§ 7. Establishment of the cannabis control board or "board". 1. The cannabis control board is hereby created and shall consist of a chairperson nominated by the governor and with the advice and consent of the senate, with one vote, and four other voting board members as provided for in subdivision two of this section.

2. Appointments. In addition to the chairperson, the governor shall have two direct appointments to the board, and the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly shall each have one direct appointment to the board. Appointments shall be for a term of three years each and should, to the extent possible, be geographically and demographically representative of the state and communities historically affected by the war on drugs. Board members shall be citizens and permanent residents of this state. The chairperson and the remaining members of such board shall continue to serve as chairperson and members of the board until the expiration of the respective terms for which they were appointed. Upon the expiration of such respective terms the successors of such chairperson and members shall be appointed to serve for a term of three years each and until their successors have been appointed and qualified. The members, except for the chairperson, shall when performing the work of the board, be compensated at a rate of two hundred sixty dollars per day, and together with an allowance for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the discharge of their duties. The chairperson shall receive an annual salary not to exceed an amount appropriated therefor by the legislature, and their expenses actually and necessarily incurred in the performance of their official duties, unless otherwise provided by the legislature. No member or member's spouse or minor child shall have any interest in an entity regulated by the board.

3. Expenses. Each member of the board shall be entitled to their expenses actually and necessarily incurred by them in the performance of their duties.

4. Removal. Any member of the board may be removed by the governor for good cause after notice and an opportunity to be heard. A statement of the good cause for their removal shall be filed by the governor in the office of the secretary of state.

5. Vacancies; quorum. (A) In the event of a vacancy caused by the death, resignation, removal or inability to perform his or her duties of any board member, the vacancy shall be filled in the manner as the original appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term.

(B)(i) In the event of a vacancy caused by the death, resignation, removal, or inability to act of the chair, the vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the governor shall designate one of the remaining board members to serve as acting chairperson for a period not to exceed six months or until a successor chairperson has been confirmed by the senate. Upon the expiration of the six month term, if the governor has nominated a successor chairperson, but the senate has not acted upon the nomination, the acting chairperson can continue to serve as acting chairperson for an additional ninety days or until the governor's successor chairperson nomination is confirmed by the senate, whichever comes first;

(ii) The governor shall provide immediate written notice to the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly of the designation of a board member as acting chairperson;

(iii) If (a) the governor has not nominated a successor chairperson upon the expiration of the six month term or (b) the senate does not confirm the governor's successor nomination within the additional ninety days, the board member designated as acting chairperson shall no longer be able to serve as acting chairperson and the governor is prohibited from extending the powers of that acting chairperson or from designating another board member to serve as acting chairperson; and

(iv) A board member serving as the acting chairperson of the cannabis control board shall be deemed a state officer for purposes of § 73 of the public officers law.

(C) A majority of the voting board members of the board shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting the business thereof and a majority vote of all the members in office shall be necessary for action. Provided, however, that a board member designated as an acting chairperson pursuant to this chapter shall have only one vote for purposes of conducting the business of the cannabis control board.

6. The cannabis control board and office of cannabis management shall have its principal office in the city of Albany, and maintain branch offices in the cities of New York and Buffalo and such other places as it may deem necessary.

The board shall establish appropriate procedures to ensure that hearing officers are shielded from ex parte communications with alleged violators and their attorneys and from other employees of the office of cannabis management and shall take such other steps as it shall deem necessary and proper to shield its judicial processes from unwarranted and inappropriate communications and attempts to influence.

7. Disqualification of members of the board and employees of the office of cannabis management. No member of the board or any officer, deputy, assistant, inspector or employee or spouse or minor child thereof shall have any interest, direct or indirect, either proprietary or by means of any loan, mortgage or lien, or in any other manner, in or on any premises where cannabis is manufactured or sold; nor shall they have any interest, direct or indirect, in any business wholly or partially devoted to the cultivation, manufacture, distribution, sale, transportation or storage of cannabis, or own any stock in any corporation which has any interest, proprietary or otherwise, direct or indirect, in any premises where cannabis or hemp extract is cultivated or manufactured, distributed, or sold, or in any business wholly or partially devoted to the cultivation, manufacture, distribution, sale, transportation or storage of cannabis or hemp extract or receive any commission or profit whatsoever, direct or indirect, from any person applying for or receiving any license or permit provided for in this chapter, or hold any other public office in the state or in any political subdivision except upon the written permission of the board, such member of the board or office of cannabis management or officer, deputy, assistant, inspector or employee thereof may hold the public office of notary public or member of a community board of education in the city school district of the city of New York. Anyone who violates any of the provisions of this section shall be removed.