Rhode Island medical marijuana program gets new regulatory czar

Rhode Island has a new regulatory chief to oversee the state’s medical marijuana industry.

Matthew Santacroce, a former policy director for Gov. Gina Raimondo, started work in mid-January as head of the state’s Office of Cannabis Regulation, the Associated Press reported.

Santacroce most recently worked at The Policy Lab, a think tank run by Brown University.

Rhode Island is in the process of licensing six new medical marijuana dispensaries after receiving 45 applications in December.

The eight-member marijuana regulatory body that Santacroce will oversee was formed to better regulate the state’s medical cannabis program.