New York’s legal cannabis industry is closing out the year with major regulatory changes, expanded seed-to-sale support for licensees, and continued growth in adult-use dispensary openings statewide.
The New York State Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) announced updated packaging, labeling, marketing, and advertising regulations now in effect, alongside new measures to support licensees transitioning to the Metrc seed-to-sale system ahead of the holiday sales season.
Updated Cannabis Packaging, Labeling, Marketing, and Advertising Rules Now in Effect
OCM confirmed that revised Packaging, Labeling, Marketing, and Advertising (PLMA) regulations have been officially published in the State Register and are now active. Approved by the Cannabis Control Board, the updates aim to provide clearer compliance standards and greater flexibility for licensed cannabis businesses.
Key changes include:
- Authorization of cannabis rewards and loyalty programs
- Expanded flexibility for outdoor signage, including removal of the former two-sign limit
- Clearer standards for promotions and discounts
- Updated advertising audience thresholds
- Modernized packaging and labeling requirements, with a six-month transition period for select provisions
Billboard advertising remains prohibited under New York law. Licensees currently using billboards or prohibited signage must remove them by February 24, 2026, before enforcement action may occur.
Certain packaging-related requirements — including retail packaging standards, exit packaging, display panel information, and updated warning statements — will take effect six months from publication. All other regulatory updates are effective immediately.
OCM and Metrc Expand Seed-to-Sale Support for Cannabis Licensees
In a parallel announcement, OCM and Metrc unveiled expanded support measures to ease the transition from BioTrack to Metrc, New York’s statewide seed-to-sale cannabis tracking system.
Metrc will provide 20 million retail item unique identifiers (UIDs) at no cost to licensed processors through 2026. Each processor will receive approximately 30,000 UIDs, reducing implementation costs and supporting compliance during the rollout.
While all licensees must complete Metrc credentialing by December 17, retail dispensaries now have until January 12, 2026, to enter existing inventory into the system. The extension allows retailers to continue selling current inventory without disruption during peak holiday demand.
Once fully implemented, New York’s seed-to-sale system will deliver:
- Expanded consumer access to product and lab test information via QR codes
- Improved supply-chain visibility for licensees
- Streamlined retail inventory intake and POS integration
- Enhanced protections against illicit and counterfeit cannabis products
- Built-in reporting tools that eliminate the need for third-party software
New Adult-Use Cannabis Dispensaries Open Across New York State
OCM also announced several new adult-use cannabis dispensary openings during the week of December 8–12, bringing the statewide total to 545 licensed dispensaries.
New openings include:
- Flower Daddy — Brooklyn
- Terminal 420 — Rosedale
- A&P Dispensary — Kew Gardens
- Puff Theory Cannabis — Utica
- Big City Flavors — South Richmond Hill (soft opening)
- Ganja Express Dispensary — Yorkville
All locations are open for in-person adult-use cannabis sales, with operating hours varying by retailer.
What This Means for New York’s Cannabis Market
Together, the regulatory updates, seed-to-sale support measures, and continued dispensary expansion reflect New York’s ongoing effort to stabilize and scale its adult-use cannabis market. Clearer rules, improved compliance tools, and increased retail access position the industry for continued growth as the state moves into 2026.
For more information, visit cannabis.ny.gov or follow @nys_cannabis on social media.
