The new chairman of Cannabis Control Commission is focused on clearing the air within the agency that has been plagued with internal conflicts.

Chris Harding, who Gov. Maura Healey tapped to lead the CCC in May, said during a meeting Thursday that his priorities for the role include engaging with staff and understanding their focuses as well as the agency’s organizational challenges and opportunities. Thanking staff for their engagement, Harding also said he plans to work closely on the organizational design with Executive Director Travis Ahern, who has had headline-grabbing clashes with former CCC chair Shannon O’Brien.

“It’s time of change like this that presents an opportunity to say ‘Are there things we can do differently or better this internally in the agency?’ But this is critically important, because the work that we do here, internally, helps support all the things we do externally,” Harding said. “So, I think we have a real opportunity there.”

Harding said he’s also focused on engaging businesses, consumers, patients and lawmakers.

In making recommendations, Harding said he follows the acronym “SEETS” which stands for: safe, equitable, efficient, transparent and sustainable. He added that sustainability is a topic he’s interested in learning more about within the state’s cannabis industry. Cannabis businesses have been struggling to stay afloat amid dropping marijuana prices and Harding pointed out commissioners had taken up a slew of change of ownership applications during its last meeting.

“When you start a new industry, you kind of go through some of that [irrational] exuberance. And it grows on a curve, and then it matures, and it settles. Okay, what can we, as an agency, and we, as regulators, do to help support the sustainability of this for the medium long term?” he said.

Commissioner Anthony Wilson, who recently advised cannabis businesses, noted that many in the industry have been concerned and frustrated with the CCC. He also praised CCC staff, saying they are aware of the concerns and have been working on some of the issues internally.

“I’m confident that the public will see some of these things being addressed in the up and coming year, and going further,” he said.

Wilson said he is focused on regulations that support public health and safety as well as the strength of the industry. This includes ensuring safe and well-tested products, keeping marijuana away from minors and boosting trust among consumers and businesses. Also, Wilson said he wants to address inversion, which is when illegal out-of-state marijuana products enter the legal market.

“For too long, this business has been treated as if it shouldn’t exist, but this is a legal industry in the state of Massachusetts, as approved by more than 60% of voters. I tend to treat it that way,” he said.

Commissioner Xiomara DeLobato said she is prioritizing “thoughtful and equitable” implementation of the framework for cannabis consumption in social settings as well as social equity programs beyond the pre-licensing stages. Also, DeLobato said she wants the CCC to be a strong “thought partner” with cities and towns and communities.

“A lot of my focus is going to be ensuring that we as an agency believe in walking the walk – that social equity, social justice, responsible regulation, economic growth can and must move forward together in the work that we do,” she said.

Under the law, commissioners have until Friday, June 19 to promulgate regulations for new policies including raising the cap on the number of licenses cannabis retailers can hold from three store licenses to six. Commissioners adopted a motion Thursday tasking the legal department to present a set of emergency regulations during its next meeting that’s scheduled for June 17.

Commissioners also voted to shift license renewal authority from the board to the executive director. Ahern, who pitched the idea, noted that the executive director would report to the board on license renewals and the CCC can still take up any questions or concerns surrounding the renewal during a meeting. This process took place during the month-long gap where there was no CCC after the previous board dissolved with a new cannabis law and before new commissioners were appointed, Ahern said. He added that some license categories that are less “ministerial” would remain under the board’s authority.

Katie Castellani is a reporter for State House News Service and State Affairs Pro reach her at kcastellani@statehousenews.com.