Health Dept. Releases Emails Of Official Who Became Cannabis Firm CEO

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) - From regulator to regulated, his move made waves across Minnesota earlier this summer.

Now, we're getting a look at the relationship between the once assistant health commissioner and the medical marijuana company he went to lead.

Manny Munson-Regala took over as CEO of LeafLine Labs in July.  He's one of three state officials to go to work for the new company.  After waiting for months, the Health Department has now released Munson-Regala's emails to WCCO.

In April, the then assistant commissioner for the Minnesota Department of Health shared his LinkedIn profile with Pam Galassini, the interim CEO of LeafLine Labs. Manny Munson-Regala emailed Galassini to thank her "for accepting the LinkedIn connection."

A week later, Munson-Regala asked if they might "meet for coffee, or other beverage [sic]."

In May, the Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer of LeafLine Labs emailed Munson-Regala after a site visit:

"It was an honor to host you and Dan and to share the historic result of our collective dream realized," Andrew Bachman wrote.

Dan Schoen, a lawmaker who co-sponsored Minnesota's medical marijuana bill, took a leave from his police officer job in Cottage Grove to be in charge of LeafLine's security in that same city.

Eight days after that email, dated May 26, is when Munson-Regala says he was first recruited to fill LeafLine's top job.

"The public can understand you just don't make certain jumps," DFL Sen. John Marty said. "It doesn't pass the smell test."

Marty introduced a bill in the last legislative session that calls for a seven-year cooling off period before making such a move. It stalled. He's hoping it gains steam after what's gone on at LeafLine this summer.

"It's certainly been legal," Marty said. "I think it's a question of should it be legal."

Minnesota Jobs Coalition President Mark Drake has called for more transparency.

"Sometimes it seems like it's the land of 10,000 revolving doors," Drake said.

The GOP-leaning group is looking at emails like Munson-Regala's to learn who knew what and when.

"He was certainly putting forth a good effort to ingratiate himself with them, which I'm sure some people could find unseemly," Drake said.

On the day the Department of Health announced its assistant commissioner's departure, Munson-Regala emailed one contact, writing, "I got the proverbial offer; too good to refuse."

One person emailed him a congratulations and "apologized for having to deal with news reporters."

In another email to Munson-Regala, a lobbyist later castigated Marty's stance: "Sounds like John Marty wants state employees to be indentured for life!"

"I do not think anybody should be indentured for life," Marty said. "The public is supposed to be served by their government. The government is not meant to serve certain people who work for it."

Munson-Regala declined WCCO's request for an on-camera interview.

On the phone he said there's no scheme to uncover here and that LeafLine only approached him about the job days before he left the Health Department.

About that LinkedIn connection, he said he simply wanted to get to know the person leading LeafLine better.

Munson-Regala was not responsible for selecting which two companies would be allowed to sell medical marijuana in Minnesota.