On May 4, 2026, the New York State Office of Cannabis Management (“OCM”) officially opened applications for Cannabis Showcase Events, alongside the release/implementation of the final Part 117 regulatory framework governing these events. These rules, issued by the OCM, allow licensed cannabis retailers to temporarily sell products outside of their storefronts at approved locations through “Cannabis Showcase Events,” including farmers’ markets, pop-up events, farm-based gatherings, and community events.
What Is a Cannabis Showcase Event?
A Cannabis Showcase Event is a temporary cannabis retail event where a licensed retailer is permitted to sell cannabis products outside of its permanent dispensary location. These events are designed to function as controlled, short-term cannabis markets that bring legal products closer to consumers in community-based settings.
However, these are not open vendor markets. Only the licensed retailer holding the permit is allowed to conduct sales at the event. Other licensees, such as cultivators, processors, and microbusinesses, may participate, but only in a non-selling capacity as exhibitors or brand participants.
Who Can Apply?
Only licensed adult-use cannabis retailers and certain registered organizations with dispensing authority are eligible to apply for a Cannabis Showcase Event permit. To qualify, the applicant must hold a valid New York cannabis retail license. Cultivators and processors are not permitted to apply for permits, conduct retail sales, or independently operate Cannabis Showcase Events. Applicants must also obtain written approval from the municipality where the event will take place, since local governments have full authority to approve or deny proposed events. Without municipal approval, the state cannot issue a permit under any circumstances.
In addition, applicants must submit a complete application to the OCM in advance of the event, typically at least 45 days before the proposed start date. The application must include detailed operational plans covering security, staffing, age verification procedures, inventory handling, and compliance reporting systems.
Additionally, microbusinesses occupy a unique position within this framework. Microbusinesses may only host and operate a Cannabis Showcase Event if it is the licensed retail permit holder, in which case it is responsible for all event compliance, transactions, and inventory management. However, if they do not have retail authority, they may only participate in Cannabis Showcase Events as exhibitors, where they can display products, educate consumers, and promote their brands, but they cannot conduct sales or process transactions. A microbusiness may only host and operate a Cannabis Showcase Event if it is the licensed retail permit holder, in which case it is responsible for all event compliance, transactions, and inventory management.
What Participants Can and Cannot Do
The licensed retailer holding the permit is the only entity allowed to sell cannabis products at the event. This includes handling transactions, operating point-of-sale systems, and managing all inventory and compliance obligations.
Cultivators, processors, and microbusinesses (without retail authority) may attend the event as authorized participants. They are allowed to showcase their products, educate consumers, and promote their brands. They can engage directly with attendees and provide information about cultivation methods, product types, and manufacturing processes.
However, these participants are strictly prohibited from selling cannabis, accepting payment, distributing products, or providing samples. Their role is limited to education and brand representation, while the retailer remains the sole point of sale.
Location Rules for Cannabis Showcase Events
The regulations place strict limits on where Cannabis Showcase Events can be held in order to control density and protect sensitive locations. A showcase event cannot be located within 200 feet of another licensed cannabis retailer unless it is the same retailer hosting the event.
Events are also prohibited within 500 feet of a school, measured in a straight line from the event boundary to the school entrance. Similarly, events cannot be held within 200 feet of a house of worship on the same street. In addition, if a municipality has adopted the relevant local law, events cannot be held within 500 feet of a public youth facility.
These measurements are taken in straight lines rather than walking distance, meaning the regulation is based on direct physical proximity rather than street routing.
Despite these restrictions, the regulations allow a wide variety of approved locations. Events may take place in parks, beaches, parking lots, farms, fields, or public squares. They may also be held in brick-and-mortar spaces such as vacant storefronts or event halls. In addition, events may be located outside or adjacent to a licensed dispensary if that dispensary is the permit holder, or at cultivation, processing, or microbusiness facilities when those licensees are participating.
Advertising and On-Site Requirements
All advertising and marketing for Cannabis Showcase Events must comply with New York’s cannabis marketing regulations under Parts 128 and 129. These rules place strict limits on how cannabis events can be promoted, including restrictions on targeting minors and requirements for truthful, non-misleading advertising.
Once the event is approved, the permit holder must visibly display the Cannabis Showcase Event permit in a prominent location at the site during all operating hours. Participating licensees must also display their cannabis licenses and any required state signage, including notices regarding purchase limits and legal possession rules.
What Types of Events This Creates
The Cannabis Showcase Event framework enables several different types of events to emerge across New York. These include cannabis farmers’ markets, pop-up dispensary events, and seasonal retail activations in public or private spaces.
The regulations also support brand showcase events where cultivators and processors can engage directly with consumers, as well as tourism-focused cannabis markets in regions that rely on seasonal visitation. In some cases, events may also be integrated into existing public markets or community festivals, provided municipal approval is granted. Although the formats may vary, all of these events operate under the same structure: the licensed retailer controls all sales, while other licensees participate only as exhibitors.
Showcase vs. Sell
A defining feature of the Cannabis Showcase Event system is the strict separation between showcasing products and selling products. Licensed cultivators, processors, and microbusinesses (without retail authorization) may showcase and promote their products, but only the retail permit holder is authorized to conduct sales. This structure ensures that all transactions remain traceable through licensed retail systems, that tax collection is centralized, and that compliance enforcement is consistent across all events. It also prevents fragmented or unregulated sales activity within temporary markets.
Takeaway
Cannabis Showcase Events in New York are not traditional farmers’ markets or open vendor fairs. They are structured, retailer-led temporary sales environments where licensed brands can interact with consumers in controlled public settings.
The system expands access to legal cannabis while ensuring that all sales remain centralized, traceable, and compliant with state regulations. As a result, it creates a new hybrid model of cannabis commerce that blends retail, education, and community engagement under a tightly regulated framework.
Applicants who wish to obtain a Cannabis Showcase Event permit are encouraged to contact Joshua Bauchner or Natalie Diaz to assist with the application process.
Because the permitting process requires municipal approval, detailed operational plans, and strict compliance documentation, early coordination can help ensure applications are complete, properly structured, and aligned with both state and local requirements before submission.