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Hochul Ousts New York Cannabis Chief After Agency Drops Omnium Case

The governor said the change will restore confidence following the regulator’s unexplained withdrawal of a case against Omnium Health.

Overview

  • Hochul requested the immediate resignation of acting executive director Felicia A. B. Reid after the enforcement action was pulled on the eve of an administrative trial.
  • Susan Filburn, the Office of Cannabis Management’s chief administrative officer, was appointed interim executive director.
  • Regulators had alleged Omnium Health let out-of-state companies manufacture products under its New York license, exposing the firm to possible license revocation and multimillion-dollar fines.
  • The Office of Cannabis Management withdrew the case without prejudice, gave no public rationale, and lifted a related product recall while it reviews newly obtained information.
  • Several news reports said investigator James Rogers was fired after the case was dropped, as the state touts a reset to strengthen oversight in a market slowed by lawsuits and illegal storefronts.