The State Senate will temporarily hold off on confirming state marijuana commissioner nominee Joshua Sanderlin until he divests from two cannabis businesses. Sanderlin — a Washington D.C.-based cannabis attorney — was announced as Gov. Matt Meyer's pick for Delaware's new marijuana commissioner three weeks ago and underwent the first round of his Senate confirmation Wednesday.
Sanderlin's hearing in front of the Senate Executive Committee began with concerns from Sen. President Pro Tempore Dave Sokola (D-Newark) around Sanderlin's involvement with two cannabis businesses in Washington D.C. and New Jersey.
"We've been advised that Delaware Code Title 4 Section 132 4A, which prohibits the marijuana commissioner from having financial interests in cannabis companies, does not limit that conflict to only Delaware businesses and clearly states that you would be statutorily prohibited from holding this position unless you divested your financial interest in these companies," Sen. Sokola said.
Sanderlin told the committee he fully intends to divest following his full Senate confirmation and prior to his swearing in, but his name was not on the Senate's agenda Thursday.
Read more at Delaware Public Radio