Thomas R. Akras, Esq. serves as Director of the Legal and Legislative Division for the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis Commission for the State of Maryland. In this role, he is responsible for reviewing and monitoring legislative bills related to alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis generally, and ATCC duties specifically. Mr. Akras is also responsible for recommending and developing new ATCC relevant legislation, reviewing and providing interpretive guidance related to existing State laws and regulations, updating existing state regulations as appropriate, and overseeing the administrative hearings process for the agency. Prior to the ATCC, Mr. Akras served from 2014 to 2021 as Deputy Executive Secretary and General Counsel to the Board of Liquor License Commissioners of Baltimore City. Before transitioning to the alcoholic beverage and tobacco regulatory field, Mr. Akras served as an Assistant State’s Attorney and Assistant City Solicitor with the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office and Baltimore City Solicitor’s Office. Mr. Akras holds a Bachelor of Arts in Government and Politics and Juris Doctorate from the University of Maryland. He also holds a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Baltimore. Although originally from New York, he is happy to call Baltimore his home where he lives with his wife, Anne, and their two young children, Carmen and Albert.