Top New York Cannabis Official Resigns as State Drops High-Profile Omnium Health Enforcement Case
New York’s leading cannabis regulator, Felicia A.B. Reid, resigned on Monday at the request of Gov. Kathy Hochul, following the abrupt withdrawal of a major enforcement case against Long Island-based Omnium Health just one day before a scheduled administrative trial.
Governor Hochul Accepts Resignation Amid Regulatory Stumbles and Dropped Enforcement Action
Reid, who was appointed last year to head the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), assumed her role during the rocky rollout of New York’s legal cannabis market. In a statement, Governor Hochul cited ongoing challenges under Reid’s leadership and specifically referenced the withdrawal of the Omnium case as a tipping point.
“Too often, the Office of Cannabis Management has stood in the way of the market realizing its potential, including most recently in the case of a pending compliance action that it has had to withdraw,” Hochul said.
Reid’s resignation was effective immediately.
Withdrawal of Omnium Health Case Comes on Eve of Administrative Trial
Earlier on Monday, OCM officials dropped charges against Omnium Health less than a day before the administrative trial was set to begin. The agency also lifted an accompanying product recall affecting items produced at the company’s facilities for several of the country’s leading marijuana brands.
The move came as a major surprise to industry observers, raising questions about oversight, enforcement strategy, and the stability of New York’s cannabis regulatory framework.
Deputy Investigator James Rogers Also Removed Amid Shakeup
In addition to Reid, James Rogers, a former prosecutor who led the investigation into Omnium Health through OCM’s Trade Practices Bureau, was also dismissed. Sources familiar with the personnel changes, who requested anonymity, confirmed his departure.
Omnium Health did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Industry Observers Question Regulatory Oversight Following Abrupt Case Withdrawal
The sudden resignations underscore continuing turbulence within New York’s cannabis program, which has faced criticism since its launch for slow licensing, enforcement inconsistencies, and administrative missteps. Stakeholders in the state’s $1.8 billion cannabis market will be watching closely as leadership changes raise concerns about the direction and credibility of the Office of Cannabis Management.
As New York’s cannabis program continues to expand, regulators and operators alike will need to rebuild trust and ensure enforcement actions are transparent, consistent, and defensible in order to maintain a fair and competitive market.
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