Young attorney named to run state's medical pot program

A young lawyer who worked in Gov. Bruce Rauner’s office has been tapped to lead the state’s medical marijuana program.

Joseph Wright, 30, has worked as an assistant general counsel in the Office of the Governor and has “worked extensively with the state agencies involved in the medical cannabis pilot program,” officials in the governor’s office said Friday in a news release.

Lance Trover, a spokesman for the governor, declined to make Wright available for an interview. He said Wright will be paid $70,000 a year.

Wright replaces Bob Morgan, who was appointed to the job by former Gov. Pat Quinn. Morgan left his job in state government last month.

Rep. Lou Lang, the Skokie Democrat who has advocated for the medical marijuana program, said he hopes Wright calls on him and Morgan for their expertise with the law and program.

“I am hopeful this is a person who will act independently, who will not just do what he’s told by the second floor [the governor’s office] and again, there’s two people that know more about this program. . . . I am hopeful that Mr. Wright will reach out when it’s appropriate to do so.”