Rhode Island’s state Senate wrapped up its final legislative session of the year on Thursday with a series of unanimous confirmation votes, including the appointment of Michelle Reddish to chair the Cannabis Control Commission — a post that had sat vacant for roughly eight months.
Reddish Moves From Operations to Policy
Reddish had been leading the state’s Cannabis Office since 2024, handling day-to-day operational responsibilities. Her new role shifts her focus to policymaking as chair of the commission that oversees Rhode Island’s medical marijuana, recreational cannabis, and hemp industries. The chair is the only full-time position on the panel, carrying a salary of $204,069.
The former chair, Kim Ahern, stepped down in October to mount a campaign for attorney general, leaving the position open for more than half a year. The Senate also reappointed Robert Jacquard to a second term on the commission. Both Reddish and Jacquard are confirmed to serve through May 17, 2031.
Life Science Hub Gets New CEO
A day before the cannabis appointment, the Senate unanimously confirmed Bob Cormier as president and CEO of the Rhode Island Life Science Hub, at a salary of $295,000. Cormier most recently led Sentec, a Swiss-American medical device company with U.S. headquarters in Lincoln, Rhode Island.
The Hub’s 15-member volunteer board selected Cormier through a nationwide search after Dr. Mark Turco — the organization’s inaugural president — resigned in March, roughly one year into a three-year contract. The Life Science Hub, now three years old, is set to operate a wet lab incubator inside a new state public health laboratory being built in Providence.
Other Confirmations — and Notable Holdbacks
The Senate also confirmed one new member each to the Rhode Island Convention Center Authority and the Energy Efficiency Council, and reappointed two members of the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation.
However, not all of Governor McKee’s nominations cleared the chamber. The Senate declined to advance his selection for the Public Utilities Commission, along with two other nominees for the Energy Efficiency Council — a notable set of omissions on a day otherwise marked by broad bipartisan agreement. Rhode Island lawmakers have shown recurring interest in expanding oversight mechanisms, and the holdbacks may signal continued friction between the executive and legislative branches over appointments.
What’s Next
With Reddish now confirmed, the Cannabis Control Commission has a full-time chair in place ahead of what is expected to be a busy regulatory period for Rhode Island’s legal marijuana market. The commission will continue setting rules for the state’s medical and recreational industries, with Reddish bringing operational experience from her time running the Cannabis Office directly into that policymaking work.
Cormier’s tenure at the Life Science Hub will be closely watched as the three-year-old organization prepares to expand its facilities and take on the management of the new Providence wet lab incubator — a key piece of the state’s broader push to attract biomedical research and industry investment.