NYS Cannabis Control Board approves farmers partnering with licensed retailers to sell at events like farmer's markets
NEW YORK -- Pop-up legal pot sales will be coming to fairs, festivals, and other venues in New York state.
On Wednesday, the state's Cannabis Control Board approved a plan to allow sales at special events in a bid to help farmers stuck with a surplus of unsold marijuana.
"We're desperate. We're paying taxes out the ying yang on our farmland," one woman said at the meeting.
She was issuing a plea for help moving unsold pot.
READ MORE: Office of Cannabis Management floats idea of selling product at farmer's markets in New York
Last month, CBS New York went to Hepworth Farms in Ulster County, one of more than 100 New York pot farms sitting on tons of unsold product, because so few retailers have opened under the complicated state licensing system.
But growers got good news on Wednesday.
Meeting in Harlem, the Cannabis Control Board approved the so-called "Cannabis Grower Showcase Initiative," allowing farmers to partner with licensed retailers to sell pot at events, including farmer's markets.
"These may include festivals and fairs, as long as, one, they have received approval from the municipality where this is intended to take place, and, two, these are not occurring at places where it can reasonably be expected that the primary audience is going to be underage," state Director of Cannabis Policy John Kagia said.
"At least on Long Island we were thinking more like these wineries, spaces like that that are available. There is people and locations willing to work with us that we've been reaching out to," said Hugiosbely Rivas of the Long Island Cannabis Coalition.
READ MORE: New York State now prepared to shut down illegal cannabis shops, Gov. Hochul says
The board will release applications this week and the first events are expected to be held in August.
In other action, officials approved another 200 license applications. The 20 retail stores open in New York could be joined by dozens more before the end of the year.
The board also extended emergency regulations for 120 days, allowing officials to crack down on illegal pot shops opening up all across the city.
Investigators seized $11 million worth of product from the first 25 stores targeted.
They are weeding out the illegal competition, which is seen as key to helping licensed retailers thrive.
The Cannabis Control Board says demand at licensed retail outlets is strong. Sales jumped 49% between May and June as additional storefronts opened.