Shawn Collins is a nationally recognized cannabis policy and regulatory strategist and the inaugural Executive Director of the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission, appointed unanimously in 2017. He helped launch and operationalize the East Coast’s first adult-use cannabis regulatory agency and guided Massachusetts through the opening of regulated retail sales in 2018, including statewide seed-to-sale tracking and mandatory product testing.

Massachusetts has since matured into one of the country’s most durable regulated markets, surpassing $9 billion in gross adult-use sales, with record annual adult-use sales of more than $1.65 billion in 2025 following a record $1.64 billion in 2024.

Collins is an original founder of the Cannabis Regulators Association and was named one of Boston Magazine’s 100 most influential people during the COVID-19 era for his leadership in the Commonwealth’s emerging cannabis landscape. He is the founder of THC Group, advising operators, trade groups, and stakeholders on cannabis and hemp policy, regulatory strategy, and legislative engagement.