21 to Watch in RI in 2021: Liz Tanner

21 to Watch in RI in 2021: Liz Tanner

Liz Tanner made her name by slashing government regulations — tens of thousands of pages of unnecessary regulations. She did it by meeting with businesspeople and listening to what would make their lives easier and Rhode Island more competitive.

As head of the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation, Liz Tanner has a sweeping array of responsibilities.

She helped Rhode Island develop a leading regulatory structure for blockchain technology -- and, won a national award for her leadership.

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

This year, she has had to enforce Governor Gina Raimondo’s regulations and closures during the pandemic.

Now, her biggest challenge is emerging.

Tanner oversees the state’s regulation of marijuana and her first big test will be the expansion of the medical marijuana facilities — from 3 today to 9 in just a few months.

Then, she will be at the forefront of developing the state's strategy, in all likelihood, to recreational marijuana.

Tanner will be in the eye of many storms in 2021.