Cannabis Farmers Markets Are Now Legal in New York — Can DC, Maryland, and Virginia Follow?

Cannabis Farmers Markets Are Now Legal in New York — Can DC, Maryland, and Virginia Follow?

On August 6, 2026, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed S.10113/A.11217 into law, making New York the first state on the East Coast to formally authorize cannabis farmers markets and pop-up showcase events. The law allows licensed cannabis microbusinesses to sell directly to consumers at community events — farmers markets, public markets, and authorized outdoor spaces — for up to 14 consecutive days at a single location. It is a significant moment for small cannabis producers who have long been squeezed out by larger operators with permanent storefronts. For consumers in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) region watching this development, the natural question is: can we get something like this here? The short answer, as of August 2026, is not yet — and the reasons are different in each jurisdiction.

What New York's Cannabis Farmers Market Law Actually Does

S.10113/A.11217 — enacted as Chapter 207 of the Laws of 2026 — is a targeted clarification of earlier New York cannabis law. It builds on Chapter 669 of 2024 and Chapter 112 of 2025, both of which created a Cannabis Showcase Event (CSE) permit framework but left ambiguity about how small "seed-to-sale" producers could participate. The new law resolves that ambiguity in favor of small growers.

Specifically, it allows licensed cannabis microbusinesses to simultaneously act as their own retailer, processor, and cultivator for a showcase event permit. Previously, microbusinesses often had to partner with a separately licensed retailer to sell at public events — a costly and logistically complicated hurdle that effectively shut out many small farms. According to the New York State Senate's bill summary, the law was co-sponsored by State Senator Michelle Hinchey and Assemblymember Donna Lupardo, with support from the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) and advocacy organizations including NY Small Farma LTD.

Key Rules Under the New Law

The Cannabis Showcase Event framework, as clarified by the new law, carries a set of strict operating rules:

• Events may last up to 14 consecutive days at a single location.

• A single location is capped at 45 total event days per calendar year.

• Events must be at least 200 feet from existing licensed dispensaries (unless the dispensary owner holds the permit) and 500 feet from schools.

• On-site consumption and free product giveaways remain prohibited.

• Municipalities retain the right to approve or deny events within their borders — a state permit alone is not sufficient without written local consent.

The practical significance here is large. New York's cannabis market has been dominated by larger, better-capitalized operators who secured storefronts early. Small craft growers — many of them legacy farmers who have been cultivating cannabis for decades — have struggled to reach consumers without retail space. A farmers market model gives them a direct path to buyers. It also gives consumers a chance to meet growers face to face, ask questions about cultivation practices, and try products from producers they would never encounter in a traditional dispensary.

Washington DC: The Gifting Era Is Over

For years, Washington DC was the unintentional capital of cannabis pop-up culture. Initiative 71, passed by DC voters in 2014, legalized personal cannabis possession for adults 21 and older but — thanks to a long-standing Congressional rider that blocks the District from taxing and regulating recreational sales — left no legal retail pathway. Entrepreneurs filled that vacuum with the "gifting" model: pay $50 for a t-shirt or a juice and receive cannabis as a free gift alongside it. Pop-up events thrived under this framework, operating in a legal gray area that lasted nearly a decade.

That era is effectively over. According to the DC Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA), more than 115 unlicensed cannabis establishments had been padlocked as of August 8, 2026, following aggressive joint enforcement operations with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Emergency legislation passed in 2024 ended the practical safe harbor that had protected gifting shops, and ABCA now treats any venue hosting an unlicensed cannabis event as operating an unlicensed retail operation subject to immediate closure.

There is no recreational event license in DC. The city currently operates a medical cannabis market that has been significantly expanded to function as a de facto adult-use system. Adults 21 and older can self-certify for a medical cannabis registration through the ABCA website — no doctor's note required, and the process is available to both DC residents and visitors. From there, roughly 95 former I-71 shops that successfully transitioned to licensed medical dispensaries are the only legal retail option. For DC residents and visitors asking whether cannabis farmers markets or pop-up showcase events are coming, the honest answer is: not under current law, and not until Congress lifts its budget rider blocking local cannabis regulation.

