Colorado Cannabis Czar Interested in Helping Massachusetts’ Recreational Cannabis Program

Colorado knows a thing or two about recreational cannabis. The state legalized cannabis four years ago and has become the model that other states look to when they approach legalization.

One such state is Massachusetts, which legalized recreational cannabis last November alongside California, Maine and Nevada. In an effort to assist Massachusetts in their transition Colorado’s “Pot Czar” Andrew Freeman is offering his help. Freeman is one of three people in contention to set up the states regulations and safety precautions.

For Colorado, Freeman was seen as the ideal candidate because he didn’t speak out for or against legalization, making him an unbiased choice. Under his watch he has set stringent policies against pesticides on commercially grown cannabis and regulations on the appearance and packaging of cannabis edibles to safeguard children.

“We see problems. We solve problems. We’re fast-acting. We’re responsive to data as it comes in,” he said.

Freeman has accomplished the near impossible in Colorado, he has set up and maintained a thriving cannabis industry.  Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper said that Freeman is “probably the most knowledgeable person in the United States in terms of how do you create a regulatory framework for recreational marijuana,” and that “There are lots of lessons to be learned, and no one can communicate those lessons more successfully than Andrew can.”

Massachusetts has until 2018 to get their cannabis infrastructure set up for recreational sales. The experience and knowledge that Freeman brings to the table cannot be overstated. Massachusetts can learn from prior state’s stumbles and avoid a good number of the pitfalls associated with a new recreational cannabis program if they set up their team with the proper individuals.