Cat Packer

Cat Packer is a leading expert on cannabis law and policy who envisions cannabis policy reform as both an opportunity and responsibility to promote harm reduction and advance equity and social justice. Currently, Packer serves as Distinguished Cannabis Policy Practitioner in Residence at the Drug Enforcement and Policy Center, Vice Chair of the Cannabis Regulators of Color Coalition, Director of Drug Markets and Legal Regulation at the Drug Policy Alliance, and is a contributing author to the Thomas Reuters Cannabis Law Deskbook. 

Packer is recognized as the first person of color in the nation to lead a medical and adult-use cannabis regulatory program. From 2017 to 2022, Packer served as the first Executive Director of the City of Los Angeles Department of Cannabis Regulation where she led efforts to advise and implement cannabis business licensing and regulation in ‘the world’s largest cannabis market.’ Under her leadership, the City of Los Angeles licensed over 1200 cannabis businesses, collected over $320 million in cannabis tax revenue and became one of the first jurisdictions in the nation to establish programming designed to promote equitable ownership and employment opportunities in the cannabis industry.

Prior to her role as a regulator, Packer worked for the Drug Policy Alliance where she organized cannabis-related legislative and public affairs strategies and partnerships at the state and local level. Packer is a proud alumna of The Ohio State University where she received a bachelor’s degree in political science, a master’s degree in public policy and management, a Juris Doctor and was named the 2020 Recipient of the Moritz College of Law Outstanding Recent Alumna Award.