State Treasurer Approves Hearing On Suspension Of Top MA Cannabis Official, Legal Battle On Hold

Shannon O'Brien, on the brink of a court hearing contesting her suspension as chair of the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission, announced that state Treasurer Deborah Goldberg has approved a hearing regarding her removal, reported the Boston Herald.

What Happened?

The ex-official responsible for overseeing cannabis operations in Massachusetts filed a lawsuit against Goldberg last week.

O'Brien claimed that suspending her position as the chief of the state cannabis regulator was unlawful.

The lawsuit alleges that Goldberg "willfully side-stepped both Massachusetts law and any process at all" by suspending O'Brien. It seeks a reinstatement of O'Brien as the CCC chairwoman, a $181,722-a-year position Goldberg appointed her earlier.

Last week, the state treasurer clarified that "several serious allegations were made by a Commissioner and CCC staff about the Chair's behavior" after all and that "the CCC initiated an investigation, hiring an outside law firm."

"The law firm undertook an investigation and has returned with a report," Goldberg continued. "According to the CCC's employee handbook, suspension with pay is the only allowable remedy at this point, as the findings are being reviewed and action is considered."

Lawsuit Put On Hold

Upon Goldberg's proposal to conduct a hearing on November 7th, O'Brien promptly responded by submitting a notice on Thursday morning in Suffolk Superior Court to postpone the scheduled hearing on Friday regarding her motion to temporarily halt her suspension through a preliminary injunction.

"I filed my lawsuit in order to force Treasurer Goldberg to follow the law and give me an opportunity to be heard," O'Brien said in a statement. "She notified my legal counsel yesterday that we will have a hearing in early November."

State law allows the treasurer to remove a commissioner for various reasons, but the law does not directly address commissioner suspensions.

Photo: Courtesy of pixel2013, lindsayfox by Pixabay