A state watchdog called Tuesday for the Legislature to place the embattled Cannabis Control Commission into receivership to provide stable day-to-day leadership atop the state’s marijuana industry regulator.
The commission has been without a dedicated chairperson since September and without an executive director since December, all the while plagued by accusations of internal strife and criticism from some industry businesses over its stringent regulations.
“The Cannabis Control Commission is a rudderless agency without a clear indication of who is responsible for running its day-to-day operations,” Inspector General Jeffrey S. Shapiro said in a statement Tuesday, shortly after he wrote to legislative leaders expressing concern over the commission’s leadership vacuum.
Under Shapiro’s recommendation, the commission staff would report to a temporary leader, called a receiver, appointed by the Legislature to stabilize the agency and manage its daily functions.
A spokesperson for the commission, which closed its offices Wednesday for Juneteenth, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The spokesperson told the Boston Globe that commission officials cooperated with Shapiro’s investigation and “remain willing and ready to work with government partners to safely, effectively, and equitably regulate the Commonwealth’s $7 billion cannabis industry.”
H/T: www.masslive.com
