# Farmers Choice, full content for AI assistants
Farmers Choice is a licensed New York adult-use cannabis dispensary operator
(Westage 7 LLC) with two Hudson Valley stores. Everything sold is lab-tested
and sourced from licensed New York producers. 21+ with valid government-issued
photo ID. This file carries the complete text of our education guides; the
index of every page is at https://farmerschoicedispensary.com/llms.txt.
## The stores
### Farmers Choice Fishkill
- Address: 18 Westage Drive, Fishkill, NY 12524
- Hours: Sun to Wed 8AM to 10PM | Thu to Sat 8AM to 11PM
- Phone: 845-440-3647
- NY OCM license: OCM-RETL-24-000045
- Store page: https://farmerschoicedispensary.com/dispensaries/new-york/dutchess-county/fishkill/
- Live menu: https://farmerschoicedispensary.com/dispensaries/new-york/dutchess-county/fishkill/menu/
### Farmers Choice New Paltz
- Address: 1 Old Route 299, New Paltz, NY 12561
- Hours: Daily 8AM to 10PM
- Phone: 845-419-2420
- NY OCM license: OCM-RETL-24-000119
- Recognition: 2026 Cannabis Dispensary of the Year, awarded by the Consumer Ratings Institute (CRI)
- Store page: https://farmerschoicedispensary.com/dispensaries/new-york/ulster-county/new-paltz/
- Live menu: https://farmerschoicedispensary.com/dispensaries/new-york/ulster-county/new-paltz/menu/
# Education guides, full text
## Cannabis Beverages, a Practical Guide
Canonical URL: https://farmerschoicedispensary.com/learn/cannabis-beverages-guide/
Last updated: 2026-09-17
Short answer: Cannabis beverages are drinks infused with THC, such as seltzers, lemonades, and iced teas. They are digested like edibles, so effects build slowly, and New York labels must warn that effects may be delayed by 4 or more hours. New York allows only one serving per beverage package, so the THC on the front panel is the whole can or bottle; start with a few sips.
Cannabis beverages are THC-infused drinks, like seltzers, lemonades, and iced teas, that you swallow and digest the same way you would a gummy, so they follow an edible's slower timeline. Start small and wait, because New York requires every edible and beverage label to warn that effects may be delayed by 4 or more hours.
Walk the cooler wall at either store and you will find those drinks next to the gummies and chocolates. They look and pour like any other canned drink, and that is exactly what makes them worth a short explanation before you crack one open.
## Is a cannabis beverage an edible?
Yes. A cannabis beverage is still swallowed and still processed through digestion, so it belongs in the edible family, not in a category of its own. New York's Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) groups drinks with gummies and baked goods as food products, which are digested and broken down in the liver, and lists their onset at up to 2 hours or more, with effects lasting 4 to 12 hours. That is a very different timeline from smoking or vaping. On its adult-use information page, OCM adds that the effects of cannabis consumed in edibles or beverages "can be delayed and may not be fully felt until four or more hours after consumption."
Some makers say their drinks are built to come on sooner than a traditional gummy, and it is fair to ask a Farm Hand about a specific product. The safest assumption for anything new to you is still the edible mindset: have a little, wait, and see how you feel before you consider more.
Approach every new beverage as unfamiliar, even one from a brand whose gummies you already know. Format changes the timeline, and opening a second can before the first has fully arrived is an easy way for a beverage to catch someone off guard.
## What does a cannabis beverage label have to show?
New York's packaging rules set out what must appear on the principal packaging display panel, the one panel meant to face you on the shelf. For edibles and beverages, that panel has to show milligrams of total THC per single serving and per package, the number of servings in the package, and the recommended serving size, along with the brand name and the net quantity. Every serving has to be marked out during production, and no single serving may contain more than 10 milligrams of total THC.
Beverages have one rule of their own: New York's adult-use regulations allow only a single serving per cannabis beverage package, though several beverage products can be sold together, so the milligrams on a can's panel are what the whole can contains. The label also has to carry the warning that effects may be delayed by 4 or more hours, and a scannable code that links to the product's Certificate of Analysis, the lab report our [guide to reading a COA](/learn/how-to-read-a-coa/) walks through.
