John Schroyer
A former marijuana regulator from Oregon has been appointed to head up New York City’s brand-new cannabis department, Cannabis NYC.
Dasheeda Dawson, chairwoman of Cannabis Regulators of Color Coalition and ex-director of the Portland, Oregon, cannabis program, was named founding director of Cannabis NYC by New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Small Business Services Commissioner Kevin Kim, according to a news release on Thursday.
Dawson was born and raised in Brooklyn and said she’s excited to lead the agency as a “force for positive change.”
Dawson also wrote on Twitter Thursday that the news for her was “bittersweet.”
“God knows I wouldn’t be ready for NYC without the last 2.5 years in (Portland),” Dawson wrote.
Ya’ll. When your last day is also your first day! ☺️ Bittersweet bc I have so much love for @PortlandGov and my @comm_civic_life fam! God knows I wouldn’t be ready for NYC without the last 2.5 years in PDX. Thank you for supporting my continued growth as #theweedhead 🙏🏾🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/CwvHjXhVcM
— Dasheeda Dawson (@DasheedaDawson) October 12, 2022
According to the release, Dawson will focus her efforts on a range of policy issues and support systems for cannabis entrepreneurs in New York City, including acting as a liaison between the office and other city agencies, creating support systems for businesses, and working on policy development.