Safe Access in DC Right Now

For DC consumers, the safest and most reliable access model is licensed delivery. Bud Lords delivers cannabis across the DC metro area — no storefront visit required, no guessing whether a shop is operating legally. You can browse the full menu, place your order, and receive same-day delivery. That is the model that works in this market.

Maryland: Adult-Use Retail Is Live, But Pop-Ups Are Not

Maryland launched adult-use cannabis retail in July 2023 and has built one of the more mature regulated markets on the East Coast. The Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA) oversees a licensed dispensary network spanning the state, and the market has shown consistent growth, with sales data through mid-2026 reflecting strong consumer adoption. As of July 1, 2025, the adult-use sales tax rate increased to 12 percent.

Despite this, Maryland does not currently have a pop-up event license or a cannabis farmers market framework. According to MCA guidance, adult-use retail sales are restricted to the licensed premises of a dispensary. Sales through unlicensed third-party venues or at temporary off-site booths remain prohibited and can be treated as illegal distribution. A proposal — Senate Bill 215 from the 2025 legislative session — would have created temporary event permits, but those provisions were removed before the bill's final adoption, according to the Maryland General Assembly's legislative record.

Cannabis businesses can sponsor community events and have a presence at public gatherings, provided they can demonstrate that at least 85 percent of the audience is 21 or older. At those events, they may distribute branded merchandise and informational materials. They cannot sell or distribute cannabis products. The MCA regulations updated in March 2026 granted the agency authority to establish pilot programs, which could theoretically be used to test event-based retail formats in the future — but as of August 2026, no such pilot exists for pop-ups or cannabis showcase events.

Maryland also explicitly prohibits gifting schemes at events — the I-71-style model where cannabis is given away with the purchase of an unrelated item. The MCA and the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis Commission (ATCC) treat these as unlicensed sales, subject to enforcement. Maryland consumers looking for cannabis event experiences are effectively waiting for the legislature to act. For now, licensed dispensaries and licensed delivery services are the only lawful options.

Maryland consumers can shop Bud Lords for legal cannabis delivery throughout the state. Same-day delivery, licensed, no guesswork.

Virginia: Retail Doesn't Open Until 2027 — Pop-Ups Are Illegal Now

Virginia is the furthest from a cannabis farmers market framework among the four DMV jurisdictions. Adult-use cannabis possession has been legal in Virginia since July 2021, but the state has not yet opened a regulated retail market. Under the 2026 state budget (HB 30) and companion legislation (SB 543), Virginia's Cannabis Control Authority (CCA) is set to begin accepting retail license applications in February 2027, with the first licensed dispensaries expected to open on July 1, 2027.

Until that market opens, any commercial exchange of cannabis in Virginia — including at pop-up events, showcase events, or cannabis markets — is a violation of state law. According to the Virginia CCA, enforcement has intensified in 2026 as regulators work to stabilize the market ahead of the 2027 retail launch. Under SB 543, the CCA now has the authority to issue immediate cease-and-desist orders and civil penalties of up to $10,000 per day for unlicensed operations. Pop-up events that operate as gifting markets — where cannabis is exchanged for entry fees or donations — are explicitly targeted.

The 2026 regulatory picture in Virginia has been further complicated by hemp. Starting August 15, 2026, hemp-derived products containing more than 2mg of total THC per package are illegal to sell, as the CCA takes over hemp oversight from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS). Several hemp retailers and former I-71-style shops that pivoted to hemp products have filed legal challenges — including a lawsuit as of early August 2026 seeking a temporary restraining order against the new THC limits. That legal dispute remains active as of August 8, 2026. Virginia's regulatory picture, in other words, is still being drawn.

