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Shoppers at California farmers markets accustomed to arrays of corn, zucchinis, homemade jams and jellies may be in for a surprise: Golden State farmers markets and ag fairs may soon add cannabis to their sales lists.
It all depends on whether Gov. Gavin Newsom signs into law A.B. 1111, California legislation which would allow small-scale cannabis producers to sell direct to consumers the same way small wineries do.
Under the law passed by the legislature last month, sales and on-site consumption could take place, subject to local jurisdiction approval, at “cannabis events” on farms and at agricultural fairs. Sales and consumption could occur in areas separated from overall customer traffic and children.
What farmers would be included? Think “small”: A new license from the state’s Department of Cannabis Control would be offered as of January 2026, to applicants cultivating no more than 10,000 square feet of cannabis, with square footage limits specified for different-tier-cultivation scenarios. Expanded square footages would be permitted the following year.
Small-scale growers could have no more than $175,000 in retail sales per year (subject to reevaluation in 2027)..
No surprise that weed farmers in California, who, like those in other states, have suffered financially from surpluses of biomass, are pushing the bill hard. The entry of major retailers into the legal market is another challenge. “As a farmer’s daughter, knowing the importance of having that direct relationship with the consumer, this allows cannabis farmers to be able to sell at authorized events—cannabis directly to the sellers—bringing the stock right to the person,” State Sen. Susan Talamantes Eggman of Joaquin County said on the state Senate floor. The Senate passed the vote in August (the Assembly approved it in May).
Advocates are gearing up. During a public webinar last week, representatives from Origins Council, Supernova Women, California NORML and the Equity Trade Network urged listeners to sign a letter to Newsom saying that, “AB 1111 would enable small cannabis farmers to conduct sales at [special] events without investing many tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars to become a full-time retailer.”
Further, the letter argued, the new license would make for “a greater diversity of and quality of products available to consumers and patients.”
Other points webinar speakers emphasized in A.B. 1111’s favor:
· “As a consumer myself, I go into your average retailer, and usually everything’s already packaged on a wall somewhere, and I can’t smell it. Sometimes they have a smell jar, but not often,” said Ellen Komp, deputy director of California NORML. “I can’t really usually find out anything about where it was grown or how it was grown or if organic practices were used, if it was outdoor, anything like that. And just like when I buy my produce, I like to know all of those things, and I like to meet my farmer.”
· “For us in the rural communities, part of what we need right now is anything to drive the economy,” said Genine Coleman executive director of the Origins Council. “I mean, our economies are collapsing straight up. And so, looking at agritourism is one sector that cannabis can tag on to effectively. It’s an opportunity for regulatory reform… Getting this bill into law creates that opportunity to start to try and reform the whole events framework to make it more in reach for small-scale events and small businesses.”
· “If you search alcohol license types in California, there’s a website, a webpage that shows the 99 different types of license types which you can get if you sell beer, wine or spirits in California,” said Ross Gorden, policy director of the Origins Council. “…If you want to sell at a farmer’s market in California, an alcoholic product, you get a permit for farmer’s market sales. You don’t get a license to be a full-time alcohol retailer.”
California’s cannabis market is the largest in the nation and the largest to consider direct-to-consumer sales. Other states have considered but largely rejected such moves for small farmers.
In New York authorities have allowed local farmers markets to host “cannabis growers show cases.” Licensed growers and manufacturers may sell their products there; growers and processors, however, may not sell directly to consumers at these events.
In Massachusetts, there was a brief flurry of interest in 2021 when locals advertised a “legal Cannabis Community Farmers Market” but as the Worcester Telegram described it, only information about medical and homegrown cannabis was offered. The state’s farmers cannabis guidance document makes clear that direct to consumer sales are not permitted.
In Oregon, legislation allowing “agricultural tourism” was passed in 2023 and allowed direct -to-consumer sales of 3.5 grams or about one-eighth of an ounce of marijuana. The law, however, was later amended to delete such sales.
“}]] Small California cannabis growers hoping to be able to sell directly to consumers are hoping Gov. Newsom will sign legislation authorizing this. Read More