Gov. Hochul names New York State cannabis advisory board members

Gov. Kathy Hochul today announced the inaugural members of the New York Cannabis Advisory Board, a 13-member panel that will advise state marijuana regulators and oversee a fund to help communities impacted by the drug war.

NY Cannabis Insider has previously covered delays in the board’s appointments and insider critiques of the slow rollout of the state-mandated committee. Hochul’s announcement Wednesday is the first piece of public information made available about the advisory board.

Cannabis Control Board Chair Tremaine Wright said Wednesday that “These Cannabis Advisory Board members have unique and valuable work and life experiences that will make sure all New Yorkers have a voice in how New York’s cannabis marketplace is regulated, and how tax revenues are shared with community nonprofits.”

The governor appointed seven members to the board. NYS Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie appointed three, as did NYS Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins. The panel also includes seven non-voting representatives from various state agencies.

Members of the New York Cannabis Advisory Board include:

• Alejandro Alvarez, Chief Executive Officer/Co-Founder of Soulful Synergy
• Joe Belluck, Partner at Belluck & Fox, LLC
• Dr. Junella Chin, MD, Integrative Medical Cannabis Physician
• Allan Clear, MD, Director at Office of Drug User Health at New York State Department of Health

[Read more at Syracuse.com]