Virginia residents in the DMV area can access cannabis legally through Bud Lords delivery, which serves eligible customers in the region while Virginia's own retail market is built out.

State-by-State Comparison: Where Cannabis Events Stand in 2026

Here is where each DMV jurisdiction stands on cannabis farmers markets and pop-up events as of August 2026, compared to New York's newly enacted model:

• New York: Cannabis Showcase Events now legal under S.10113/A.11217 (signed August 6, 2026). Microbusinesses can sell directly at farmers markets and community pop-ups for up to 14 days per location. Subject to local municipal approval.

• Washington DC: No recreational event license. I-71 gifting pop-ups are now treated as unlicensed retail operations; 115+ shops padlocked as of August 2026. Safe access is through licensed medical dispensaries and licensed delivery.

• Maryland: Adult-use retail is live but no pop-up or event sales license exists. Retail sales are restricted to licensed dispensary premises. Event sponsorship is permitted; product sales at events are not.

• Virginia: Adult-use retail does not open until July 2027. Commercial cannabis sales of any kind — including at pop-up events — remain unlawful. Enforcement has intensified ahead of the 2027 market launch.

What DMV Consumers Should Know Right Now

The gap between New York's emerging cannabis farmers market scene and the DMV's current access landscape is real. But it is worth understanding what that gap means in practice — and what it doesn't mean.

The absence of cannabis pop-up events in the DMV does not mean the region lacks access. DC's licensed medical market — which any adult 21 and older can join through self-certification — includes dozens of licensed dispensaries. Maryland's dispensary network has been operating for three-plus years under adult-use rules. What the DMV lacks is the specific experience New York is creating: a community marketplace where craft producers and consumers connect directly, outside the walls of a traditional retail shop.

For DMV consumers, the practical takeaway is straightforward: any event or pop-up claiming to sell cannabis legally in DC, Maryland, or Virginia right now should be approached with caution. The regulatory frameworks described above are current as of August 2026, according to official sources, but regulations in all three jurisdictions are evolving. Consumers should verify the licensing status of any cannabis retailer before purchasing, and consult official state and district agency websites for the most current rules in their area. This article is general information only and is not individualized legal advice.

What Products Are Available in the DMV Market

One thing the DC and Maryland markets share with New York's showcase event vision is product diversity. The licensed DMV market today carries a wide range of cannabis product categories that would be at home at any farmers market: premium flower from craft producers, pre-rolls, concentrates, vape cartridges, edibles in multiple formats, and topicals. Many licensed operators in DC and Maryland source from small cultivators and emphasize local or regional grow operations. The product quality available through licensed channels in the DMV has grown substantially since 2023.

The experience that cannabis farmers markets create — talking to producers, learning about cultivation methods, sampling strain profiles in a community setting — is not yet available in the DMV. But the product variety that would anchor such an event is very much part of the licensed market today. When and if DC, Maryland, or Virginia create event license frameworks, the supply side will be ready.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are cannabis farmers markets legal in New York?

Yes, as of August 6, 2026. Governor Hochul signed S.10113/A.11217 on that date, authorizing licensed cannabis microbusinesses to sell directly at Cannabis Showcase Events — which include farmers markets, public markets, and other authorized community spaces. Events can run up to 14 consecutive days and require both a state permit and written local municipal consent.

Are cannabis pop-up events legal in Washington DC?

No. The ABCA now treats unlicensed cannabis pop-up events as unlicensed retail operations. Over 115 shops and events have been shut down since the enforcement campaign began. There is no recreational event license in DC. Legal cannabis access is through licensed medical dispensaries (any adult 21 and older can self-certify for registration) and licensed delivery services.

Can Maryland dispensaries sell cannabis at farmers markets or pop-up events?

No. As of August 2026, Maryland does not have a pop-up or temporary event sales license. Retail sales must occur on licensed dispensary premises. Cannabis businesses can sponsor events and distribute branded materials — as long as at least 85 percent of the audience is 21 or older — but they cannot sell cannabis products at those events.

