authority: Respective Tribal Leader) - Laurel Podulke-Smith
Association of Minnesota Counties (appointing authority: Association of Minnesota Counties) - Tyler Prescott
Lower Sioux Community (appointing authority: Respective Tribal Leader) - Jen Sather
Department of Human Services (appointing authority: Commissioner of Human Services) - Roger Smith
Fond du Lac Band (appointing authority: Respective Tribal Leader) - Dan Solomon
Department of Labor and Industry (appointing authority: Commissioner of Labor and Industry) - Jill Wolf
League of Minnesota Cities (appointing authority: League of Minnesota Cities)
To be announced:
- Member representing the Bois Forte Band
- Member representing the Grand Portage Band
- Member representing the Leech Lake Band
- Member representing the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community
- Member representing the Upper Sioux Community