ANNAPOLIS, MD - Governor Wes Moore today announced that Maryland Cannabis Administration Director Will Tilburg will depart the agency on December 4. After spearheading the nation's most successful transition to an adult-use cannabis industry, Tilburg is resigning as director to pursue other career opportunities.

“Will Tilburg is an exceptional leader, devoted public servant, and one of our country's most respected voices in the cannabis industry," said Gov. Moore. “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."

Last year, Gov. Moore appointed Tilburg as the inaugural director of the Maryland Cannabis Administration, which was established by the Cannabis Reform Act of 2023. He served as executive director of the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission from 2019-2023. 

During his tenure, Tilburg oversaw Maryland's highly successful transition from a medical cannabis market to an adult-use cannabis market. Tilburg also oversaw a successful licensing round exclusively for social equity applicants, with 75% of new licenses being awarded to minority-owned firms. Today, Maryland is home to the most diverse cannabis industry in the nation and exceeded $1.1 billion in sales in its first full year.

“I would like to thank Gov. Moore and the Moore-Miller Administration for the opportunity to serve the state in this role and for their hard work and unwavering commitment to establishing a safe, accessible, and equitable cannabis industry in Maryland." said Maryland Cannabis Administration Director Will Tilburg. “After five years of helping to build the cannabis industry in Maryland, this was an incredibly difficult decision for me to make. The foundation of the agency and industry are strong and thanks to the dedicated public servants of the Maryland Cannabis Administration, our passionate stakeholders, and committed legislators, I know that the best is yet to come for Maryland's cannabis industry."

Tilburg will remain in his position while a search for his successor is conducted by the Governor's Appointments Office. Information on the search process for the Maryland Cannabis Administration director position is available here.