When does Virginia open adult-use cannabis retail?

According to the 2026 state budget and companion legislation (HB 30 / SB 543), the Virginia CCA will begin accepting retail license applications on February 1, 2027. Licensed retail sales are expected to begin July 1, 2027. Until then, commercial cannabis sales of any kind — including at pop-up events — remain unlawful. Possession (up to one ounce) and home cultivation (four plants) remain legal for adults 21 and older.

What is the safest way to buy cannabis in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area right now?

In each jurisdiction: licensed dispensaries and licensed delivery services. In DC, confirm a shop holds a valid ABCA medical cannabis license before purchasing. In Maryland, purchase from an MCA-licensed dispensary or delivery provider. In Virginia, adult-use retail does not open until 2027; possession is legal, but purchasing from any commercial source remains unlawful. For DC and Maryland consumers, Bud Lords offers licensed same-day delivery from a verified legal source.

Will DC, Maryland, or Virginia create a cannabis showcase event law like New York's?

Possibly, but not in the near term. DC is structurally blocked by the Congressional rider that prevents it from establishing a taxed and regulated recreational market. Maryland has the legal authority but has not acted on it — a 2025 proposal to create temporary event permits was removed before passage. Virginia's regulatory apparatus is still being built ahead of the 2027 retail launch; a pop-up framework would likely come after retail is operational and the market has matured.

What is a Cannabis Showcase Event under New York law?

A Cannabis Showcase Event (CSE) is a state-permitted event where licensed cannabis microbusinesses can sell products directly to consumers at approved public spaces — farmers markets, public markets, or other authorized community locations. Under S.10113/A.11217, microbusinesses can now participate as their own retailer, processor, and cultivator without needing a separate licensed retail partner. Events require both a New York OCM permit and written local municipal consent.

Is the I-71 gifting model still legal in DC?

Personal gifting between individuals — one adult giving up to one ounce to another adult with no exchange of money or anything of value — remains legal under Initiative 71. Commercial gifting, where cannabis is given with the purchase of a separate item or event ticket, is now treated as unlicensed retail by ABCA and is subject to enforcement, including padlocking. Over 115 shops operating on the commercial gifting model have been closed as of August 2026.

The Bottom Line for DMV Cannabis Consumers

New York's cannabis farmers market law is a meaningful development for the national cannabis industry and a useful data point for how other states might expand consumer access beyond traditional storefronts. For the DMV market, it is more of a benchmark than an immediate roadmap. DC, Maryland, and Virginia each face structural, legislative, or timeline barriers that make a similar framework unlikely in the near term.

What the DMV does have is a growing licensed market with real access options. In DC and Maryland, licensed cannabis delivery is the most convenient, most reliable, and legally clearest path to the products you want. If you are in the DC metro area and want to shop a verified licensed source, Bud Lords has same-day delivery available now — no pop-up required.

Browse the Bud Lords menu and place your order today.

Sources

• New York State Senate, Bill S.10113, 2025-2026 session. https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/s10113. Accessed August 8, 2026.

• New York State Assembly, Bill A.11217, 2025-2026 session. https://nyassembly.gov/leg/?default_fld=&bn=A11217&term=2025. Accessed August 8, 2026.

• DC Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA), Enforcement Notices 2026. https://abca.dc.gov. Accessed August 8, 2026.

• Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA), Laws and Regulations. https://cannabis.maryland.gov. Accessed August 8, 2026.

• Maryland General Assembly, Senate Bill 215 (2025), Legislative History. https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/sb0215. Accessed August 8, 2026.

• Virginia Cannabis Control Authority (CCA), HB 30 / SB 543 regulatory framework, 2026. https://www.cannabis.virginia.gov. Accessed August 8, 2026.

• Marijuana Moment, "NY Governor Signs Farmers' Market Cannabis Bill." https://www.marijuanamoment.net. August 2026.

This article was researched and written with AI assistance by the Bud Lords AI Newsroom.