After Cannabis Shake-Up in New York, Hochul’s Leadership Is Questioned

OG article by Ashley Southall

January 27, 2026

New York’s Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), the state agency responsible for regulating medical and adult-use cannabis, continues to grapple with leadership turmoil and enforcement challenges nearly five years after recreational legalization. Previous executive directors, including Chris Alexander and his successor Felicia A.B. Reid, have stepped down at the direction of Gov. Kathy Hochul amid criticism of the agency’s handling of enforcement actions and regulatory missteps. Reid was asked to resign after an aborted compliance case against a major cannabis processor and ongoing issues with unlicensed operations in the state. The turnover marks at least the second executive director change in under two years, raising questions about stability within the regulatory framework and the OCM’s ability to fully implement the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act. Industry stakeholders and legal experts say the agency’s struggles reflect deeper challenges in balancing rapid market growth with public safety, equity objectives, and consumer protections. Although legal dispensaries now number in the hundreds statewide, critics argue leadership instability could slow further progress and undermine confidence among operators and patients alike. The situation underscores the complexities of managing a legalized cannabis industry that is still maturing and adjusting to both regulatory expectations and market realities.