US (MD): Dissenting medical marijuana commissioner replaced
Gov. Larry Hogan's office confirmed Thursday that he has not reappointed Deborah R. Miran, an appointee of former Gov. Martin O'Malley, on the state Medical Cannabis Commission. A commission spokeswoman said Miran's term had expired.
Hogan spokesman Doug Mayer said the decision to replace Miran, the president and founder of a consulting group, had nothing to do with her dissent.
"This office wasn't even remotely aware of how the vote took place," Mayer said.
Miran was the member of a commission subcommittee who refused to go along July 29 when that panel reversed its earlier unanimous decision to award preliminary licenses according to the rankings arrived at by Towson University researchers. Two days after its July 27 vote, the subcommittee decided 4-1 to replace two companies ranked in the top 15 to ensure "geographical diversity."
That decision was criticized Thursday by members of the Legislative Black Caucus, who were holding an all-day hearing on issues including the allocation of medical marijuana licenses.
Del. Cheryl Glenn, who chairs the caucus, called the commission's explanation that it changed rankings to ensure that certain regions were represented "laughable."
"It makes no sense. Their argument on geographical diversity doesn't pass the smell test," the Baltimore Democrat said.
Read more at The Baltimore Sun