Last verified: March 2026

The Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA) is the state agency responsible for overseeing all aspects of Michigan's cannabis industry — licensing, enforcement, compliance, and the medical marijuana patient program. The CRA operates as a Type I agency within the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) and regulates both the recreational and medical markets.

From MRA to CRA

The agency's history reflects the rapid evolution of Michigan's cannabis landscape:

Creation: Marijuana Regulatory Agency (2019)

After voters approved Proposal 1 in November 2018, the state needed a dedicated regulatory body. Governor Whitmer created the Marijuana Regulatory Agency (MRA) via Executive Reorganization Order 2019-2, consolidating cannabis oversight that had been split across multiple state agencies. The MRA was placed within LARA and charged with licensing and regulating both the medical program (under the MMMA) and the new recreational market (under the MRTMA).

Renaming: Cannabis Regulatory Agency (2022)

On April 13, 2022, via Executive Reorganization Order 2022-1, the MRA was renamed the Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA). The name change reflected the broader national shift in terminology from "marijuana" to "cannabis" and also coincided with an expansion of the agency's responsibilities to include hemp oversight. The CRA now regulates both the cannabis and hemp industries in Michigan.

Leadership: Director Brian Hanna

Brian Hanna has served as CRA Director since September 2022. His background spans both cannabis regulation and law enforcement:

• Former MRA field operations leader — Hanna worked within the agency before being named director, giving him direct experience with licensing, compliance, and enforcement processes
• Michigan State Police intelligence analyst — Prior to cannabis regulation, Hanna served as an intelligence analyst with the Michigan State Police
• U.S. Army Reserve Captain — Hanna holds the rank of Captain in the Army Reserve

Hanna's leadership has been marked by the industry's transition from rapid growth to oversupply management, the testing integrity crisis (Viridis Labs), and the implementation of the 2026 wholesale tax.

Agency Structure

The CRA is organized into several divisions that handle the full scope of cannabis regulation:

Licensing Division

Processes and approves applications for all cannabis license types — growers, processors, retailers, microbusinesses, transporters, testing facilities, and consumption establishments. As of mid-2024, the CRA maintained 2,219 active adult-use licenses and 2,139 active medical licenses.

Enforcement Division

The largest operational division, organized into three units:

• Field Operations — Conducts on-site inspections, compliance checks, and investigations at licensed facilities
• Operations Support — Handles administrative enforcement actions, complaints, and case management
• Scientific Section — Oversees testing standards, laboratory compliance, and product safety. This division became particularly critical after the Viridis Labs scandal in 2025

Communications and Grants

Manages public outreach, industry communications, stakeholder engagement, and the administration of grant programs funded by cannabis tax revenue.

Michigan Medical Marihuana Program (MMMP)

Administers the patient and caregiver registry system established under the 2008 MMMA. This division processes patient applications, maintains the registry database, and oversees caregiver compliance.

What the CRA Regulates

The CRA's authority covers the full spectrum of cannabis activity in Michigan:

• Licensing — All commercial cannabis license types, including application review, background checks, renewals, and transfers
• Compliance — Setting and enforcing rules for cultivation, processing, testing, packaging, labeling, advertising, and retail operations
• Product safety — Testing standards, laboratory oversight, product recalls, and consumer protection
• Seed-to-sale tracking — Monitoring cannabis from cultivation through final sale via the state's tracking system
• Enforcement — Investigating violations, issuing fines, suspending or revoking licenses, and coordinating with law enforcement on diversion
• Medical program — Patient and caregiver registration, qualifying conditions, and medical dispensary oversight
• Hemp — Since the 2022 reorganization, the CRA also oversees Michigan's hemp industry

CRA By the Numbers (FY2024)

Current Challenges

The CRA faces several major challenges as of 2026:

• Oversupply management. With 3.77 million active plants and 1.7 million pounds of frozen flower in storage, the CRA is navigating calls for license caps and production limits (see SB 597-598)
• Testing integrity. The Viridis Labs scandal exposed weaknesses in Michigan's testing infrastructure. Legislation has been proposed for a state-run reference lab (HB 4501) to audit private testing facilities
• Hemp regulation. Intoxicating hemp-derived products (Delta-8 THC) are rapidly expanding, and SB 599-602 would bring them under CRA licensing for products containing more than 1.75mg THC
• Wholesale tax implementation. The CRA must administer the new 24% wholesale tax alongside its existing regulatory responsibilities
• Illicit market. An estimated $2 billion+ illicit market continues to operate alongside the legal industry

Contact the CRA