Director of Alaska’s marijuana regulatory agency resigns
- Joan Wilson, the executive director of the Alaska Alcohol & Marijuana Control Office (AMCO), has resigned from her position to become a judge in the Office of Administrative Hearings.
- Wilson was appointed to lead the AMCO in April 2022 by Governor Mike Dunleavy, replacing Glen Klinkhart.
- The Office of Administrative Hearings handles challenges to administrative actions in Alaska.
- Lizzie Kubitz, a special assistant in the Department of Commerce, is currently the acting director of the AMCO, and a permanent director has not been appointed yet.
Alaska’s top marijuana and alcohol regulator is leaving that post to take on another administrative role in the state.
Joan Wilson has resigned as executive director of the Alaska Alcohol & Marijuana Control Office (AMCO) and accepted a new position as judge in the Office of Administrative Hearings, according to the Alaska Beacon.
Her new agency handles challenges to administrative actions.
Wilson was appointed to lead the AMCO in April 2022 by Gov. Mike Dunleavy, who touted her 25-year service as a civil and criminal law attorney when he made the selection.
She replaced Glen Klinkhart, who was appointed on a permanent basis in March 2021 after becoming interim director in November 2019.
Klinkhart took over from Erika McConnell after she was ousted in late 2019 by the Alaska Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.
Lizzie Kubitz, a special assistant in the state’s Department of Commerce, is listed as acting director of the AMCO, the Alaska Beacon reported.
A permanent director has not been appointed, according to the newspaper.