New York’s Cannabis Regulator Fails to Increase Staff Despite Promises
Despite a scathing review and promises of an “overhaul” from Governor Kathy Hochul, the state’s cannabis regulator, the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), has failed to increase its staffing levels. According to acting executive director Felicia Reid, the agency still employs 180 people, the same number it had in April.
In May, Hochul announced plans to prioritize hiring and training new staff to strengthen key agency operations, fill senior roles focused on customer service and internal controls, and address the agency’s staffing shortages. However, despite these promises, the OCM has not retained and recruited the additional 65 positions it still needs to fill, according to the April report.
A spokesperson for the OCM did not provide comment on the lack of progress, but noted that the agency’s director of health and safety is no longer leaving. The agency also has 60 “hires in process,” but only 15 vacancies are currently listed on the state’s job website.
Hochul’s office has touted her efforts to crack down on illicit pot shops, but the understaffing of the OCM has raised concerns about the agency’s ability to effectively regulate the state’s cannabis industry. The agency’s struggles have also led to a number of senior employees leaving, including those focused on health and safety, licensing, and legal matters.
The OCM’s struggles come as the state’s cannabis industry continues to grow, with legal weed sales surpassing $500 million in recent months. The agency’s inability to effectively regulate the industry has raised concerns about the safety and quality of cannabis products available to consumers.
The situation has also led to a contract being awarded to Empire State Development to administer a $5 million grant program meant to reimburse some cannabis dispensaries for expenses related to opening up their business. The program is being repurposed from a previously announced loan program that was supposed to be overseen by the Dormitory Authority but never got off the ground.
