Cannabis Agency Is In ‘Crisis’ Says MA Governor Declining Comment On Possible Receivership, As Acting Chair Fights Back
The Massachusetts Office of the Inspector General, Jeffrey S. Shapiro, sent a letter to the state legislature calling for the correction of the poor governance structure of the Cannabis Control Commission (CCC).
“The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) conducted a limited review of the CCC’s structure and determined the agency’s statute lacks a clear leadership hierarchy with defined duties and responsibilities,” reads the letter. “For the past two years, CCC’s staff, including its commissioners, have spent considerable time and money seeking to clarify roles and responsibilities. As of the date of this letter, it does not appear the CCC, on its own, is any closer to resolving these issues.”
The letter addressed to state Senate President Karen Spilka, House Speaker Ron Mariano and others, also states that “there is an urgent need for the legislative leadership to take immediate action to statutorily authorize the appointment of, and appoint, a receiver with clearly delineated authority to manage the day-to-day operations.”
Shapiro slammed the CCC saying is not operating properly for a state agency, “let alone one that was responsible for bringing in approximately $322 million in tax and non-tax revenue in Fiscal Year 2023.”
Who Holds Authority?
Among the main concerns, the Inspector General highlighted the commissioner’s disagreement on who holds the authority to appoint the chairperson after the state treasurer Deborah Goldberg suspended Chair Shannon O’Brien last year.