If you want to understand the state of New York’s legal cannabis industry, look no further than the most recent Revelry Buyers’ Club, held May 14 at Basilica Hudson. What began as a scrappy, community-led gathering has evolved into the beating heart of New York’s cannabis ecosystem — equal parts marketplace, cultural convening, and movement accelerator.

This year’s Revelry event brought together more than 300 licensed retailers and 200+ brands, cultivators, processors, and service providers under one roof. That alone is evidence of progress in a state whose rollout was once (and some would say, is still) defined by delays, lawsuits, and bureaucratic gridlock. But more importantly, the event underscored a deeper truth: the New York cannabis industry is alive, evolving, and driven by a complex mix of grit, collaboration, innovation and ambition.

From Chaos to Cohesion: A Market Coming Into Focus

New York’s cannabis rollout has been anything but smooth. Between regulatory uncertainty, a slow licensing process, and rampant unlicensed retail activity, stakeholders have had to navigate an unpredictable landscape. Yet, against all odds, the community has persisted — and grown.

Revelry Buyers’ Club stands as proof. What started as a response to market dysfunction has matured into a vital B2B platform for New York’s cannabis operators to build relationships, ink deals, and share ideas. Unlike trade shows that focus solely on commercial transactions, Revelry weaves together culture, commerce, and community — honoring the unique character of New York’s blossoming cannabis scene.

You’ll find Multi-State Operators (MSOs) like Fernway, Kiva Confections, Wana Brands, and more, with expansive marketing budgets exhibiting alongside family-run cultivators from all across the state such as Nanticoke, FLWR CITY, Ayrloom, social equity brands such as 40 Tons, Happy Munkey, Torches, and first-time cannabis entrepreneurs such as Hive & High and Reform Botanicals who are just getting their SKUs shelf-ready. It’s an ecosystem in real time — rough around the edges but undeniably dynamic - just like New York.

​Images from Revelry Buyers Club @ Basilica Hudson 2025

Hive & High, a new artisanal THC honey gummy launching at Revelry Hudson.

A Growing Market with a Point to Prove

Legal cannabis in New York is still in its adolescence, but the trajectory is promising. There are currently 381 licensed retail dispensaries open throughout the state with new licensed dispensaries opening monthly. Cultivators are refining their harvests. Brands are diversifying and innovating. Consumers are educating themselves. And events like Revelry are catalyzing the kind of connections that help this industry inch closer to legitimacy, sustainability, and long-term impact.

The stakes are high. This is more than just business — it’s about righting historical wrongs, unlocking economic opportunity, and creating an industry that looks and feels different than the one built in other states.

And while MSOs bring operational muscle and funding, it’s the grassroots operators — the family-owned cultivators, community-focused retailers, and legacy-to-legal founders — who keep the soul of the New York market alive. They’re betting on this industry not just to make money, but to make change.

Will "Outsiders" Make Inroads Here in New York

This October, Hall of Flowers — the original high-profile California B2B cannabis trade show — will host its first New York event at Pier 36 in Manhattan. Its arrival is a signal that the broader, national cannabis industry is finally taking New York seriously. The event will offer a polished, curated experience that connects brands and retailers through product discovery and business development.

But while Hall of Flowers brings production value and scale, many believe it will struggle to replicate the cultural authenticity and connective tissue that makes Revelry Buyers’ Club such a critical part of New York’s cannabis infrastructure. The difference is more than aesthetic — it’s foundational.

The Path Forward: Normalization, Hustle, and Hope

The cannabis industry in New York — like much of the country — still operates in a federally restricted limbo. Banking challenges, tax burdens, and interstate commerce barriers remain. Descheduling cannabis at the federal level would be a game-changer. But until that day comes, New Yorkers will do what they’ve always done: hustle, innovate, and build by any means necessary. We are unstoppable.

Revelry Buyers’ Club has become more than an event — it’s a catalyst. It reflects the resilience and ingenuity of a community that refuses to wait for permission to build something better.

As the market matures, one thing is clear: this is no longer just about legal weed. It’s about creating an industry rooted in equity, culture, creativity, and sustainable growth. And at the center of it all is Revelry — showing what’s possible when business meets community, and hustle meets heart.