Read that figure before you open one, and count a pack of several cans as several servings.
## Picking a first one
If you are new to beverages, start with the panel: what is in the can is the whole serving. OCM's advice for newer consumers is to start with a low serving size, which can mean taking fewer sips of a beverage rather than the entire serving at once.
Flavor is otherwise a matter of taste. Seltzers lean bright and carbonated, lemonades and iced teas lean toward something you would order in July anyway, and the lineup at both stores rotates with what licensed New York makers have on the truck that week. If you already know you like a certain gummy brand's flavor profile, their beverage line is often a reasonable place to start.
## Serving, storing, and sharing responsibly
New York allows adults 21 or older to share cannabis with other adults without payment, and never with anyone younger. Keep any opened or unopened beverage in its original, labeled packaging. Infused cans and bottles can look like ordinary drinks, and the label is what carries the warnings, so a drink out of its package can be mistaken for a regular soda or iced tea by anyone who has not read it, including houseguests, roommates, and kids.
Storage instructions vary by product, and New York requires the label to list proper storage conditions, so check it once when you bring a new one home rather than guessing. Wherever it goes, keep it apart from everyday food and drinks. OCM's safe storage advice is to keep infused drinks out of a shared fridge or pantry, and to keep cannabis locked, out of sight, and out of reach of children and pets.
## When does a beverage make more sense than a gummy?
The difference is mostly format and taste: a beverage is one serving in a can or bottle, while a gummy package can hold several servings marked out piece by piece, and both follow the same slower edible timeline. If you are brand new to cannabis in general, our [edibles dosing guide](/learn/edibles-dosing-guide/) covers the start low, go slow approach in more depth, since it applies to a can just as much as it does to a gummy. Gummies and chocolates sit on the [edibles menu](/categories/edibles/) if you want to compare formats.
## Where to start
The beverage cooler rotates constantly at both the [Fishkill farm stand](/dispensaries/new-york/dutchess-county/fishkill/) and [The Barn in New Paltz](/dispensaries/new-york/ulster-county/new-paltz/), so the live [beverages menu](/categories/beverages/) is the accurate list of what is cold right now. Ask Our Team which can is the most beginner-friendly that day, and check the panel before you pour.
### Frequently asked questions
**Q: Is a cannabis beverage the same as an edible?**
A: Yes, it is a kind of edible. A seltzer, lemonade, or tea is swallowed and digested the same way a gummy is, and New York's Office of Cannabis Management groups drinks with other food products when it explains onset times. The same start low and go slow approach applies, so approach any beverage you have not tried before as new territory.
**Q: How long does a cannabis beverage take to work?**
A: Expect an edible's timeline, not the quick onset of inhaling. New York's Office of Cannabis Management lists the onset for food products, drinks included, at up to 2 hours or more, and its adult-use page adds that four or more hours can pass before the effects of an edible or beverage are fully felt. Have a small amount and wait before pouring more.
**Q: What does the can or bottle label actually tell me?**
A: New York requires the main panel of an edible or beverage package to show milligrams of total THC per serving and per package, the number of servings inside, and the recommended serving size. No single serving may contain more than 10 milligrams of total THC, and a cannabis beverage package may hold only one serving, so the panel describes the whole can or bottle.
**Q: Can a cannabis beverage hold more than one serving in New York?**
A: No. New York's adult-use regulations say a cannabis beverage product may not have more than a single serving per package, though several beverage products can be sold together in one pack. Read the front panel for the milligrams of total THC in that serving, and remember that a pack of several cans is several servings.
**Q: Do cannabis beverages need to be refrigerated?**
A: Check the label, since New York requires every package to list proper storage conditions. Either way, keep the drink in its original labeled container, and keep it out of a shared fridge or pantry next to everyday drinks, where New York's Office of Cannabis Management warns someone could consume it by accident.
