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Cannabis Advisory Council

 

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