A coalition of 18 cannabis industry advocates is urging Gov. Kathy Hochul to nominate new leadership to the Office of Cannabis Management with experience in the marijuana industry, arguing that present regulators are failing to elevate the New York cannabis market.
Hochul’s office, on the other hand, responded that the same advocacy groups advocated for the soft policies that generated huge problems for the office, such as the expansion of illegal marijuana businesses and long waiting lists for legitimate applicants.
In a letter to Hochul, the activists criticized the Office of Cannabis Management’s leadership, including acting Executive Director Felicia Reid, as unqualified.
“To ultimately restore confidence in the future of New York’s cannabis market buildout, OCM’s leadership must change to reflect expertise in cannabis, economic market development, and regulatory licensing,” said the letter signed by reps from the NAACP, Drug Policy Alliance, Cannabis Social Equity Coalition, National Hispanic Cannabis Association, and Service Disabled Veterans in Cannabis Association, among others.
Cannabis supporters complained about “knee-jerk changes” in the evaluation of cannabis licenses and “failed commitments to equity” for pot merchants from underserved groups, including individuals with prior marijuana convictions when possession was illegal.
They blamed their inadequacies on a “lack of experience and exposure to cannabis market development and regulatory licensing regimes.”
They also alleged that the OCM is not following the goals outlined in the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act, which allowed recreational marijuana sales in New York.
“Given our concerns, we implore you to appoint an Executive Director to OCM who has a demonstrated track record in the following areas: cannabis literacy, financial economic market development, or regulatory licensing operations; a proven commitment to equity and community engagement; and a proven commitment to small business growth,” the constituents wrote.
Hochul ordered a management shake-up at the cannabis agency following a harsh study she commissioned in May that criticized how the regulatory body was operated, and 64 new employees were hired.