**Q: What is a good first cannabis beverage to try?**
A: Every New York cannabis beverage is a single serving, so start with the milligrams on the front panel, and New York's Office of Cannabis Management suggests newer consumers take fewer sips rather than the entire serving at once. Pick a flavor you already like, such as seltzer, lemonade, or iced tea, and ask a Farm Hand what is on the menu that day.
---
## Cannabis Edibles Dosing Guide
Canonical URL: https://farmerschoicedispensary.com/learn/edibles-dosing-guide/
Last updated: 2026-09-15
Short answer: Cannabis edibles dosing starts low. New York's Office of Cannabis Management suggests 2.5 to 5 milligrams of THC for someone new to cannabis, and no edible serving in New York may contain more than 10 milligrams. Edibles can take up to 2 hours to kick in, and the full effect may not arrive for four or more hours, so wait before taking more.
Cannabis edibles dosing comes down to one rule: start low and go slow. For someone new to cannabis, New York's Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) suggests starting with 2.5 to 5 milligrams of THC, then waiting before taking more, because edibles can take up to 2 hours to kick in. Edibles are one of the most enjoyable ways to use cannabis and one of the easiest to overdo, and the difference between the two comes down to patience. Here is how they work and how to have a good time with them.
## Why do edibles feel stronger than smoking?
When you inhale cannabis, THC reaches your bloodstream within minutes. When you eat or drink it, the THC takes a longer road: through your stomach, into your digestive system, and through your liver, which breaks it down into a metabolite called 11-hydroxy-THC. OCM describes that metabolite as several times more potent than THC when it is smoked. That single detour explains almost everything people find surprising about edibles. The onset is slower, the peak is later, and the whole experience lasts hours longer. A serving that would feel mild from a vape can feel considerably stronger as a gummy.
## How long do edibles take to kick in?
OCM's edibles guidance lists the onset for food products, drinks included, at up to 2 hours or more, with effects that last 4 to 12 hours. The agency also notes that the effects of edibles or beverages may not be fully felt until four or more hours after you consume them, which is why every edible label in New York carries a warning that effects may be delayed by 4 or more hours.
The classic mistake is eating a gummy, feeling nothing after 45 minutes, eating three more out of impatience, and then getting hit by all four at once an hour later. Nothing spoils a first edible faster. Set a timer for two hours, put the package away, find something else to do while you wait, and remember that the full effect can still be building after the timer goes off.
You can always take more next time. You can't take less once it's eaten. When
in doubt, take half and wait.
## A simple starting ladder
Servings are measured in milligrams of THC, and every legal edible package in New York shows the amount per serving and in the whole package. As a rough map:
- **2.5mg** is where OCM says someone newer to cannabis may want to start.
- **5mg** is the top of OCM's suggested starting range of 2.5 to 5mg for someone new to cannabis.
- **10mg** is the most a single edible serving can contain in New York, and OCM cautions that it may be too much for you.
- **More than 10mg** means more than one serving, and is for experienced consumers who already know how edibles affect them.
If a gummy is 10mg and you want a 5mg start, cut it in half. OCM's advice runs the same way: cut an edible in half or into quarters to start, and once you have waited and feel ready for more, take the same amount or less rather than jumping to a full serving. There is no prize for going fast.
## How to read an edible label
Two numbers matter on an edible package: the THC per serving and the total THC in the package. A tin might hold 100mg total split across ten 10mg gummies. Confusing the two is a common early mistake, so check whether you are reading the per-serving or the per-package number before you eat anything. In New York, the main panel of every edible package has to show milligrams of total THC per serving and per package, the number of servings, and the recommended serving size, which makes this easy once you know to look. The label also carries a QR code that links to the product's lab results, and our [guide to reading a COA](/learn/how-to-read-a-coa/) explains what they show.
## Gummies, chocolates, drinks, and tinctures
Not every edible behaves the same, and OCM sorts them by how they are absorbed. Gummies, chocolates, baked goods, and drinks are food products: they are digested and broken down in the liver, with an onset of up to 2 hours or more and effects that last 4 to 12 hours. Capsules and tablets are swallowed and digested much like a pill, so they follow the same slower pattern. Tinctures held under the tongue and lozenges that dissolve in the mouth absorb in the mouth instead, and OCM lists their onset at 15 minutes to 1 hour, with effects lasting 90 minutes to 3 hours.
