State medical marijuana leader plans transition to new role

A newly renamed division within the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is expected to have a new leader in charge next month, according to state officials.

Lyndall Fraker, who has served since 2018 as the state director of the Section for Medical Marijuana Regulation under DHSS, told Springfield Business Journal this week he plans to exit the leadership role for a new post within the department. As of Dec. 8, he will become the director of public outreach for the Division of Cannabis Regulation, the agency’s new name.

Following this month’s voter passage of Amendment 3, which legalizes recreational marijuana in Missouri, Fraker said the division, which employs 57, plans to hire up to 100 more people to handle its increased workload.  

DHSS is currently seeking a new division director, and its job posting notes the position’s salary is $120,000 and projects the medical and adult use program annual budgets will collectively be $25 million-$30 million.  

“Hopefully, that position will be announced somewhere by the middle of December,” Fraker said, adding he will report to the division director. “I made the decision I didn’t want to lead the whole new division. Our area will probably close to triple in size, as far as employees and responsibility. At this stage in my career, it was my decision to not pursue that position.” 

Fraker said his new role will look to continue building relationships between the industry, DHSS and the state legislature, and noted he likely will spend more time at the capitol as a liaison.  

Fraker, a Marshfield resident, previously served eight years as a state representative. Prior to working in state government, he was elected to the Webster County Commission, and has been a self-employed building contractor and real estate developer since 2004, according to past reporting.

This year, he was among SBJ’s annual class of Men of the Year.