Shannon O’Brien, the chair of the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission, was let go. A year has passed since she was suspended by State Treasurer Deb Goldberg on charges of making “racially, ethnically, and culturally insensitive statements.”
O’Brien has consistently refuted the accusations and was selected to a five-year term in 2022.
According to Goldberg, the decision to fire O’Brien was made after more than 20 hours of meetings, a thorough analysis of hundreds of pages of testimony, and a review of relevant policies and case law.
“The Chair committed gross misconduct and demonstrated she is unable to discharge the powers and duties of a CCC commissioner,” Goldberg stated. “I do so with deep regret because she has a long history of public service, and when appointed I anticipated she would lead the Commission capably and in an appropriate manner. I expect my appointee’s actions to be reflective of the important mission of the CCC and performed in a manner that incorporates the standards of professionalism required in today’s work environment.”
During a commission hearing last year, Goldberg alleged O’Brien made an offensive remark about someone of Asian descent. When Goldberg stated that additional employees had leveled accusations against O’Brien over her conduct and a hostile work environment, outside investigators were contacted.
Last September, O’Brien filed a lawsuit against Goldberg, claiming that she had unlawfully fired her.
Max Stern, the attorney for O’Brien, stated in a statement released on Monday that the ruling “whitewashes the unequivocal evidence that would lead any reasonable and fair fact-finder to conclude that there are no grounds for removal and would immediately reinstate her to steer the rudderless CCC shipwreck.”
Stern claimed that Goldberg refused to give O’Brien a chance to clear her image in a public hearing.
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“Treasurer Goldberg’s interpretation of a fair hearing is akin to the secret trials employed by autocratic regimes,” Stern said in the statement. “But the Treasurer should understand that the sunlight is the best disinfectant, and Chair O’Brien’s pursuit of truth and justice for the Commonwealth and CCC will prevail.”
