Senate Finance Committee advances Jessica Garcia as chair of Cannabis Control Board

Jessica Garcia, the governor's nominee to serve as chair of the Cannabis Control Board, appeared before the New York State Senate Finance Committee on June 6 and the committee voted to advance her nomination to the full Senate; the committee recorded a voice vote of "aye," noted two members "without recommendation," and registered no opposition on the record.

Garcia, who has served on the Cannabis Control Board since October 2021 and who works as an assistant to the president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), told the committee her priorities as chair would be stabilizing the agency, promoting social equity in licensing and addressing enforcement, farmer support and medical program access.

Garcia said she was "deeply honored" by the nomination and described her background in labor and nonprofit advocacy as the reason she's been asked to lead the board. "I was tapped to serve on the cannabis control board because of my work in labor to be the voice for workers in the industry," she said.…