Top Massachusetts Cannabis Regulator Fired

The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) Chair Shannon O’Brien was fired this week for allegedly making “racially, ethnically and culturally insensitive statements,” CBS News reports. The former chair was suspended last September.

State Treasurer Deb Goldberg announced the termination this week, saying she decided to fire O’Brien after reviewing hundreds of pages of testimony and after many hours of meetings and evaluation. Goldberg said that O’Brien made an insensitive comment about someone of Asian heritage

“The Chair committed gross misconduct and demonstrated she is unable to discharge the powers and duties of a CCC commissioner. I do so with deep regret because she has a long history of public service, and when appointed I anticipated she would lead the Commission capably and in an appropriate manner. I expect my appointee’s actions to be reflective of the important mission of the CCC and performed in a manner that incorporates the standards of professionalism required in today’s work environment.” — Goldberg, in a statement via CBS News

O’Brien — who filed a lawsuit last year against the state saying she had been removed unlawfully — has denied the accusations and contested her removal.

O’Brien’s legal counsel Max Stern told NBC News that this week’s decision “whitewashes the unequivocal evidence that would lead any reasonable and fair fact-finder to conclude that there are no grounds for removal and would immediately reinstate her to steer the rudderless the CCC shipwreck.”

In July, Massachusetts Inspector General Jeffrey Shapiro called on state officials to appoint a receiver to oversee the CCC after many months of regulatory delays and heightened scrutiny.