TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida's embattled director of its medical marijuana office is stepping down.
The Department of Health said on Friday that Christian Bax's resignation takes effect on Aug. 10. Bax had led the Office of Medical Marijuana Use since it was created in 2015.
Deputy Director Courtney Coppola has been named the interim director.
During his three-year tenure, Bax's leadership has been beset by legal challenges mostly related to the process of awarding licenses for medical marijuana growers and distributors. The office is also involved in a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of patients being able to smoke medical pot.
Bax has frequently drawn the ire of state lawmakers and patients over delays in the program.
The Department of Health says there are over 104,000 medical marijuana patients in the state.