A coalition of 18 cannabis industry advocates is calling on Gov. Kathy Hochul to appoint new leadership to the Office of Cannabis Management who have a background in the pot business, claiming the current regulators are not bringing the New York market to higher ground.
Hochul's office, however, fired back that the same advocate groups pushed for the soft policies that caused the office major issues — triggering the proliferation of illegal pot storefronts and long waiting lists for legal applicants.
In a letter to Hochul, the advocates slammed the leadership of the Office of Cannabis Management — including acting Executive Director Felicia Reid as not up to snuff.
"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.
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