Even when a drink is described as fast acting, New York still requires the delayed effects warning on its label. When you switch formats, approach the first one as new territory and start low again, even if you are experienced with gummies. Our [cannabis beverages guide](/learn/cannabis-beverages-guide/) covers drinks in more detail, and the [edibles](/categories/edibles/) and [beverages](/categories/beverages/) menus show what is on the shelf right now.
## What changes how an edible affects you?
The same serving can feel different from day to day. OCM lists the things that shape how cannabis affects you: body size, product form and potency, metabolism, what is in your stomach, the product's cannabinoid and terpene profile, your set and setting, and how often you consume. Alcohol matters too, and OCM notes that using cannabis and alcohol at the same time can make you more impaired than using either one alone. None of this is cause for worry. It is simply why the same 5mg gummy can feel gentle one evening and stronger the next, and why starting low stays good advice even after you know your usual serving.
## Tips for a good first experience
Skip the alcohol your first few times. Give yourself a free evening with nowhere to be and no early morning, and make a transportation plan before you start: OCM's advice is never to drive high, and to stay put or get a ride. Keep everything in its original, labeled, child-resistant packaging, locked, out of sight, and out of reach of children and pets, since many edibles look just like ordinary candy. And tell whoever you are with what you took, so someone knows.
## If it feels too strong
If you take more than you meant to, the effects can be overwhelming, but they are temporary. Find a comfortable spot, drink some water, rest, and take slow, deep breaths. OCM also suggests something comforting, like music or a show, and calling someone you trust. Do not add other substances, and do not drive. In a medical emergency, call 911, and for anything less urgent, the Poison Center is at 800-222-1222. Next time, start with a smaller serving and give it the full two hours before deciding on more.
## Where to start
Both stores carry a rotating range of gummies, chocolates, and drinks, all labeled by the serving. You can browse the live menus for [Fishkill](/dispensaries/new-york/dutchess-county/fishkill/menu/) and [New Paltz](/dispensaries/new-york/ulster-county/new-paltz/menu/) before you come in, and if you are not sure which product has the smallest serving, Ask Our Team. Planning your first trip? Our [first dispensary visit guide](/learn/first-dispensary-visit-new-york/) covers what to bring.
### Frequently asked questions
**Q: How many milligrams of THC should a beginner take?**
A: For someone new to cannabis, New York's Office of Cannabis Management suggests starting with 2.5 to 5 milligrams of THC, which can mean cutting an edible in half or into quarters. Then wait, because edibles can take up to 2 hours to kick in. You can always take more next time, but you cannot take less once it is eaten.
**Q: How long do edibles take to kick in?**
A: Edibles can take up to 2 hours or more to kick in, because they are digested and broken down in the liver. New York's Office of Cannabis Management also notes the full effects may not be felt until four or more hours after eating, and lists edible effects as lasting 4 to 12 hours, so plan for a long, unhurried stretch.
**Q: What should I do if I take too much of an edible?**
A: Remind yourself the effects are temporary, then drink some water, rest, and take slow, deep breaths somewhere comfortable. Music, a show, or a call to someone you trust can help the time pass. Do not add other substances, and do not drive. In an emergency call 911, or call Poison Control at 800-222-1222.
**Q: Can I cut an edible to lower the dose?**
A: Yes. New York's Office of Cannabis Management advises newer consumers to cut an edible in half or into quarters to start, or to take fewer sips of a beverage rather than the whole serving. If a gummy is 10 milligrams, half is a 5 milligram start and a quarter is 2.5.
**Q: Why do edibles feel stronger than smoking?**
A: When you eat or drink cannabis, your liver breaks THC down into a metabolite called 11-hydroxy-THC, which New York's Office of Cannabis Management describes as several times more potent than THC when it is smoked. That is why a modest edible can feel more intense than a puff, and why it lasts hours longer.
