Maryland’s Cannabis Administration Director, Will Tilburg, is set to depart his position in December after leading the state through a transition to an adult-use cannabis market. Governor Wes Moore announced the news, praising Tilburg’s leadership and dedication to the state.
Tilburg, who has served as the agency’s director since its establishment last year, oversaw a smooth transition from a medical-only market to one open to adults. Under his guidance, Maryland achieved a remarkable milestone of exceeding $1.1 billion in cannabis sales in its first full year.
One of Tilburg’s significant accomplishments was the successful implementation of a licensing round exclusively for social equity applicants. This initiative resulted in 75% of new licenses being awarded to minority-owned firms, making Maryland’s cannabis industry one of the most diverse in the nation.
Governor Moore expressed his gratitude for Tilburg’s contributions, stating, ““I am grateful to Will for his more than six years of dedicated service to our state, and for making Maryland a national model to show how states can transition into an adult-use cannabis market in an efficient and equitable way.”
Tilburg expressed his own gratitude for the opportunity to serve the state and acknowledged the hard work of the Maryland Cannabis Administration team, stakeholders and legislators in building the cannabis industry. While the decision to step down was difficult, he believes that the agency is well-positioned for continued success.
A search for Tilburg’s successor is currently underway, led by the Governor’s Appointments Office. More information on the search process can be found on the Maryland Cannabis Administration website.
