The Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) was established Monday, July 12. The creation of this standalone cannabis department is part of a larger effort to improve access to licensure, simplify regulatory oversight and support California businesses.
The following individuals have been selected to serve as permanent members of the DCC’s leadership team:
  • Director – Nicole Elliott
  • Chief Deputy Director – Rasha Salama
  • General Counsel – Matthew Lee
  • Administration Division – Melissa Eidson
  • Compliance Division – Richard Parrott
  • Equity & Inclusion Division – Eugene Hillsman
  • Legal Affairs Division – Tamara Colson
The divisions listed below will have deputy directors placed through a competitive recruitment process. In the interim, the following individuals are serving in a temporary capacity:
  • Enforcement Division – Bill Jones
  • External Affairs Division – Christina Dempsey
  • Information Technology Division – Jason Piccione
  • Laboratory Services Division – Gordon Vrdoljak
  • Licensing Division – Michael Cheng
“The formation of the Department is the culmination of 18 months of effort, but it is just the beginning of our efforts to improve the cannabis regulatory structure,” said Nicole Elliott, Director of the Department of Cannabis Control. “Chief among our goals is to simplify participation in the legal market by streamlining licensing and the regulatory framework. Collectively, these dedicated public servants bring extensive experience from the state and local level to the leadership team. The Department and our stakeholders will be well served by this group, and I look forward to working alongside them on the efforts ahead.”
Recruitments for the acting positions will be posted on the State of California’s careers website, CalCareers.