New York’s legal cannabis industry is still finding its footing, and the state just made another big move to give smaller cannabis businesses more room to grow.
In August 2026, Governor Kathy Hochul signed a new cannabis law, S.10113/A.11217, expanding opportunities for licensed cannabis micro businesses and dispensaries to participate in Cannabis Showcase Events. That means approved pop-ups, farmers’ markets, and public markets can now become another way for small cannabis businesses to connect with customers and sell regulated products.
New York Passes Game-Changing Cannabis Bill
New York’s latest cannabis legislation builds on the state’s Cannabis Showcase Event program, which was established in 2025. The new law makes sure licensed cannabis micro businesses can fully participate in these events, giving smaller operators a more direct way to connect with consumers.
As Governor Hochul said:
“This new law gives licensed micro businesses and dispensaries a real chance to succeed in New York’s legal cannabis market. 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.”
That’s an important distinction. This isn’t about turning every farmers’ market into a cannabis free-for-all. These events are still highly regulated, require approval, and are limited to licensed operators.
But they do create something the cannabis industry has needed from the beginning: more opportunities for small businesses to meet customers where they’re at.
What’s in New York’s New Cannabis Bill?
The new law expands the role of licensed cannabis micro businesses within the state’s Cannabis Showcase Event system. These businesses can now actually participate in approved events, including opportunities to sell their own cannabis products.
The events themselves aren’t brand-new. New York’s existing CSE regulations allow licensed adult-use retailers to hold temporary events away from their regular dispensary locations, including at pop-ups, farmers’ markets, and public markets.
The August 2026 law essentially gives micro businesses a bigger seat at that table.
Cannabis Showcase Events Permits
A Cannabis Showcase Event permit allows an approved cannabis retailer to sell adult-use cannabis products at an authorized temporary event location.
Under the current rules, the events can take place at eligible pop-up locations, farmers’ markets, or public markets. A municipality must approve the event before the New York Office of Cannabis Management can issue a permit.
That local approval is important because cities and towns still have a say in whether these events happen in their communities.
Potential Locations
Pop-up locations can include certain outdoor spaces, farms, fields, parking lots, brick-and-mortar locations, and certain licensed cannabis business premises.
That opens up some interesting possibilities for New York’s cannabis scene.
Imagine browsing a local market, checking out products from a New York cannabis micro business, talking to the people who actually grew or produced them, and then heading home with something new to try.
That’s a pretty different cannabis shopping experience than walking into a traditional dispensary.
Regulations Around Cannabis Events
Of course, this is New York cannabis we’re talking about, so there are plenty of rules.
Cannabis Showcase Events must receive written municipal approval, and applications generally need to be submitted to OCM at least 45 days before the event. An approved event can last up to 14 consecutive days at a particular location, while any individual location can host CSEs for no more than 45 days per calendar year.
Everyone entering the cannabis event area must be 21 or older, and on-site cannabis consumption isn’t allowed. Free cannabis samples and giveaways are also prohibited. Cannabis sales can only be conducted by authorized employees of the licensed retailer holding the permit.
There are also location, security, inventory, and safety requirements. So while a cannabis farmers’ market might sound like a very chill Saturday activity, there’s definitely more paperwork happening behind the scenes.
New Opportunities for New York’s Cannabis Farmers and Manufacturers
When you buy a tomato at a farmers’ market, you can often ask the farmer how it was grown. Cannabis Showcase Events create a similar opportunity for consumers to learn more about the people and businesses behind New York cannabis, while still keeping sales inside the state’s regulated system.
Micro businesses are designed to operate on a smaller scale and can cultivate, process, distribute, sell, and deliver their own cannabis products depending on their license. Giving these businesses more opportunities to connect directly with consumers can help them build brand recognition and create relationships outside of a traditional retail setting.
That personal connection matters, especially for craft cannabis.
Why Cannabis Legalization and Equity Matters to Us
At Lucky Green Ladies, we believe the legal cannabis industry should have room for more than just big businesses backed by bloated budgets.
Cannabis legalization created a legitimate industry, but legalization by itself doesn’t automatically erase the barriers created by decades of prohibition. Small entrepreneurs, people from communities disproportionately impacted by the War on Drugs, and people who have historically had fewer opportunities to enter regulated industries can still face major hurdles.
That’s why policies that create more ways for smaller operators to participate matter.
And this is personal for us. Lucky Green Ladies is based in Massachusetts, but we’re also part of the cannabis community in Kingston, New York, where we operate our dispensary. Being involved in both markets gives us an appreciation for how important local cannabis businesses, entrepreneurs, growers, and consumers are to the industry.
Lucky Green Ladies’ Social Equity Program
We have our own Social Equity Program designed to provide education and practical business training to people who have faced barriers to entering the cannabis industry. Our program goes beyond simply checking a box. We want to give participants useful information they can actually take with them as they navigate the complicated world of cannabis licensing and business ownership.
Each year, we accept 50 participants, with priority given to residents of Norton, Mansfield, and Taunton, Mass. Norton is our home base, while Mansfield and Taunton are nearby communities identified as areas of disproportionate impact.
The program includes 20 classes over the course of a year, with each class lasting 2.5 hours. And because we know everyone has an actual life outside of cannabis, the classes are completely virtual.
Participants can learn about everything from cannabis licensing and compliance to business plans, marketing, accounting, raising capital, municipal approvals, hiring, training, and operating a cannabis business. The program is designed around areas where Lucky Green Ladies has experience, including retail, home delivery, manufacturing, and third-party transportation.
It’s one small way we can help make the industry a little more accessible.
Support Small Cannabis Businesses in New York
New York’s cannabis industry is still evolving, and laws like this one can have a real impact on the businesses trying to find their place in it.
Cannabis Showcase Events won’t eliminate every challenge facing small cannabis operators. They’re also not going to replace traditional dispensaries. But they give licensed businesses another way to reach customers, tell their stories, showcase their products, and become part of their local communities.
If you’re shopping for legal cannabis in Kingston, supporting a local dispensary is one way to keep your dollars within New York’s regulated cannabis industry. Lucky Green Ladies is proud to be part of the Kingston community, and we’re excited to see what the next chapter of New York cannabis looks like. Shop our New York menu today online!
Lucky Green Ladies Recretaional Cannabis Dispensary Delivery serves communities around Kingston, NY (where we operate a physical dispensary), and most of Massachusetts’ Bristol County and parts of Plymouth and Norfolk County. 
