Nearly five years since the legalization of marijuana in New York and the effort to standup a recreational marketplace is still facing challenges.

To discuss some of the recent headaches, including leadership turnover at the state's marijuana regulator, and some ideas for addressing the illegal products ending up on shelves in New York, we spoke with Herb Barbot, the former director of operations at the state Office of Cannabis Management and now the chair of the Empire State Green Standard Alliance.

Then we have another episode of "Know Your Politicos," with an internal Marathon Strategies competition between Matt Hamilton and Liz Benjamin.

And don't forget to assemble your state lawmakers for the 2026 Planet Albany Fantasy Lawmaker League. Make your selections by 5 pm on Jan. 16 and follow along to see who is the all-knowing expert on the legislative process.