Gov. Kathy Hochul will launch a new search for a permanent cannabis chief after firing top officials over a failed enforcement case, according to Spectrum News.
Hochul forced out acting director Felicia Reid and a deputy counsel after the state dropped charges against Omnium Health, a licensed cannabis processor accused of illegally producing products for unlicensed brands. The Office of Cannabis Management withdrew the charges after its own legal tactics came under scrutiny.
A temporary leader is in place, but key positions remain vacant. Industry leaders say the shakeup reveals deep dysfunction, and some are calling for a new director with public-sector experience to fix the troubled rollout of New York’s legal cannabis market.
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