Who Regulates California Cannabis Business?

The Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) is the California state agency that licenses and regulates cannabis businesses. DCC regulates the:

• Growing of cannabis plants

• Manufacture of cannabis products

• Transportation and tracking of cannabis goods throughout the state

• Sale of cannabis goods

• Events where cannabis is sold or used

• Labeling of goods sold at retail

DCC leadership team

The director and chief deputy director lead DCC and its 10 deputy directors. Each deputy director is responsible for a different area of DCC’s work.

The leadership team includes:

• Nicole Elliott, Director

• Rasha Salama, Chief Deputy Director

• Matthew Lee, General Counsel

• Melissa Eidson, Deputy Director of Administration

• Richard Parrott, Deputy Director of Compliance

• Eugene Hillsman, Deputy Director of Equity & Inclusion

• Angela Hill, Deputy Director of Governmental Affairs

• Tamara Colson, Deputy Director of Legal Affairs

Some positions are still being hired and will have acting leaders until recruitment is completed:

• Bill Jones, Acting Deputy Director of Enforcement

• Christina Dempsey, Acting Deputy Director of External Affairs

• Jason Piccione, Acting Deputy Director of Information Technology

• Gordon Vrdoljak, Acting Deputy Director of Laboratory Services

• Michael Cheng, Acting Deputy Director of Licensing

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