A judge ruled that Shannon O’Brien, the fired chair of the Cannabis Control Commission, was wrongfully removed from her position and should be reinstated to serve the remainder of her term, with back pay.

O’Brien, a former state treasurer and one-time Democratic nominee for governor, was appointed to the commission in 2022 until her suspension a year later. State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg then fired her in September of 2024.

A spokesperson for O’Brien released a statement on her behalf, noting that she “is pleased to have her good name restored and looks forward to working with” the embattled CCC and its members.

At the time of her firing, Goldberg said O’Brien “committed gross misconduct” and “demonstrated she is unable to discharge the powers and duties” of a member of the st

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