gothamist.com
Open in
urlscan Pro
2606:4700:10::6816:1391
Public Scan
URL:
https://gothamist.com/news/key-official-behind-slow-rollout-legal-weed-shops-exits-ny-cannabis-control-board
Submission: On April 13 via manual from US — Scanned from US
Submission: On April 13 via manual from US — Scanned from US
Form analysis 1 forms found in the DOM
<form class="gtm__click-tracking regwall-form"><label for="newsletter" class="sr-only"> newsletter signup </label>
<div class="regwall-form-wrapper">
<div class="mt-2" small="false">
<div class="email-collector-form"><span class="flex flex-column lg:flex-row" style="gap: 1rem;">
<div class="flex-grow-1"><span
class="p-input-icon-right w-full"><i class="submit-icon" data-style-mode="default"><button class="p-button p-component submit-btn p-button-rounded" type="button" aria-label="Sign Up"><!----><!----><span class="p-button-label">Sign Up</span><!----><span class="p-ink" role="presentation" aria-hidden="true"></span></button></i><span
class="field"><label class="" for="email">Email address</label><input class="p-inputtext p-component w-full p-inputtext-lg" type="email" placeholder="your@email.com" aria-label="sign up" aria-describedby="email-address-field"
autocomplete="email" name="email" style="padding-right: 112px;"></span></span><!---->
<div class="field-checkbox mt-3 mb-0">
<div class="p-checkbox p-component p-checkbox-checked">
<div class="p-hidden-accessible"><input type="checkbox" class="" aria-label="Toggle agreement to the terms"></div>
<div class="p-checkbox-box p-highlight"><span class="p-checkbox-icon pi pi-check"></span></div>
</div><label for="binary"> By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our
<a href="https://www.wnyc.org/terms/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Terms</a>. </label>
</div>
</div>
<div class="flex justify-content-start">
<div><button class="p-button p-component no-thanks-btn p-button-link" type="button" aria-label="No thanks"><!----><!----><span class="p-button-label">No thanks</span><!----><span class="p-ink" role="presentation"
aria-hidden="true"></span></button></div>
</div>
</span></div>
</div>
</div><!---->
</form>Text Content
Gothamist A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC. Gothamist Listen Live Donate News KEY OFFICIAL BEHIND SLOW ROLLOUT OF LEGAL WEED SHOPS EXITS NY CANNABIS CONTROL BOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By Caroline Lewis Published Jun 15, 2023 10 comments -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Share FacebookTwitterRedditEmail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Never miss a story Email address By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms . Sarah Yenesel/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By Caroline Lewis Published Jun 15, 2023 10 comments -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Share FacebookTwitterRedditEmail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We rely on your support to make local news available to all Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2024. Donate today Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations Reuben McDaniel, who leads a state agency that is instrumental in setting up New York’s legal cannabis industry, announced on Thursday that he’s stepping down from his position on the state’s Cannabis Control Board. He made the announcement at the end of a tense board meeting on Thursday — in which cannabis growers criticized state officials for the industry’s slow rollout. The departure was first reported on Wednesday night by The City. McDaniel will retain his position as president and CEO of the New York State Dormitory Authority, the agency that has been tasked with securing real estate for legal cannabis retail shops and setting up a social equity fund to make loans to the first retail licensees. New York’s first legal shops are run by people or family members of people whose lives were affected by marijuana prohibition. The Cannabis Association of New York, which represents entrepreneurs in the legal industry, has described McDaniel’s dual positions — head of the Dormitory Authority and Cannabis Control Board member — as a conflict of interest. Gov. Kathy Hochul appointed McDaniel to the board in September 2021. He joined the Dormitory Authority two years earlier during the Cuomo administration. “I am proud to have played a role in building a new industry,” McDaniel said without citing a reason for why he was stepping down. McDaniel’s leadership at the Dormitory Authority has also received criticism amid the cannabis industry rollout because the agency is yet to fulfill its pledge to secure outside investors for the state’s social equity fund and has put up reams of red tape for those seeking to open legal retail shops. Some cannabis license holders said they have had potential dispensary locations rejected for being too close to other proposed shops, and have even had to compete with the Dormitory Authority itself for eligible retail space. Since the legal retail industry launched in December, only 13 licensed dispensaries have opened statewide, including delivery-only operations and temporary pop-up shops. That’s despite the state issuing more than 200 licenses. “I want to thank the New York citizens who have really stood behind the cannabis industry, those of you who have put your blood, sweat and tears into this,” McDaniel said at Tuesday’s meeting. “It will be a wonderful day when we get all of this right.” Carson Grant, who has a license to open a dispensary in Queens, publicly criticized the Dormitory Authority at a recent meeting between state officials and licensees. He told Gothamist on Thursday that he’s glad McDaniel is stepping down from the Cannabis Control Board because he “always thought it was a conflict of interest.” But Grant added that he is not confident in how McDaniel is running the Dormitory Authority. “The state should have a deadline for performance,” Grant said. “Just like anybody in any job, if you don't perform in your job, you get replaced or fired, right? The question is: has he performed?” In a statement on the departure, Jason Gough, a spokesperson for Hochul, said, “We are grateful for Reuben McDaniel’s service on the Cannabis Control Board and are reviewing candidates for the upcoming vacancy on the Board.” Gothamist has contacted the state Office of Cannabis Management for comment. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- READ THIS STORY COMPLETELY FREE To continue reading, sign up for our daily newsletter and get unlimited access to Gothamist.com. Why am I seeing this? newsletter signup Sign UpEmail address By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms. No thanks Tagged cannabis marijuana new york state Health and Science -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Caroline Lewis Caroline Lewis is on the health care beat for WNYC and Gothamist — and also covers cannabis, both with an eye towards equity and accountability. She was previously a health care reporter for Crain’s New York Business. Lewis has a degree from the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism and is a native New Yorker, although she has left occasionally. She did a Fulbright in Chile in 2011 and is fluent in Spanish. She now resides in Brooklyn. Read more Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MORE news NYPD: Headless body washes up on Howard Beach First responders pulled the decapitated man's remains from the water shortly before 9 p.m. Friday By Michelle Bocanegra Published Apr 13, 2024 at 10:11 a.m. ET 1 comment -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hudson Yards' Vessel to reopen later this year with new suicide prevention measures The structure was forced to close after multiple suicides since its 2019 opening. By Michelle Bocanegra 5 comments News Hudson Yards' Vessel to reopen later this year with new suicide prevention measures The structure was forced to close after multiple suicides since its 2019 opening. By Michelle Bocanegra 5 comments -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NYC Council approves bill voiding contracts that curb workers' ability to sue for bias By Arun Venugopal 3 comments Leptospirosis, transmitted by rat urine, is on the rise in NYC, health officials warn By Catalina Gonella 5 comments Police who shot and killed Kawaski Trawick won’t face discipline, NYPD commissioner says By Bahar Ostadan 72 comments -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Never miss a story Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily. Sign upEmail address By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms . AdvertisingContact UsOur TeamRSS FeedDiversity (DEI)Careers Gothamist Gothamist is a website about New York City news, arts, events and food, brought to you by New York Public Radio. AdvertisingContact UsOur TeamRSS FeedDiversity (DEI)Careers -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FacebookTwitterInstagramYoutube Terms Of UsePrivacy PolicyAccessibility ©2024 New York Public Radio. All rights reserved.