Listen to this article 3 min
The new head of Maryland's cannabis regulator is in charge of integrating 205 potential new businesses into the state's $1 billion cannabis market.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
The Maryland Cannabis Administration has quietly named a new interim director while it continues a search to replace the top regulator who guided the state through the legalization of recreational usage.
Alexandra Harris, who previously served as the agency’s chief of staff, has moved into the top job for now, the MCA confirmed this week. She replaces Will Tilburg, the longtime head of the MCA and its predecessor, the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission, who announced his departure from the agency in August.
The MCA would not comment on the move beyond confirming that Harris is the acting director until the state finds a permanent replacement for Tilburg. The MCA did not issue a formal announcement that Harris took over the role. The only indication of Harris’s promotion is a change on the state regulator’s contact page that now lists her as the “interim acting director.” The MCA would not confirm when Harris took the reins at the agency, but Tilburg previously said he would step down on Dec. 4.
As chief of staff for Tilburg, Harris oversaw a variety of day-to-day activities at the administration and often represented Tilburg at meetings with other government officials, according to her LinkedIn page. Harris has a long history in public health. She previously worked as an emergency management specialist for Prince George’s County and a program analyst in public health preparedness for the National Association of County and City Health Officials.
Harris has big shoes to fill, even if temporarily, at the MCA. The cannabis industry expanded massively under Tilburg’s watch, from selling $241 million of products in 2019 to over $1 billion in the first 12 months after recreational legalization. Her appointment comes as the MCA works to integrate 205 people who won the opportunity to enter the industry into the legal cannabis space and expand its scope through new legislation. The General Assembly session kicks off Wednesday and several cannabis-related bills have already been filed as lawmakers look for new ways to grow and regulate the nascent industry.
© 2025 American City Business Journals. All rights reserved. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated August 13, 2024) and Privacy Policy (updated December 17, 2024). The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of American City Business Journals.
Maryland quietly names interim chief cannabis regulator – The Business Journals