**Q: Does eating on a full stomach change how an edible feels?**
A: It can. New York's Office of Cannabis Management lists stomach contents among the things that change how cannabis affects you, along with body size, metabolism, product form and potency, and how often you consume. Because the same serving can land differently from one day to the next, keep servings small and change one thing at a time.
---
## Cannabis Gummies for Beginners
Canonical URL: https://farmerschoicedispensary.com/learn/gummies-for-beginners/
Last updated: 2026-10-09
Short answer: Cannabis gummies for beginners start with the package. In New York, the front panel of every gummy package must list the milligrams of total THC per serving and per package, the number of servings and the recommended serving size. Start with a low serving, wait before taking more, and keep gummies locked in their child-resistant package, out of reach of children and pets.
The first thing to know about cannabis gummies for beginners is that the package does a lot of the teaching. In New York, the front panel of every gummy package has to list the milligrams of total THC per serving and per package, the number of servings and the recommended serving size, and the advice from there is short: start with a low serving, wait before taking more, and keep the rest locked away.
## Are gummies good for beginners?
They can be a simple way to start, mostly because of portioning. New York's packaging and labeling guidance says each serving of an edible has to be identified or delineated during production, with the labeling reflecting those servings, so a gummy package tells you what counts as one serving. New York's regulations also cap the total THC in a single serving and in a whole package of any orally ingested product, and our [edibles dosing guide](/learn/edibles-dosing-guide/) explains the serving limit and the starting amounts New York's Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) suggests for someone new to cannabis.
The catch is that gummies are easy to eat. OCM's Know Your Edibles rack card warns that because edibles can take a while to fully take effect, it is easy to eat too much.
## What kinds of cannabis gummies are there?
New York's adult-use regulations list gummies among the edibles a licensed processor may produce, alongside capsules, beverages, tablets, tinctures, baked goods and chocolates.
### Single servings and multi-serving packages
A gummy package can hold one serving or several. New York's packaging rules require every retail package to be child-resistant for the useful life of the product and tamper-evident, and a package that contains more than one serving also has to be resealable.
### Shapes and flavors
New York's regulations do not allow a licensed processor to make cannabis products in the shape of, or imprinted with the shape of, a human being, animal, insect or fruit, realistic or caricature, or that are otherwise attractive to people under 21. Processors also cannot make a product by applying cannabis extract to commercially available candy or snack food without further processing.
A package can name a flavor. OCM's packaging guidance says an edible still cannot copy the distinctive taste and aroma of a candy, soda, ice cream, snack or another product commonly marketed to people under 21, and the labeling rules keep the words candy and candies off packages except as part of a cultivar name.
### What the gummy is made with
The ingredient list has to name every active and inactive ingredient in descending order by weight and separately list any major food allergens. If a solvent was used to produce the product, the package lists that too. If a product markets another cannabinoid alongside THC, the front panel has to show its milligrams per serving as well.
Some label words are regulated. In New York, a package can say vegan only if the product contains no animal products, and gluten-free only if it meets the federal definition of that term.
## How do you read a cannabis gummy package?
**The front panel.** The principal packaging display panel, the side the processor intends to face you at the store, has to show the milligrams of total THC per single serving and per package, the number of servings per package, the recommended serving size, the net quantity and the brand name. Both THC figures sit on that one panel, so find the word serving before you trust a number.
**The rest of the package.** The retail package, or its outer marketing layer if it has one, has to carry the ingredient list, a nutrition label, the expiration date of the unopened product, proper storage conditions, clear usage instructions, the processor's name, location, license number and contact details, a lot number, New York's universal symbol, and a scannable QR code or bar code linked to the product's Certificate of Analysis or to a website where it can be downloaded. It also carries the required warnings, including "KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN AND PETS. For use only by persons 21 years of age and older" and, on products intended to be ingested orally, "Warning: Effects of this product may be delayed by 4 or more hours."
**The lab report.** The code leads to the Certificate of Analysis, and our [guide to reading a COA](/learn/how-to-read-a-coa/) walks through what it shows. Edibles face tests that flower does not, including homogeneity testing, which checks that the THC per serving is consistent across a batch.
