New York’s cannabis regulator has a host of new appointments after a weakened leader left early

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has named a new interim executive director of the state’s cannabis regulatory authority after firing the previous leader.

Just weeks after its former executive director, Chris Alexander, officially resigned from the top-level Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), a series of new appointments have been made, leaving the organization without a clear leader.

Felicia AB Reid has now been appointed Deputy Executive Director and Acting Executive Director until a permanent successor to Alexander is found.

Reid, who has more than a decade of experience in state government and is a member of the New York Bar Association, will oversee the office’s “core operational and regulatory functions, including licensing, regulatory compliance and enforcement.”

“Cannabis is a tremendous opportunity for our state, and OCM has a responsibility to ensure its work ensures these opportunities are accessible, transparent and responsive to industry movements and trends. I want to thank Governor Hochul for this opportunity and look forward to doing this work with equity as the most important goal for OCM moving forward.”

Along with Reid, Susan Filburn was appointed to the newly created position of chief administrative officer, tasked with overseeing the stabilization and formalization of administrative functions at an agency that has been widely criticized for its handling of New York’s adult-use marijuana rollout.

He will also work closely with the licensing and technology teams to implement process improvements to streamline the license review process and improve responsiveness.

Meanwhile, OCM’s previous communications director, Jessica Woolford, will be promoted to director of external affairs, where she will “ensure communications and community engagement are prioritized as the agency implements transformational change.”

In May, Cannabis business reported that Alexander, who has led OCM since 2021 and oversaw the state’s first difficult steps toward legalizing cannabis for adult use, was facing calls to step down.

His departure was initially announced in early May after the publication of a “top-down” internal review of regulators involved in implementing the program.

The report highlighted the organization’s key issues, saying its culture had led to “confusion, difficulties and delays” in implementing the groundbreaking cannabis framework, which has been plagued by lawsuits, the spread of illicit business and frustration for those trying to operate legally.

It also highlighted that the understaffed licensing team is struggling to keep up with over 5,600 submitted applications, of which approximately 90% are reported to require amendments, exposing the complexity and confusion around the process.

Alexander was initially scheduled to leave at the end of September, giving time to find a successor and set a handover period.