Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) Chair Shannon O'Brien has filed a lawsuit against Treasurer Deb Goldberg, asserting that her suspension from the position was unlawful and violated her due process rights as reported in Bonton Globe report.
O’Brien, a former state treasurer, state senator, and state representative, was appointed by Goldberg as CCC Chair last year according to Hoodline. Despite this past connection, O’Brien’s suspension has exposed tensions between the two parties and invited uncertainty surrounding the future of the burgeoning Massachusetts cannabis industry.
O’Brien was suspended due to “several serious allegations” made by a fellow commissioner and CCC staff regarding her behavior. Goldberg has stated that she is “confident that she has taken the appropriate actions to address the matter” according to NBC Boston. However, details regarding the nature of these allegations and the findings of an outside law firm’s investigation have yet to be disclosed.
Both the suspension and lawsuit highlight the complexities of the CCC’s governing structure and the limited control that the Treasurer's Office has over the independent agency. Goldberg has said the office has no "authority, oversight, management, or influence over the Commission" beyond appointing its chair and having a say in appointing two other commissioners. O’Brien’s lawsuit argues that her suspension, which she claims is more akin to removal from her position, is not only unlawful but also unsupported by state law.
O’Brien’s attorney has requested a hearing on October 5 for a motion for an injunction that would bar Goldberg from continuing with the suspension and reinstate O’Brien as CCC Chair according to Boston Herald.
