Compliance Reminders

All required records must be stored on the licensed premises and be readily available during an inspection or desk audit. 

Under §78 of Cannabis Law, every licensee must: 

• Adopt and maintain security, tracking, record keeping, record retention, and surveillance systems for cannabis at all stages—including acquiring, possessing, manufacturing, selling, delivering, transporting, testing, or distributing.
• Keep adequate books and records on the licensed premises for all transactions involving their business and product sales. Records must include all information required under Board rules and may require the use of an approved seed-to-sale tracking system to record cannabis inventory and transaction data. 

• Ensure your propagation area is proportionate to the canopy size you are authorized to cultivate.
• Ensure your canopy area stays within the size authorized on your license.   
• PowerScore is the approved platform for meeting resource tracking and reporting requirements for licensed medical and adult-use cultivators. There is no cost to use Powerscore.
• Licensees will not have to pay to use the PowerScore Platform. 

Learn More About PowerScore

A Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) audit is required within one year of receiving your license. GMP compliance must be maintained and subject to reinspection. 

Learn More About GMP

Laboratory testing of products can only be conducted once per lot. 

• To remediate a lot that has already been tested, you must receive approval from the Office. Email your request to [email protected].
• You cannot reformulate or add ingredients after testing is complete.
• Samples sent for testing must be representative of the entire lot.
• The entire lot must be packaged within six months of the laboratory test date.
• Keep your Master Manufacture Protocols, Batch Production Records, and Quality Plans up to date at all times.

• Ensure all products are fully packaged and ready for retail sale before distribution.
• Confirm all products meet labeling requirements before accepting them from a processor.  

• All cannabis on-site must be secured and kept out of customer reach.
• On-site consumption and/or events involving cannabis sales are not allowed.
• Product sampling is prohibited on licensed premises.
• Retail sales may only occur within the licensed, registered, or permitted premises. Licensees are responsible for ensuring all retail sales happen only at the licensed premises.
• No discounts or rebate programs are allowed for the purchase of cannabis products.
• Samples received from a processor and/or distributor must be entered in the electronic inventory tracking system as samples. 

Vendor Tabling Requirements

Vendor tabling is permitted only when the purpose is to educate and inform consumers. These events must:

• Be held on licensed retail dispensary premises.
• Provide educational content without any form of compensation or expectation of compensation.
• Be voluntary, with no financial obligation or benefit (e.g., no cash, prizes, discounts, or gifts).
• Comply with all Cannabis Laws and regulations.
• Follow all local laws, including those on odor, noise, sidewalk use, fire codes, and maximum occupancy. 

The Office does not currently issue permits for cannabis events. 

Although legislation authorizing cannabis showcase events has been signed into law by the Governor, additional steps must take place before permits can be issued. The proposed cannabis showcase event regulations was posted to the state register on September 24. Public comment is open for 60 days until Monday, November 24 at 11:59PM.

The Office has recently observed promotions for events that may not comply with current rules. As a reminder, here is what is and is not permitted when it comes to hosting or participating in cannabis-related events.  

Cannabis events held outside of a licensed retail dispensary must be limited to educational programming and product showcases. On-site consumption and any form of direct or indirect cannabis sales remain prohibited.

The following guidance is provided to help licensees stay compliant when hosting or participating in cannabis-related educational or showcase events, both at licensed dispensaries and at other venues.

Cannabis-Related Events Held Away from a Licensed Retail Dispensary 

The following activities are prohibited at any cannabis-related event held outside of a licensed dispensary:

• No on-site cannabis consumption. Cannabis Law Section 3 defines “on-site consumption” as cannabis use in an area specifically licensed for that purpose. The Office has not authorized any such facilities, meaning cannabis use is not allowed at events or licensed locations at this time.
• No cannabis sales. Cannabis may only be sold inside a licensed retail dispensary.
• No product showcasing tied to sales. Cannabis products cannot be displayed if the intent is to sell them at or after the event.
• No sampling or giveaways. Providing cannabis in any form for free or as part of an event is prohibited.
• No indirect sales. This includes selling tickets, collecting membership fees, or using any other method that results in cannabis being exchanged—such as tastings, giveaways, prizes, or trades. 

Any applicant or licensee that engages in these prohibited activities may face penalties, fines, denial of an application or renewal, and other impacts to their standing with the Office under Cannabis Law and 9 NYCRR §§ 120, 125(1)(a), and 133.

Please Note: Selling tickets or charging membership fees that result in any form of cannabis exchange (tasting, giveaway, prize, trade, etc.) is considered an indirect sale under Cannabis Law Section 125(1)(a) and is strictly prohibited. 

Delivery of Cannabis to Educational or Product Showcasing Events 

If you plan to deliver cannabis for personal use to an educational or product showcase event, you must follow all delivery requirements under New York State Cannabis Law.

Per 9 NYCRR § 123.20, cannabis delivery is only permitted under specific conditions:

Cannabis cannot be delivered to:

• Locations outside of New York State
• Anyone inside a motor vehicle
• Anyone other than the person who placed the order (ID and age must be verified at delivery)
• Any location that is not a residential property, short- or long-term residence, or private business

Delivery is strictly prohibited to:

• Public spaces (including parks)  
• Public buildings
• Community centers
• School grounds
• Day-care centers
• Houses of worship 

If the venue is eligible for delivery, licensees must:

• Begin delivery from their approved retail location
• Deliver only to the person who placed the order
• Verify the person’s identity and age at the time of delivery 

Cannabis-Related Events Held in a Licensed Retail Dispensary

The Office has received complaints about dispensaries hosting paid vendor tabling or “vendor days,” where cultivators, processors, or distributors showcase products on-site in exchange for compensation. There have also been reports of suppliers or third parties offering retailers or their staff incentives—such as cash, prizes, discounts, or other compensation—in return for promoting or selling specific brands.

