Judge Reinstates Massachusetts Cannabis Commission Chair After Wrongful Firing

A Suffolk Superior Court judge ruled that Treasurer Deborah Goldberg unlawfully fired Shannon O'Brien as chair of the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission and ordered her immediate reinstatement. Goldberg had suspended O'Brien in September 2023 and officially fired her in September 2024, citing gross misconduct and an inability to perform her duties, including allegations of creating a hostile work environment and making racially insensitive remarks. However, Judge Robert Gordon found that these claims did not meet the high legal standard required for removal under state law, stating the evidence did not support Goldberg’s decision. The judge emphasized that while O'Brien may have been abrasive or unreasonable, these were not sufficient grounds for termination. O'Brien is entitled to back pay and benefits and will serve the remainder of her term through August 31, 2027. Both O'Brien and Goldberg's representatives have not immediately commented, though O'Brien plans to return to her position.