The Project on Psychedelics Law and Regulation (POPLAR) Affiliated Researcher

Director of Drug Markets & Legal Regulation, Drug Policy Alliance (DPA)

Distinguished Cannabis Policy Practitioner in Residence, Ohio State University Drug Enforcement and Policy Center

Cat Packer is a leading expert on cannabis law and policy, dedicated to advancing equity in cannabis and broader drug policy reform. She currently serves as the Director of Drug Markets and Legal Regulation at the Drug Policy Alliance and is a Distinguished Cannabis Policy Practitioner in Residence at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law’s Drug Enforcement and Policy Center. Packer also serves as a contributing author for the Thomas Reuters Cannabis Law Deskbook and is a founding board member and Director of Policy for the Cannabis Regulators of Color Coalition.

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, regulation and equity programming in “one of the largest, most challenging cannabis markets in the world” — making her the first person of color in the nation to lead a medical and adult-use cannabis regulatory program.

A proud alumna of The Ohio State University, Packer holds a bachelor’s degree in political science, a master’s degree in public policy and management, a Juris Doctor as was the 2020 Recipient of the Moritz College of Law Outstanding Recent Alumna Award.