New Leaders Of NY Cannabis Reg Body And Recent Industry Appointments You Need To Know About

As yet another Benzinga cannabis event is approaching this month, where top CEOs, executives and entrepreneurs will share their valuable business insights, let’s scroll through the latest industry appointments.

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Meet New Leaders At New York Office Of Cannabis Management

Chris Alexander, the former head of the New York Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), resigned in May. Gov. Kathy Hochul first announced that Alexander's contract would not be renewed following its end in September. As Green Market Report's John Schroyer highlighted, the governor on Monday announced three new experts to lead the agency, including:

Felicia Reid, named as executive deputy director and acting executive director for the OCM, who worked in New York state government for over ten years;

Susan Filburn, to serve as chief administrative officer at OCM and work on "stabilizing and formalizing administrative functions of the agency,"; and

Former communications director Jessica Woolford was promoted to the post of director of external affairs to "ensure that communication and community engagement are prioritized."

See also: New York Greenlights Home Cannabis Cultivation, Issues 105 New Licenses – What You Need To Know

This Cannabis Non-Profit Forms A Governmental Advisory Committee Supporting Scientific Standards To Enhance Quality And Safety Of Cannabinoid Products

In the meantime, S3 Collective, a national nonprofit organization that seeks to advance the cannabis industry through collaboration, education, and standardization has formed its governmental advisory committee (GAC).

The inaugural members of this GAC include Tyler Klimas, former executive director of the Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board and Christina Dempsey, former Policy & Research Director of the California Department of Cannabis Control.

The GAC is expected to provide a forum for former and current government officials to engage in open dialogue about the needs and challenges facing the industry and government.

This announcement builds on the S3 Collective’s recent acceptance into the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Network of Experts (NoE) program.

Cannabis Board Changes

Cannabis multi-state operator Jushi Holdings Inc. JUSH JUSHF, announced last week the voting results of the annual general meeting of its shareholders during which the number of directors was set at five.

The shareholders also elected the following nominated directors:

• James A. Cacioppo
• Benjamin Cross
• Stephen Monroe
• Marina Hahn
• Billy Wafford

Las Vegas-based cannabis powerhouse Planet 13 Holdings Inc. PLTH PLNH announced on Tuesday its shareholders elected the following experts to serve on its board of directors:

• Robert Groesbeck
• Larry Scheffler
• Lee Fraser
• Adrienne O'Neal
• Kevin Martin

Glass House Brands Inc. (CBOE CA: GLAS.A.U) (CBOE CA: GLAS.WT.U) GLASF GHBWF, revealed that Jamie Mendola has stepped down from the company’s board of directors, due to "time requirements of his increasing professional commitments." Upon Mendola’s departure, the company’s board of directors reduced the size of the board from eight to seven.

Other Cannabis Industry Appointments

CanaQuest Medical Corp CANQF announced on Tuesday strategic additions to its executive team. The newly appointed professionals bring expertise in conducting clinical trials and US FDA drug approval success. The team – with new additions Lead Scientific Advisor Dr. Jordyn Stuart, Ph.D. and Chairman of Advisory Board Dr. Paul Dick, DVM, MSc – plans to effectively navigate the regulatory approval process for Drug Candidate, CQ-001 (cannabidiol + proprietary API composition), to treat rare neurological conditions with a primary focus on epilepsy.

Los Angeles cannabis brand STIIIZY has tapped Tony Shin to serve as general counsel. In last week's announcement, the company highlighted Shin's vast experience calling him a "seasoned, multi-dimensional legal professional with two decades of experience advising publicly traded and multinational companies, as well as emerging high-growth organizations across numerous industries."