It’s too soon to call it a dream team, but we can’t contain our excitement that New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has, at long last, named her first picks for the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) and the Cannabis Control Board (CCB) — which has two more nominees to come.
There’s a lot of work ahead, reports Insider, who listed the most powerful players tasked with readying the state for adult-use sales.
Solid start
Former Drug Policy Alliance coordinator Chris Alexander, who has also worked in the medical industry, will lead the OCM as executive director.
“We’re six months behind already,” he told senators after being confirmed on Wednesday. “I have no timeline but what I can tell you, we’re as eager as you.”
Building opportunities
Kochul’s pick to lead the CCB, Tremaine Wright, was also confirmed on Wednesday. Previously, the attorney represented the 56th district of the New York State Assembly. She said in addition to staffing up, equity will be a fundamental principle guiding the team.
“This is our opportunity to get it right,” she said. “We’re going to be using this skeleton to build a system, to build opportunities.”
The influencers
In addition to lawmakers and policy wonks, Insider named some of the most influential members of the industry who will also play a key role in shaping the future of New York cannabis: CEO of Green Thumb Industries Ben Kovler, Mattio Communications CEO Rosie Mattio, Cresco Labs CEO Charlie Bachtell, and Acreage Holdings CEO Peter Caldini and COO Robert Daino all made the list.
If you are interested in what’s happening in New York, join us on September 29 at the Rainbow Room at Rockefeller Center for Business of Cannabis: New York.
See our previous coverage of New York’s legalization effort:
- August 29, 2021: Out with the old (Governor) in the with the New York legalization effort
- August 18, 2021: Smoke ‘em if you got ‘em at the NY State Fair: Officials
- August 16, 2021: Understanding how New York’s legalization efforts are progressing
- August 13, 2021: What does Cuomo’s resignation mean for New York cannabis?
- July 9, 2021: All eyes on the New York prize
- June 27, 2021: Insiders want New York to learn from Canada’s canna-mistakes
- April 27, 2021: New York weed speakeasy comes out of the shadows
- April 4, 2021: As New York goes…
- March 25, 2021: New York State of Kind
