LANSING – The regulator overseeing Michigan’s $3.17 billion cannabis industry has been elected president of the nation’s leading organization for marijuana and hemp regulators at a time when federal marijuana rescheduling and hemp regulation are reshaping the industry.

Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency Executive Director Brian Hanna was elected president of the Cannabis Regulators Association (CANNRA) for the 2026-2027 term during the organization’s annual meeting June 9-10 in Oklahoma City.

Hanna becomes the first military veteran to serve as president of the association and the second Michigan cannabis regulator to hold the position. Former Michigan Marijuana Regulatory Agency Executive Director Andrew Brisbo served as CANNRA president during the 2021-2022 term.

The appointment comes as cannabis regulators nationwide face a rapidly changing landscape that includes federal marijuana rescheduling efforts, the explosive growth of intoxicating hemp products, interstate commerce discussions, social equity programs and increasing pressure to create consistent regulatory standards across state lines.

For Michigan, Hanna’s election puts one of the nation’s most influential cannabis markets at the center of those conversations.

According to state data, Michigan cannabis businesses generated approximately $3.17 billion in adult-use and medical marijuana sales in 2025, making Michigan the nation’s second-largest legal cannabis market behind California. Through the first five months of 2026, industry sales are estimated at roughly $1.23 billion despite continued price compression and the impact of the state’s new 24 percent wholesale marijuana tax.

Michigan Cannabis Market By The Numbers

  • 2025 cannabis sales: $3.17 billion

  • Estimated sales through May 2026: $1.23 billion

  • Largest market in the Midwest

  • Second-largest legal cannabis market in the United States

  • Hundreds of licensed cultivators, processors, testing labs and retailers

  • Michigan remains one of the lowest-cost cannabis markets in America due to abundant supply and intense competition.

Michigan’s Cannabis Market Continues To Mature

Hanna has led the Cannabis Regulatory Agency since 2023, overseeing licensing, compliance, enforcement, product safety and consumer protection efforts across Michigan’s regulated cannabis industry.

The CRA regulates hundreds of licensed cultivators, processors, testing laboratories, transporters and retailers operating throughout the state.

His agency has also been tasked with navigating some of the industry’s biggest challenges, including falling wholesale prices, market consolidation, hemp-derived cannabinoid products and ongoing efforts to ensure consumer safety while supporting a competitive marketplace.

Brian Hanna

“I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as President of CANNRA,” Hanna said in a prepared statement.

“Throughout my public service and military career, I have seen firsthand the value of collaboration, professionalism and shared purpose. Those same principles are at the heart of CANNRA’s mission. As cannabis policy continues to mature, I look forward to working alongside my fellow regulators to advance knowledge, strengthen regulatory frameworks and support responsible oversight of this evolving industry.”

Hanna: Rescheduling And Hemp Top Priorities

Asked what he expects to be the most important issues facing cannabis regulators during his term as CANNRA president, Hanna pointed to two topics that could reshape the industry nationwide.

“Rescheduling, and all of the possible implications from it — and the future of hemp — are likely the most significant topics to address this year,” Hanna told MITechNews.

Hanna’s comments underscore the uncertainty surrounding federal cannabis policy. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration continues to consider moving marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under federal law, a change that could significantly affect taxation, research opportunities and business operations for state-licensed cannabis companies.

At the same time, regulators across the country are grappling with the rapid growth of hemp-derived cannabinoid products, including intoxicating products containing Delta-8 THC, Delta-9 THC and other hemp-derived compounds that are often sold outside state-regulated marijuana systems.

Both issues have major implications for Michigan’s cannabis industry.

If marijuana is ultimately rescheduled, Michigan cannabis companies could gain relief from the federal tax code’s Section 280E restrictions, potentially saving businesses millions of dollars annually. Meanwhile, policymakers in Michigan and other states continue to debate how hemp-derived intoxicating products should be regulated and whether they should be subject to the same testing, licensing and safety requirements as marijuana products.

What Is CANNRA?

Founded in 2020, the Cannabis Regulators Association is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization composed exclusively of government agencies involved in cannabis, cannabinoid and hemp regulation.

Unlike industry trade groups that represent cannabis businesses, CANNRA’s membership is limited to government regulators.

The organization was formed by 19 founding states and now includes more than 45 states and U.S. territories, along with government members from Canada, Albania, Malta and the Netherlands.

CANNRA does not lobby for legislation. Instead, it serves as a forum for regulators to share information, discuss emerging issues and develop best practices for cannabis oversight.

The organization’s annual stakeholder meeting attracted more than 125 government officials from over 35 states and U.S. territories this year, along with representatives from federal agencies, tribal nations and international governments.

Topics included federal marijuana policy changes, cannabinoid hemp regulations, medical cannabis research, compliance and enforcement, interstate commerce, impaired driving standards, workforce training and social equity programs.

Michigan Gains A Larger Voice

CANNRA Executive Director Dr. Gillian Schauer said the association’s board is uniquely positioned to help regulators navigate the rapidly changing cannabis landscape.

“This is an unprecedented and dynamic time for cannabis policy change in the U.S. and abroad,” Schauer said. “Our board represents regulators from across the country who are overseeing regulatory programs with a range of marijuana and hemp policies.”

Joining Hanna on the 2026-2027 CANNRA Executive Board are regulators from Virginia, Illinois, Hawaii, Connecticut, Missouri and Iowa, along with Immediate Past President Adria Berry of Oklahoma.

For Michigan’s cannabis industry, Hanna’s election means the state’s chief regulator will have a prominent voice in national conversations that could influence the future of marijuana regulation, hemp oversight and federal cannabis policy for years to come.