Minnesota’s head of the Workplace of Hashish Administration (OCM) stepped down on Friday – someday after she was appointed – following a report that her hemp enterprise bought merchandise that exceeded allowable THC ranges, owned cash to former associates, and had tens of hundreds of {dollars} in tax liens, in accordance with MPR News.
Erin DuPree, founder, vice chairman of gross sales and operations, and head of analysis and improvement of Loonacy Hashish Co. was appointed by Gov. Tim Walz (D) on Thursday, however a subsequent investigation by MPR Information-APM Reviews uncovered that Loonacy had marketed merchandise with THC content material increased than what was legally allowed beginning in July 2022 and had marketed vape merchandise containing THC, which, on the time, had been prohibited beneath the legislation.
In a press release asserting her resignation, DuPree pushed again on these claims, saying her firm has “by no means knowingly bought any noncompliant product,” and that when she “grew to become conscious of them” she “eliminated the merchandise from stock.”
“Conducting lawful enterprise has been an goal of my enterprise profession. Nevertheless, it has turn into clear that I’ve turn into a distraction that might stand in the way in which of the vital work that must be achieved.” — DuPree, in a press release, through MPR
In an interview with MinnPost following DuPree’s resignation, Walz admitted officers “bought this flawed.”
“Not the best hour,” Walz advised MinnPost. “On this case, the method didn’t work.”
Walz added that DuPree was chosen as a result of he wished somebody who understood Minnesota’s hashish trade however that residents count on regulators will “observe the foundations.”
“I personal this one,” Walz stated, “we’ll get the proper particular person in there.”
Charlene Briner, a senior Division of Agriculture official who has been serving because the interim OCM director, will proceed to steer the company within the absence of a full-time division chief.
Get each day hashish enterprise information updates. Subscribe