Nevada Department of Taxation Director Deonne Contine will be leaving the agency next month after serving as its chief for more than three years.

Contine, who took over in November 2014, oversaw the implementation of the Commerce Tax on large businesses that passed in 2015, and the implementation of Nevada’s recreational marijuana law. Last week, the Nevada Tax Commission passed permanent regulations on the marijuana industry, marking one of the last major milestones in getting Nevada’s pot oversight up and running.

The department has been praised by national observers for a smooth roll-out of its recreational marijuana law and for getting preliminary regulations in place that allowed sales to begin six months ahead of schedule.

“I appointed Deonne because she had a broad base of experience in state government and was a smart and steady deputy at Taxation.  Her experience, skills and hard work have served the State well as she has overseen the implementation of several successful tax and regulatory programs in the last few years,” Gov. Brian Sandoval said in a statement. “While I did not support Question 2, once the people voted to legalize recreational marijuana, I knew that I could depend on Deonne to implement the respected and tightly-controlled regulatory structure I envisioned to protect the public health and safety of our citizens while allowing businesses to be successful in this new industry. I thank Deonne for her service and I know she will represent her clients in the private sector with the same work ethic, commitment and skill that she has demonstrated at the Department.”

She’ll be taking a job in Reno with the law firm Kaempfer Crowell — which has worked with marijuana clients —  and expects to work on issues including regulatory compliance and tax compliance. Gov. Brian Sandoval is expected to appoint a replacement.

Contine has a political science degree from the University of California, Berkeley and a law degree from UNLV’s Boyd School of Law. She previously worked in the Nevada Attorney General’s Office and then as deputy director of the taxation department.

"It has been the greatest honor to serve in his administration and to serve the citizens of Nevada,” she said in a statement.