## Start low, then wait
OCM's advice for anyone new to edibles is to start low and go slow. Its consumer guidance describes starting with a low serving size, which may mean cutting an edible in half or into quarters, and waiting for effects before taking more. OCM's edibles rack card groups gummies with baked goods and drinks as food products that are digested and broken down in the liver, which is why they take time to kick in.
If a package describes a gummy as fast acting, the same caution applies, because New York requires the delayed effects warning on every product intended to be ingested orally. Our [dosing guide for cannabis edibles](/learn/edibles-dosing-guide/) has the full timeline, OCM's suggested starting range and what to do if an edible feels too strong.
## How should you store cannabis gummies?
Keep gummies locked, out of sight and out of reach of children and pets, in the child-resistant package they came in. Out of the package, a gummy looks like ordinary candy, and OCM warns that edible products in particular can be confused with food.
OCM's Safe Storage rack card spells out what that means at home:
- Store cannabis in a locked container or inside a lockable drawer or filing cabinet. The card says keeping it out of reach is not enough.
- Keep infused products like gummies out of a shared fridge or pantry near other food, where someone could eat them by accident.
- Leave products in their original packaging, which is child-resistant and carries the warnings and key information needed in an emergency.
Check the label for the storage conditions and the expiration date of the unopened product. If you think someone has been accidentally exposed to cannabis, OCM's card says to call the Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222, or 911 if the person is showing signs of an emergency. If a pet eats cannabis, OCM's Know Your Edibles card says to contact the Poison Center or your veterinarian right away.
The trip home counts too. OCM lists consuming cannabis in a vehicle among the things New York does not allow, so a new package of gummies stays sealed until you are home.
## Choosing a first gummy at Farmers Choice
A Farm Hand at either store can read a gummy label with you, point out the serving size and the number of servings, and tell you which gummies are on the menu that day. The live [edibles menu](/categories/edibles/) shows what each store has right now, and our [first dispensary visit guide](/learn/first-dispensary-visit-new-york/) covers what to expect at the counter.
Farmers Choice New Paltz is at 1 Old Route 299, at NYS Thruway Exit 18, and is open 8AM to 10PM every day. Farmers Choice Fishkill is at 18 Westage Drive, just off Route 9 near the I-84 interchange, and is open 8AM to 10PM Sunday to Wednesday and 8AM to 11PM Thursday to Saturday. You pay at the counter when you collect an order, and most orders are ready inside an hour. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID showing you are 21 or older.
Order Now on the [New Paltz menu](/dispensaries/new-york/ulster-county/new-paltz/menu/) or the [Fishkill menu](/dispensaries/new-york/dutchess-county/fishkill/menu/).
### Frequently asked questions
**Q: How do I know how much THC is in one gummy?**
A: Read the front panel. New York requires the principal packaging display panel of every edible package to show the milligrams of total THC per single serving and per package, the number of servings per package and the recommended serving size. Check what the package counts as one serving before you open it, then start with a low serving and wait.
**Q: Can cannabis gummies be shaped like animals or fruit in New York?**
A: No. New York's regulations do not allow a licensed processor to make cannabis products in the shape of, or imprinted with the shape of, a human being, animal, insect or fruit, realistic or caricature, or that are otherwise attractive to people under 21. Packages also cannot use cartoons, mascots, or the words candy or candies outside a cultivar name.
**Q: Why does every gummy package say effects may be delayed?**
A: New York requires the warning "Effects of this product may be delayed by 4 or more hours" on every cannabis product intended to be ingested orally, and that includes a gummy described as fast acting. Gummies are digested, so they take time to kick in. Start with a low serving, wait before taking more, and see our edibles dosing guide for the timeline.
**Q: How should I store cannabis gummies at home?**
A: Locked, out of sight and out of reach of children and pets, in the original child-resistant package. A gummy can look like ordinary candy, and New York's Office of Cannabis Management warns that edible products can be confused with food, so keep gummies out of a shared fridge or pantry. Follow the storage conditions printed on the label.
