In an effort to “jumpstart” legal recreational cannabis in New York, the recently appointed governor of New York made two appointments to oversee the state’s cannabis program.
At the beginning of September, newly sworn-in Governor Kathy Hochul called a special legislative session where the Senate confirmed two appointments to the agency that will regulate and oversee New York’s adult use cannabis program. Governor Hochul, who took over as governor of New York after former governor Andrew Cuomo resigned, vowed to get New York’s stalled cannabis industry up and running.
The Senate confirmed Tremaine Wright, a former Brooklyn state assemblywoman, to chair the Cannabis Control Board and the Office of Cannabis Management, as well as Chris Alexander, the policy manager at Canada-based cannabis company Vill, to serve as executive director of both agencies. The Cannabis Control Board will reinvest 40 percent of the sales tax on cannabis sales back into communities. It will target neighborhoods most affected by the War on Drugs.
Both new appointees have backgrounds in cannabis and social equity, a key component of the state’s recreational cannabis bill. Wright is currently the director of the Office of Financial Inclusion and Empowerment in the state’s finance office. She previously served as the chair of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Caucus. Alexander previously worked with the Drug policy Alliance and was a big supporter of New York’s Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA).
All aspects of New York’s recreational cannabis industry will be decided on by the Cannabis Control Board, including production, packaging, marketing, and sale of cannabis. The board will consist of five members, with three members appointed by the governor and one appointed from each house of the legislature. The Office of Cannabis Management will also oversee the state’s existing medical cannabis program. The MRTA also includes provisions to expand the state’s medical cannabis program, and the Office of Cannabis Management would be in charge of developing the necessary framework to implement the changes.
New York’s recreational cannabis bill also calls for the creation of a 13-member advisory board, with seven appointees to be named by the governor and six by the Senate, in addition to eight non-voting state government members. The advisory board will also consist of representatives from underserved communities and those most affected by cannabis prohibition.
“Once the Cannabis Control Board is in place, the Office will be officially formed and can begin promulgating regulations to implement the MRTA, including provisions outlining cannabis product requirements, ensuring industry access for small businesses and communities that have been disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs and opportunities for legacy operators and people with past cannabis convictions,” Deputy Communications Director, Jason Gough, said.
Governor Hochul’s appointees haven’t all been readily accepted in their new positions. Senator Diane Savino, who helped draft New York’s medical cannabis law, believes Wright, who is a former State Assemblywoman from Brooklyn, didn’t have the necessary qualifications to properly run the state’s recreational cannabis program.
“I’m somewhat mystified as to why the governor decided to put in charge of the cannabis board a person who has no experience in cannabis,” Savino said while questioning Wright at the hearing. “You have experience in a lot of things, but I’m concerned you don’t have direct experience in cannabis itself.”
In the end, Savino said she supported Wright’s nomination and said she would work with her on making legal recreational cannabis successful in the state. Cannabis industry insiders believe New York will begin to issue regulations for its cannabis industry within the next six months and could expect licenses to be issued as early as next fall.
