CANNABIS FARMERS’ MARKETS APPEAR IN NEW YORK TO UNCLOG LEGAL WEED SUPPLY CHAIN

The Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) in New York has announced plans to allow conditional cannabis cultivators and retailers to sell their products at farmers' markets during the summer. The OCM will permit conditional growers and Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensaries (CAURDs) to collaborate and sell weed at locations other than their own shops. This initiative aims to help cultivators offload their surplus cannabis since only 13 retailers are currently operational. The markets will allow growers to sell flower and pre-rolls through a retailer at non-storefront locations. The OCM is working on the details of the pilot program, which will likely require at least a month before it is launched, and the agency may consider making it a permanent feature. The move comes as New York cultivators face challenges in selling their products and are left with large amounts of unsold inventory. While the introduction of farmers' markets is seen as positive, some stakeholders doubt it will fully address the financial difficulties faced by cultivators.