DPH Hires Executive Director for MA Medical Marijuana Program

The former COO of a Dorchester public health program has been hired to be the state’s medical marijuana program executive director.

Karen van Unen was introduced this week by the Department of Public Health as executive director of the medical marijuana program, and will play a vital role in the marijuana dispensary licensee selection process.

The new executive director’s duties will include “overseeing all aspects of the medical marijuana program, from the inspection of dispensaries, to the creation of a patient and caregiver registration database that will be operational later this year.”

Van Unen was a board member and past president of the Massachusetts Public Health Association, and has consulted for the Department of Public Health during the medical marijuana program’s development.