Virginia’s former secretary of public safety registers as marijuana lobbyist

Gov. Ralph Northam’s former secretary of public safety has a new job: lobbying state lawmakers on marijuana.

Brian Moran, who helped Northam roll out the initial framework for marijuana legalization last year, registered this week as a representative of Jushi Inc.

The company holds one of four active medical marijuana licenses in the state, operating dispensaries in Northern Virginia under the brand name Beyond Hello.

The medical marijuana industry has been actively lobbying state lawmakers for special licenses to begin recreational marijuana sales earlier than the 2024 date for the broader industry, presenting themselves as a logical stopgap while Virginia finalizes regulations. Hemp producers are also hoping for permission to begin sales early.

Moran was not immediately available for comment.

Moran, who served in the House of Delegates between 1996 and 2008, is one of 14 ex-legislators currently registered as a lobbyist, according to the Virginia Public Access Project, which first noted Moran’s registration.