To clarify, the following rules apply:

What Is Allowed

Vendor tabling is permitted only when the purpose is to educate and inform consumers. These events must:

• Be held on licensed retail dispensary premises.
• Provide educational content without any form of compensation or expectation of compensation.
• Be voluntary, with no financial obligation or benefit (e.g., no cash, prizes, discounts, or gifts). 
  Comply with all Cannabis Laws and regulations.
• Follow all local laws, including those on odor, noise, sidewalk use, fire codes, and maximum occupancy. 

What Is Prohibited  

At cannabis-related events within dispensaries, the following are not permitted:

• Serving alcohol, food, or beverages (other than water).
• Cannabis giveaways or sampling—including non-cannabis products marketed as “samples.”
• Cannabis consumption anywhere on the licensed premises.
• Any violation of state or local laws, rules, or ordinances.
• Follow all local laws, including those on odor, noise, sidewalk use, fire codes, and maximum occupancy. 

Staying in Compliance 

The Office regularly inspects licensed locations to ensure compliance. Any violation of these provisions may result in enforcement actions, including but not limited to: 

• Notices of violation
• Monetary penalties
• Suspension or revocation of licenses 

Products offered for sale in violation of these rules may also be quarantined and removed from the supply chain.

For reference, please review the relevant regulations. These requirements are not optional, and the Office will enforce them accordingly:  

• 9 NYCRR § 124.1 (e), (f), (i), and (j): Undue Influence and Incentives  
• 9 NYCRR § 123.3 (f): Cultivator Ownership, Interests, Business Authorization and Prohibitions  
• 9 NYCRR § 123.5(c) and (i): Processor Ownership, Interests, Business Authorizations, and Prohibitions  
• 9 NYCRR § 123.9 (j): Retail Dispensary Ownership, Interests, Business Authorizations, and Prohibitions  
• 9 NYCRR § 129.3 (a)(25): Adult-Use Marketing and Advertising Prohibitions  

View Adult-Use Cannabis Regulations

Following these rules is essential to remaining in compliance with current cannabis regulations.

Cannabis Showcase Event Permit Timeline 

• The Cannabis Showcase event permit legislation was signed by the Governor on March 20, 2025.
• The CCB has adopted draft regulations and submitted them to the Department of State and the State Register on September 24, 2025.
• These proposed regulations will be made available for public comment until Monday, November 24 at 11:59PM. before they can be adopted and implemented. The public comment period typically lasts 45-60 days, and multiple rounds of comment may be required. 

To streamline comments or questions you may have, please provide a public comment directly to the Office when announced to ensure your feedback is reviewed. 

Cannabis Product Samples

To Consumers (at Point of Sale)

• Retail dispensary employees may show customers a product sample so they can see, smell, or inspect it before buying.
• Consumers cannot take, taste, smoke, or use the sample—it is for inspection only.  

(See 9 NYCRR §123.10(e)(3)).

To Retail Dispensaries

Cultivators, processors, microbusinesses, distributors, RODs, and RONDs may provide free samples to retail dispensaries that don’t already carry their products, for the purpose of negotiating sales. 

• These samples must be entered into the inventory tracking system and labeled as “retailer samples.”
• They must also be recorded on a transport manifest.
• The receiving dispensary must log the sample into the tracking system before using it.
• All normal packaging and labeling rules still apply.
• Retailer samples may be used by the dispensary and its employees, but they cannot be sold or given to consumers.
• Currently, there are no limits on retailer samples, but licensees must follow any limits the Office may set in the future. 

(See 9 NYCRR §125.1(g)). 

To Owners and Employees of a Cultivator, Processor, Microbusiness, ROD, or ROND License

These licensees may provide quality control samples to their owners or employees who are 21 or older for internal testing and product development. 

• Samples must be recorded in the inventory tracking system.
• Samples cannot be shared with anyone else.
• Licensees may provide no more than six product units per lot. 

(See 9 NYCRR §125.14).  

No Order Minimums

Licensees cannot require another licensee to buy additional products or services as a condition of purchasing cannabis or cannabis products. 

• This includes—but is not limited to—other cannabis products or brands, merchandise, cannabis paraphernalia, property, software or apps, or services. 

(See 9 NYCRR §124.1(f)). 

No Other Treats or Services

Licensees may not offer or accept gifts, services, or agreements that could influence another licensee’s decision to buy cannabis products. Only arrangements specifically allowed under 9 NYCRR §124 or authorized by a cannabis license are permitted. 

Prohibited examples include: 

• Customer loyalty Programs (between licensees)
• Loans of money
• Premiums or rebates
• Royalties
• Preferential shelf space or displays (e.g., slotting fees, shelving fees, requiring brands to purchase display cabinets in order to be sold or recommended)

(See Section 80 of the Cannabis Law). 

To contact the Compliance team, email [email protected].

• In the subject line, include your entity name (with DBA if applicable) and your license number.
• In the body of the email, provide your inspector’s name, list any questions you have, and include as much detail as possible. If your inspector is unavailable, your message will be forwarded to a field supervisor for review and response.