The newly adopted New York state budget eliminates the $229,000 annual salary of Tremaine Wright, chair of the Office of Cannabis Management’s Cannabis Control Board, a move that comes amid ongoing struggles with the rollout of the state’s legal marijuana industry.
The change was inserted into the budget bill without public debate. While the reason for the salary cut remains unclear, it’s notable given the rarity of such high salaries for state board positions. The board’s four other members only receive $260 stipends for attending meetings or official events.
Wright, a former Brooklyn Assemblymember appointed chair in 2021 by Governor Kathy Hochul, has not commented on the change.
The salary removal follows last year’s sweeping leadership shakeup at the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), which included Hochul asking Executive Director Chris Alexander to step down after a month-long review of the agency’s troubled performance. That review found widespread operational failures, including slow hiring, poor communication with stakeholders, and regulatory missteps that stalled the licensing process.
Although Wright had avoided public criticism, the OCM has faced mounting pressure due to the slow pace of retail store openings.
Governor Hochul has pledged a full overhaul of the agency to get the legal market on track, but the removal of Wright’s salary raises new questions about the direction of that effort.
