Governor Hochul announces renovations to the New York State Office of Cannabis Management

Individuals designated to lead the operational review at OCM and implement the recommendations contained in the task force report

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced three new leadership appointments in the Office of Cannabis Management, part of a major operational overhaul of the agency that began last month. As a result of these appointments, including Felicia AB Reid as Deputy Executive Director and Acting Executive Director, a leadership team has been established to implement changes designed to eliminate the bottleneck among license applicants, improve communication with applicants and licensees, and reaffirm commitment Agency for Social Equity goals codified in the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act.

“I am committed to ensuring the continued growth of New York’s nation-leading cannabis market.” – said Governor Hochul. “With these new additions, the Office of Cannabis Management will continue to focus on developing the fairest adult-use market in the country while cracking down on illegal storefronts.”

The governor also announced a nationwide search for a permanent executive director for OCM to lead the agency as it works to develop and support the most diverse and equitable legal cannabis market in the country. The Office of the Governor’s Appointments will work with an experienced recruitment firm to identify qualified candidates from across the state and country.

Felicia AB Reid was appointed Deputy Executive Director and Acting Executive Director. In this position, Felicia will oversee the office’s core operational and regulatory functions, including licensing, compliance and enforcement. Will manage the implementation of the OCM Assessment Team’s recommendations in collaboration with OCM leadership and staff.

Felicia has over a decade of experience in state government, and spent the last six years in the Office of Children and Family Services, including overseeing statewide juvenile justice activities as Deputy Commissioner. She was admitted to the New York State Bar and received her law degree from New York Law School. He also holds a bachelor’s degree from Fordham University.

Office of Cannabis Management Deputy Executive Director and Acting Executive Director Felicia AB Reid said: “I am excited to work with everyone at OCM and our partners across the state to expand the agency’s work, develop internal and external best practices, and focus on transforming New York’s cannabis industry into one that meets the needs of small businesses and consumers. 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.”

Susan Philburn was appointed Chief Administrative Officer. This new position will focus on stabilizing and formalizing the agency’s administrative functions to support licensing, compliance and enforcement activities. He will also work closely with the licensing and technology teams to implement process improvements to streamline the license review process and improve responsiveness.

Susan has over 20 years of experience in state government, including the past four years as Deputy Commissioner for Employment Security at the Department of Labor. Susan is a U.S. Army veteran who served in numerous locations as an Air Force Officer. Susan holds a Master of Public Administration from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University and a Bachelor of Science from the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Jessica Woolford he was promoted to the position Director of Foreign Affairs. In this position, she will ensure communication and community engagement are prioritized as the agency implements transformational change. It will also create the agency’s first customer service team to provide applicants, licensees and consumers with transparency about the agency’s processes and the marketplace.
Jessica previously served as OCM’s director of communications and has spent the past nine months adeptly leading the agency’s external communications during a challenging transition. He has over a decade of experience working in government and social justice organizations and holds a BA in History from Williams College with a concentration in Africana Studies.