Jeff Brown, who led New Jersey’s launch into the legal cannabis market in 2022 will now run the $2 billion state Department of Health, Gov. Phil Murphy announced late Wednesday.

Brown left the Cannabis Regulatory Commission last year to oversee the inspection and licensing of the state’s 2,200 health care facilities and 2,700 mental health addiction programs, among other responsibilities as Deputy Health Commissioner.

With state Health Commissioner Kaitlan Baston announcing her resignation Tuesday to run University Hospital, New Jersey’s sole public hospital, Brown will take her place.

“Jeff Brown is a tested public servant who has spent his career working to uplift New Jersey’s health care infrastructure, and I am thrilled that he will serve as Acting Commissioner of the Department of Health,” Murphy said in a statement late Wednesday.

A Rutgers University graduate, Brown helped establish the temporary field hospital in Atlantic City during the COVID-19 pandemic and was a member of the department’s COVID-19 testing task force. Prior to cannabis becoming a legal substance regulated by the state, Brown oversaw the medicinal marijuana program, that grew to serve 125,000 patients.

 Brown thanked the governor for the appointment.

“I look forward to maintaining the Department’s commitment to protecting public health, improving the quality of health care, and supporting the delivery of critical services to promote healthy New Jersey communities,” Brown said in a statement.

Baston takes over at University Hospital to fill the upcoming vacancy of Ed Jimenez, who scheduled to depart for the CEO job at Main Line Health in Pennsylvania.

Cabinet-level positions like Health Commissioner typically require Senate confirmation, although with only nine months left of Murphy’s second term, it is not clear whether Brown will complete the process.

Local journalism needs your support. Subscribe at nj.com/supporter.

Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on X @SusanKLivio.