[[{“value”:”To say that New York’s recreational cannabis program was off toa rocky startwould be putting it mildly. From mismanagement by the Office of Cannabis Management, to the delays in CAURD (Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary) licenses brought on by lawsuits that stayed the issuance of licenses until a judgment could be rendered, to the lack of available markets for previously grown cannabis in the area, it hasn’t been the smoothest of rides.
But now that the industry is beginning to open up, so too are events that cater to them. One in particular is the Revelry Buyers’ Club, put on by On The Revel since it’s inception in 2019. At this year’s event, which took place on May 14 Basilica Hudson the question of the cannabis market and its future were a major talking point between growers, buyers, brands, and other ancillary services dedicated to serving the cannabis market. Armed with a press pass and an unquenchable desire to see where exactly everyone though the market would be heading, I set out to ask a simple but difficult question: “What is your opinion on the past, present, and future of the New York cannabis market?”
To begin, the event itself is impressive. Housed in the Basilica Hudson, a nonprofit multidisciplinary art center located in Hudson, it had over 150 vendors looking to sell their wares. And there were buyers, over 250 of them from all over the state coming to peruse the latest and greatest in releases from the cannabis market of New York. From larger, multi-state brands to farm-to-bowl growers, buyers had their choice of fresh, new cannabis products to browse and taste.
The atmosphere inside the event was electric and not because of the music; the cannabis industry came alive in that building. Buyers sampled the wares of the vendors outside underneath a tent and in the rain, constantly looking for new strains and and innovative consumption methods to add to their dispensary’s roster.
Cannabis brands were also investing big into the event, sponsoring everything from bottled water and espresso to photoshoots, fresh flower bouquets, and after-parties, to the event itself. The vendors were lined up neatly in rows throughout the building and outside, selling their hard-won cannabis at competitive prices. And people were buying, with crowds of buyers huddled around tables, striking deals and doing quick math on phone calculators. Business seemed to be booming but beyond all of the glitz and glamour of free cannabis and sweetheart deals, what did everyone think of the industry as a whole?
Scott Spolverino
“There are a lot of sleepless nights” said Chris ReganCEO/grower of Alchemy Pure, a grower based out of Millerton.
“There are a lot of sleepless nights” said Chris ReganCEO/grower of Alchemy Pure, a grower based out of Millerton. Making a joke of needing some of his own crop, he laughed and said, “If only it were that easy.” Many made similar comments, making note of the growing saturation of brands that are coming into the state.
But on the other hand, many others were hopeful. “I’m grateful but I’m tired,” said Kalon Jacobs-Johnson of Slack Hollow Organics, a grower based in Argyle, moments before being inundated by buyers from New York City.
Everyone I talked to was grateful to be in the place they were at but it was definitely far from stable. Most talked about the burgeoning market that is still in it’s infancy. One of the brand representatives from Ayrloom, an infused beverage and vape manufacturer from Lafayette, mentioned that after coming from Arizona and seeing their program, remarked that the New York market was still in it’s relative teething phase. The concept of the industry being in the throes of new growth was echoed throughout many of the people I talked to. Many also lamented the past, with Amber Kerr of Torrwood Farm, a grower and wholesale producer from Barryville, talking extensively about the financial and mental struggle in the early years and how it has come a long way since it’s inception.
But there is hope. Every single person I interviewed, no matter how briefly or how in-depth an answer they gave, believed that the cannabis market was up and coming. Both growers and buyers shared the positive sentiment of the large amounts of brands coming out, the quality of the cannabis being grown, and the lowering prices of said cannabis for both retailers and consumers. They believed in the future, whatever it may hold. They acknowledged that there will be bumps in the road, as there have been in the past, but the future is bright for the New York cannabis market and it can only improve and become better. And the Revelry Buyers’ Club was a testament to that ideal. Despite the drizzling gray weather, the crowds, and the noise, the atmosphere of the event was one of looking to the future and all it holds, come rain or shine.
“}]] At the Revelry Buyers’ Club event in Hudson, growers and brands gathered to showcase products and share cautious optimism about New York’s still-maturing cannabis industry. Read More
