After serving as the senior vice president of government affairs and public policy for The Petroleum Alliance of Oklahoma, Adria Berry is returning to state government work to become the new executive director of the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority.
Gov. Kevin Stitt announced Berry’s appointment this week saying she would address challenges caused by the growing marijuana industry, including the increase of illegal marijuana operations.
“I am committed to tackling the major challenges that the explosion of marijuana in Oklahoma is causing across our state,” said Gov. Stitt. “Foreign nationals are gobbling up land in rural communities and drug traffickers are exploiting our laws and threatening our public safety. Adria Berry is the right leader to help us solve these problems and protect Oklahomans.”
Berry joined the Petroleum Alliance in October 2020 and stated at the time, “The oil and natural gas industry is the backbone of Oklahoma. The people in this industry are hard-working, innovative and can’t be deterred from achieving greatness. I look forward to working with the legislature and key government officials to promote positive changes for the great industry those hard-working men and women are part of.”
She previously was the counselor to the Oklahoma Secretary of State and served as policy counsel for the Stitt administration. Earlier, she had been vice president of government affairs for the State Chamber of Commerce.
Berry will also lead increased collaboration on enforcement with the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, which is possible after the Legislature authorized OMMA to work more closely with other state agencies.
“I am honored and looking forward to working for citizens across the state who have been patient as the OMMA worked to get its bearings after the passage of State Question 788 legalized medical marijuana in Oklahoma,” said Berry. “The staff at OMMA has worked tirelessly to address issues as they arise, and I am eager to join the team and work along-side them to continue solving problems and implementing sound policy for all Oklahomans.”
Her selection by Gov. Stitt drew support from Republican and Democratic leaders. Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat of Oklahoma City called her a “great choice.”
“This new development of having Adria Berry in the lead with them, gives me renewed hope that we can work with my constituents to help smooth out some of the rocky start,” stated Senator George Young, a Democrat from Oklahoma City.
“There’s no doubt challenges lay ahead of us as we work to weed out illegal grows, but I know we are in good hands with Adria in charge,” said Senator Paul Rosino, R-Oklahoma City.