Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Top NY cannabis official exits at pivotal moment for legal rollout
By
Caroline Lewis
Published Sep 12, 2023
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
By
Caroline Lewis
Published Sep 12, 2023
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Axel Bernabe, a top official at the state Office of Cannabis Management, announced on Tuesday that he will exit his role as the agency’s chief of staff and senior policy director. The move comes at a pivotal moment for the rollout of New York’s recreational market.
Bernabe helped craft the social justice-oriented licenses, known as the Conditional Adult Use Retail Dispensary — or CAURD — program, that launched New York’s adult-use marijuana industry. The program now faces legal challenges that have created financial uncertainty for participants. He also worked on a set of regulations for the general licensing of marijuana businesses that were approved at a meeting of the state’s Cannabis Control Board Tuesday.
At that meeting, Chris Alexander, the executive director of the Office of Cannabis Management, praised Bernabe for his policy work and said that with the release of the general licensing regulations, it was a natural moment for Bernabe to step down – although regulators acknowledged at other points in the meeting that policy revisions will be ongoing.
“Now that we’ve put forward the regulations to go final, his work is done and it’s time to hand off the baton to somebody else to continue,” Alexander said, adding that Bernabe had been his “brother throughout all of this.”
New York officials have been ambitious in their effort to launch the legal marijuana industry with small businesses, rather than large companies, as many other states do. But the rollout has so far been mired in setbacks, and only about two dozen of the 463 dispensaries licensed so far have opened since the adult-use market launched in December.
In his own comments, Bernabe acknowledged that his role has not been an easy one.
“This has undoubtedly been the most humbling experience of my professional career,” Bernabe said. “It’s been the most challenging, bar none… It’s also been a privilege to be able to contribute substantially to the vision for an equitable, small-business-driven market in New York.”
Prior to joining the state Office of Cannabis Management, Bernabe served as chief health counsel to former Gov. Andrew Cuomo for six years. He did not say where he will go next.
Tagged
cannabis
marijuana
new york state
weed
Caroline Lewis
Caroline Lewis is on the health care beat for WNYC and Gothamist. She has covered COVID, a nurses' strike, the overdose crisis and New York’s marijuana legalization effort, and spent a year investigating patients' medical bills. She always wants to hear about how everyday New Yorkers experience the health system. Got a tip? Email [email protected].
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NYC Council to consider earlier Legionella reporting after deadly outbreaks
A bill facing a hearing Monday would require cooling tower owners to notify city health officials when bacteria levels reach a much lower threshold.
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Oct 18, 2026 at 7:36 p.m. ET
Staten Island fire injures 2, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
Dozens of firefighters responded to the blaze, which started in a vacant warehouse. It was contained within three hours.
By
Giulia Heyward
News
Staten Island fire injures 2, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
Dozens of firefighters responded to the blaze, which started in a vacant warehouse. It was contained within three hours.
By
Giulia Heyward
Bail reform remains major issue in NY governor's race, 7 years after it became law
By
Gino Fanelli
NYPD identifies Bronx man, 26, killed in Midtown subway shooting
By
Ryan Kost
,
Elizabeth Kim
and
Phil Corso
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
By
Ryan Kost
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .