More small businesses can sell cannabis at farmers markets, pop-up events under new NYS law

Cannabis can now be sold by more small businesses at authorized venues, such as farmers markets and approved community events, in New York State, after Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a new law Thursday.

The new law will allow microbusinesses with retail cannabis licenses to participate in approved events without partnering with other types of marijuana businesses, as was the previous requirement.

The law will help licensed microbusinesses and dispensaries succeed in the state’s legal cannabis market, Hochul said in a statement.

"By opening the door for legal operators to sell at approved community events and farmer’s markets we are putting small entrepreneurs on a level playing field, expanding consumer access to safer, regulated products and strengthening one of New York’s fastest growing industries," she said.

A microbusiness has an adult-use cannabis license to cultivate, process, distribute, deliver and sell its own cannabis products.  It sells directly to consumers but it cannot sell products from other operations and it is limited in how much cannabis it can produce.

Since March 2025, licensed dispensaries have been able to partner with licensed cultivators and processors in the state to display and sell marijuana at Cannabis Showcase Events, such as pop-ups, farmers markets and public markets, with approvals from the municipality, event organizer and the state Office of Cannabis Management.

Microbusinesses were allowed to participate as of last August if they partnered with a cannabis retailer, cultivator and processor, said an official in the office of state Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo, the lead Assembly sponsor of the legislation.

The legislation that Hochul signed into law Thursday allows a microbusiness with a retail cannabis license to participate in a showcase as its own licensed processor and cultivator partner. Also, the microbusiness may serve as a processor and/or cultivator for another retailer.

The new law means that cannabis microbusinesses can fully participate in showcase events across the state, Lupardo said in a statement on Thursday.

"They need every competitive advantage in order to market their products, build brand awareness and develop long-term community connections," she said.

Microbusinesses are often small farms that lack big marketing budgets or easy access to retail markets, state Sen. Michelle Hinchey, the lead Senate sponsor of the new law, said in the statement on Thursday.

"With summer here and New Yorkers excited to shop outside, it's critical that cannabis microbusinesses can participate in showcase events alongside retailers and other licensees — and our legislation makes that possible," she said.

The new law took effect immediately, the Office of Cannabis Management said Friday.

"All applications to OCM need to be submitted at least 45 days prior to the Cannabis Showcase Event taking place," the agency said.

A permit for a single Cannabis Showcase Event allows it to be conducted for up to 14 consecutive days. The event cannot be held within 200 feet of a licensed retail dispensary (unless that business is being operated by the permit holder for the showcase event), 200 feet of a place of worship or 500 feet of a school or public youth facility, the agency said.

By Tory N. Parrish

tory.parrish@newsday.comToryParrish1

Tory N. Parrish covers retail and small business for Newsday. She has worked at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and Observer-Dispatch in Utica, N.Y.