A Suffolk Superior Court judge found that Shannon O'Brien was wrongfully removed from the Cannabis Control Commission and ordered her reinstatement with back pay. O'Brien, a former state treasurer and 2022 commission appointee who was suspended in 2023, was fired by State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg in September 2024 amid accusations including race-based remarks, retaliation, and bullying. The judge described Goldberg's removal decision as a "house of cards," found O'Brien's remarks and leadership lapses amounted to errors of judgment but did not meet the statutory threshold for gross misconduct, and noted context was not properly considered.
(O'Brien's) concededly ill-considered remarks and other putative failures of leadership reflect, at most, errors of judgment falling far below the statute's 'gross misconduct' threshold for removal," Gordon wrote. "They do not approach - singularly or collectively - the kind of flagrant, outrageous or unconscionable acts that our case law has recognized as essential to a finding of gross misconduct.
Goldberg said O'Brien "committed gross misconduct" and "demonstrated she is unable to discharge the powers and duties" of a member of the state's five-person CCC.
"is pleased to have her good name restored and looks forward to working with" the embattled CCC and its members.
"I guess you're not allowed to say 'yellow' anymore,"
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