Tremaine Wright

Tremaine Wright (born November 2, 1972) is the Chairwoman of the New York State Cannabis Control Board and a former member of the New York State Assembly from the 56th district, which includes parts of Bedford-Stuyvesant in Brooklyn.

Tremaine Wright
Utica Av. Elevators
Chair of the
New York State Cannabis Control Board
Assumed office
September 6, 2021
GovernorKathy Hochul
Preceded byposition established
Member of the New York State Assembly
from the 56th district
In office
January 1, 2017 – January 1, 2021
Preceded byAnnette Robinson
Succeeded byStefani Zinerman
Personal details
Born (1972-11-02) November 2, 1972
Political partyDemocratic
ResidenceBrooklyn, New York
Alma materDuke University
University of Chicago
WebsiteOfficial website
Campaign website

On September 1, 2021, Wright was selected by Governor Kathy Hochul to chair the Cannabis Control Board of the newly created New York Office of Cannabis Management.[1]

Life and career

Wright was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, living down the block from the home she was raised in. A graduate of Duke University and the University of Chicago Law School, Wright practiced law both in private firms and as a public defender with Brooklyn Law Services.[2]

Previously, Wright was the chairperson of Brooklyn Community Board 3, and also formerly owned a neighborhood coffee shop. In 2009, Wright ran for the New York City Council against incumbent Albert Vann but lost.[3]

New York State Assembly

After sixteen years representing the district, Assemblymember Annette Robinson announced that she would retire instead of seek another term in 2016. Soon after, Wright announced her intentions to run to replace her. Facing Karen Cherry in the Democratic primary, Wright won the nomination by a 59% to 41% margin.[4]

Wright won the general election unopposed, and was sworn into office on January 1, 2017. Wright did not run in the Democratic primary for her Assembly seat in 2020 so that she could run for the New York State Senate.

New York State Senate campaign

On January 11, 2020, State Senator Velmanette Montgomery, representing New York's 25th State Senate district, announced that she would be retiring and not running for re-election in 2020. As part of this announcement, she endorsed Wright as her successor, and Wright entered the race against schoolteacher Jabari Brisport, and former Montgomery staffer Jason Salmon.[5]

More than a month after the Democratic primary was held on June 23, 2020, the final absentee ballots were counted, and Brisport was named the nominee with a 13-point lead over Wright. Salmon finished in third.[6]

Chair of the Cannabis Control Board

Since September 6, 2021, Wright has been chair of the Office of Cannabis Management's Cannabis Control Board, where she is charged with deliberating regulatory and tax policies regarding medical and adult-use cannabis in New York State.

References
  1. "Gov. Hochul's cannabis appointment reeks of inexperience: lawmaker". New York Post. 2021-09-05. Retrieved 2021-09-07.
  2. "Tremaine Wright Wins Central Brooklyn Assembly Seat Primary - Bed-Stuy - DNAinfo New York". Archived from the original on 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2017-01-26.
  3. "Our Campaigns - NYC Council 36 - D Primary Race - Sep 15, 2009". Retrieved 2017-01-26.
  4. "Our Campaigns - NY Assembly 56 - D Primary Race - Sep 13, 2016". Retrieved 2017-01-26.
  5. Brachfeld, Ben (13 Jan 2020). "Longest-Serving Member of the State Senate Announces Retirement and Endorses Tremaine Wright". Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  6. Millman, Andrew (8 July 2020). "Jabari Brisport, Democratic Socialist on Verge of Upset Primary Win in Brooklyn, Eyes Journey to Albany". Retrieved 20 July 2020.
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