On Wednesday, the New York State Fair began. For the first time, attendees had the opportunity to browse and buy marijuana products from more than a dozen local farmers at a cannabis farmer’s market that was held in conjunction with this event.
Technically, the Great New York State Cannabis Showcase is not part of the fair. However, the pop-up market and exhibition will be running concurrently between August 23 and September 3. The fairgrounds are located in Syracuse, less than one mile away. You can take the organizers’ free shuttle to get there.
“We’re happy to see such a large-scale display come to life just minutes away from the Great New York State Fair so that attendees can learn more about the industry, and buy and enjoy products directly from NY producers,” Allan Gandelman said, President of the Cannabis Association of New York, an industry group, whose members participate in the farmers market.
FlynnStoned Dispensary is hosting the growers and says that the pop-up event will last all day from 10 am to 9 pm. A shuttle service will be running between the event site and Gate 4 at the fairgrounds.
It is an opportunity that small marijuana businesses should take advantage of, especially at a time where few licensed retailers are operating in the state. Joann Kudrewicz is the chairperson of CANY’s cultivating committee and CEO at Ravens View Genetics. She called this event “a unique opportunity in the nation that will stimulate businesses for participating growers.”
A word of warning to fairgoers. Unlike in previous years, the New York State Fair this year will not permit smoking or vaping anywhere on the fairgrounds (of tobacco or cannabis). Outside some pedestrian gates, you can still find designated smoking areas. In 2021, the fair will allow cannabis consumption outside wherever tobacco can be smoked except in designated smoking areas.
Vendors with a cannabinoid hemp retail license or temporary retail permit may sell hemp-derived products containing cannabinoids both in-person and online, according to fair officials. According to fair officials, vendors with a temporary retail permit or a cannabinoid-hemp retail license may sell products derived from hemp both online and in person.
Last year, the California state fair hosted its first-ever state sanctioned cannabis competition, but this event did not include the sale of marijuana.
Syracuse’s showcase is the latest of a growing number of marijuana farmers markets that have popped up in New York. The Cannabis Growers Showcase program ( CGS ) is an initiative of New York’s Office of Cannabis Management. It allows licensed growers to sell directly to customers.
CGS organizers can run a booth in a fair or festival, at a concert, tradeshow, market, event, or other approved events by OCM.
CGS organizers can, for example, operate a single CGS booth in a festival with multiple concessions areas.
2/6 pic.twitter.com/NPJqSDX3fN
— NYS Office of Cannabis Management August 23, 2020 HTML0
CANY stated in a release that the Growers Showcases were important for the industry, as they give growers and retailers more options to sell their products. They explained that because there are so few retail outlets, growers produce more marijuana than they have a way to sell.
The group claimed that “over 300,000 pounds” of cannabis had been grown, but only “18,000 pounds” were sold.
quickly began accepting applications after approved the program in July. The pop-up event in Hudson Valley began on August 10.
At least 12 cannabis showcases are scheduled in the state. Many are regular events, while others are one-day events, such as the Saturday event in Hoosick Falls in conjunction with a concert series. You can find recurring markets in New Paltz and Copake as well as New Hampton, Schuylerville Granville, Batavia Rochester Newark Salt Springs.
FlynnStoned Cannabis Company & Ravens View Genetics will be hosting a Cannabis Growers Showcase starting today in Syracuse! The Showcase runs daily from 10AM to 9PM until 9/4.
683 State Fair Boulevard Syracuse, NY 13209 https://t.co/RU3OMyiBXI
— NYS Office of Cannabis Management August 23, 2020 HTML0
For approval of a CGS application, applicants must show that they have three licensed cultivators for adult-use marijuana and one conditional retailer licensee. A provisional vendor is required for every additional three cultivators.
OCM provided templates for approval letters to municipalities and events associated with them last month. The OCM also provided sample diagrams, inventory lists and attestation letters to CGS licensees.
New York’s cannabis regulators also want to license more marijuana retail stores. The state approved 212 additional provisional retail licenses last month, which was the biggest batch to date. The state now has 463 licensed retailers who are preparing to service the adult market. The shops are expected to open in six to one year.
A New York judge recently ordered regulators temporarily to stop processing marijuana business license applications. This was after a group military veterans filed a suit arguing that state is violating legalization laws by giving priority licenses to certain social equity applicants.
Fewer than 20 adult-use stores are operating in New York. Many observers have criticized the slow rollout, which has resulted in delays in funding and storefront openings.
Federally funded study finds that adult marijuana and psychedelics use is at a ‘historic high’ while teen consumption remains stable
Image courtesy of /Joe Shlabotnik.
The article Marijuana farmers market opens along with New York State Fair first appeared on Marijuana Moment.
