Raimondo's medical marijuana czar leaving for New York

PROVIDENCE — Norman Birenbaum, the state’s top medical marijuana regulator, whom Governor Raimondo picked in 2016 to help reform a loosely regulated, decade-old program, is leaving next week to take a job in New York.

Birenbaum, 32, said Friday he wasn’t ready to disclose what his new job entails “but it’s an opportunity for us to be closer to family, and a good opportunity, personally.”

Birenbaum’s departure comes just weeks after the Department of Business Regulation drafted proposed regulations for how Rhode Island will expand the number of medical marijuana dispensaries in the state from three to nine.

The six new dispensaries, as defined in those new rules, will be retail stores only, relying on dozens of licensed marijuana cultivators to grow product to sell. DBR plans to use a form of lottery system to randomly choose from a pool of qualified applicants, who will be allowed to open one new dispensary in each of six geographic zones across the state.

DBR is taking public comment on the proposed rules until Dec. 21 and expects to finalize the rules early next year.

Birenbaum’s arrival on the medical marijuana scene three years ago came at a time when no one else in government had much understanding of the medical marijuana program — born of altruism in the chambers of the General Assembly, but because of little regulation also a key contributor to the state’s thriving black market for pot.

Birenbaum, then 28, was the new guy from Massachusetts, who had worked on Beacon Hill for a few politicians on policy issues and community outreach. But soon anyone on Smith Hill fielding a question about medical marijuana answered the same way: “Check with Norman.”

Birenbaum became a familiar face at town council and zoning board meetings, explaining the powers local officials had to regulate medical marijuana in their communities, as well as State House hearings.

Under Birenbaum's direction, DBR instituted a state-licensed cultivator program to reduce the private growing of marijuana by so-called "caregivers" for medical marijuana patients and to better assure a safe and consistent product. It was a complicated process and expensive endeavor for more than 70 different cultivators, more than 40 of whom are now growing and supplying product for the existing dispensaries.

Birenbaum "was always willing to hear our concerns and attempt to alleviate them," said Katie Sokol Ratkiewicz, president of the Rhode Island Cannabis Association trade group. "We can only hope his replacement is as equally transparent and beyond reproach."

Rhode Island’s office of medical marijuana regulators now numbers about a half dozen, including licensing officers and inspectors. The unit will operate with its current staff while a search for Birenbaum's replacement is underway.

New York, like Rhode Island and several other Northeast states, considered legalizing recreational marijuana earlier this year, and Albany lawmakers are expected to consider a similar proposal again next year.

Birenbaum's last day is Dec. 6. His salary is $104,620.

tmooney@providencejournal.com

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