Hollis-born to lead New York’s Cannabis Office

Queens-born advocate Christopher Alexander was confirmed as director of the Office of Cannabis Management. AP Photo by Hans Pennink

By Rachel Vick

A Hollis native was one of the first confirmed appointments of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s administration Wednesday as the state moves forward with the implementation of the Marijuana Regulation Taxation Act.

Christopher Alexander, who was the lead drafter of the legalization bill while working the Start SMART NY campaign, will serve as executive director of the Office of Cannabis Management.

Former Assemblymember Tremaine S. Wright, who currently serves as the first Director of the DFS Statewide Office of Financial Inclusion and Empowerment, was confirmed as Chair of Cannabis Control Board.

"One of my top priorities is to finally get New York's cannabis industry up and running - this has been long overdue, but we're going to make up for lost time,” Hochul said.

"These two individuals bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to their new roles, and I know they will do a tremendous job of outlining and implementing regulations that are safe, fair and transparent, and that recognize the need to remedy the impact that prohibition has had on communities of color,” Hochul added. “I look forward to working with them on building our state's cannabis industry and effecting real change for New Yorkers."

Alexander graduated from CUNY School of Law and currently works as the Government Relations and Policy Manager for Village, a multi-state cannabis company. He has also worked with the federal and state legislature.

Under the pair’s leadership, the Cannabis Control Board and Office of Cannabis Management will create and implement a comprehensive regulatory framework for the state for the licensing, marketing and sale of cannabis products.

The law, passed earlier this year, focuses on legalizing in an equitable way by centering communities of color and small businesses.

"The Governor’s appointees… are demonstrated community activists committed to affecting change,” said Gretchen Schmidt, the faculty program director of Cannabis Control at Excelsior College. “These appointments are setting the stage for a regulatory board that will be committed to righting the wrongs of cannabis prohibition, especially by nominating individuals who have long held the belief that cannabis should be legalized in New York."