The interim director of Minnesota’s Office of Cannabis Management will lead the agency on a permanent basis, Gov. Tim Walz announced Wednesday, bringing stability to the state’s marijuana industry as retail stores begin to open.
Walz officially appointed Eric Taubel to serve as executive director of the state’s cannabis office. Taubel had been serving in the role on an interim basis since January after the cannabis office’s previous interim director, Charlene Briner, stepped down. He previously served as general counsel for the Office of Cannabis Management.
“Eric Taubel’s stewardship of the Office of Cannabis Management over the past eight months has ensured that the priorities that drove cannabis legalization in Minnesota are reflected in Minnesota’s emerging market,” Walz said in a statement Wednesday. “Under his experienced leadership, I am confident that OCM and the Minnesota cannabis industry will continue to prioritize public health and safety, consumer confidence, and market integrity.”
The appointment of Taubel brings long-awaited stability to the Office of Cannabis Management’s top role. Walz’s first pick to be the office’s permanent director, Erin DuPree, resigned one day after she was appointed in September 2023 amid reports her hemp shop was selling illegal products.
Briner led the office on an interim basis for more than a year before Taubel took over.
Taubel said in a statement that he looked forward to “continuing to work with the dedicated and talented public servants at OCM as we launch Minnesota’s cannabis market.”