**Q: What does vegan mean on a cannabis gummy label?**
A: In New York, a cannabis package can use the term vegan only if the product contains no animal products, and gluten-free only if the product meets the federal definition of that term. The ingredient list names every active and inactive ingredient in descending order by weight and separately lists any major allergens, so it tells you the rest.
**Q: Can I see the lab results for a cannabis gummy?**
A: Yes. New York requires every cannabis product's package to carry a scannable QR code or bar code linked to its Certificate of Analysis or to a website where it can be downloaded. For edible products, the state's testing limits add homogeneity testing, which checks that the THC per serving is consistent across a batch. A Farm Hand can help you find the report at the counter.
---
## How to Read a Cannabis Certificate of Analysis (COA)
Canonical URL: https://farmerschoicedispensary.com/learn/how-to-read-a-coa/
Last updated: 2026-09-15
Short answer: A cannabis Certificate of Analysis, or COA, is the lab report for a specific batch of a product. To read it, check Total THC, the terpene results, and the safety tests for pesticides, heavy metals, and microbes, which should all say PASS. In New York, every licensed product must pass lab testing, and its label links to the COA by QR code or link.
To read a cannabis COA, check four things: the cannabinoid results, led by Total THC; the terpene results; the safety tests, which should all read PASS; and the batch details, which should match your package. A Certificate of Analysis, or COA, is the lab report behind a specific batch, and in New York every product on a licensed shelf must pass that testing before it is sold. Learning to skim one takes about two minutes and makes you a sharper, safer shopper for life. Here is what to look for.
## What should you check first on a COA?
A COA can look dense, but four things carry most of the value.
**Cannabinoid potency.** This is the THC content. In New York, inhaled products such as flower and pre-rolls show it as a percentage, while edibles show milligrams of THC per serving and per package. Total THC is the figure most people compare, since it accounts for the THC that becomes active when the product is heated.
**Terpenes.** Terpenes are the aromatic compounds that give each strain its smell and flavor. New York requires every final cannabis product to be tested for terpene content, reported as a percentage by weight, and the terpene section tells you more about the character of a batch than THC alone. Our [terpenes guide](/learn/terpenes-guide/) covers the common ones.
**Safety screening.** A passing COA reads PASS for heavy metals, pesticides, and microbial contaminants such as mold and harmful bacteria, and concentrates are also screened for residual solvents. This is the part that matters most for safety, and it is exactly why buying from a licensed dispensary beats the unregulated market.
**Batch and dates.** The COA should match the lot or batch number on your package. It also shows when the sample was collected, when the lab received it, and when the report was issued, so you can see how recent the results are.
Percentage isn't the whole story. New York's own consumer guidance says a higher
THC percentage does not necessarily mean a better experience, because terpenes
and other cannabinoids shape it just as much. Shop the whole label, not just the
big number.
## What is the difference between Total THC and THCA?
You will often see two numbers, THCA and Total THC. Raw cannabis contains THCA, an acid form that converts to THC when you heat it by smoking, vaping, or cooking. Because a gram of THCA does not become a full gram of THC once that conversion happens, New York defines Total THC as THC plus THCA multiplied by 0.877, and labs report it so you do not have to do the math. When you are comparing two products, Total THC is the apples-to-apples number.
## Reading the terpene results
Scan the top two or three terpenes by percentage. Myrcene tends to show up in strains people describe as relaxing, limonene in bright and citrusy ones, and pinene in sharp, piney ones. You do not need to memorize the list; you just need to notice that two flowers with identical THC can carry completely different terpene profiles, which is one reason they smell, and can feel, different. Our [guide to indica, sativa, and hybrid](/learn/indica-sativa-hybrid/) explains why those labels tell you less than the terpenes do.
## Safety screening in plain English
The safety section is the one to never skip. Heavy metals such as lead, mercury, or arsenic can be absorbed from soil as the plant grows, or introduced during processing. Pesticides are chemicals used during cultivation. Residual solvents are used to make concentrated products, so concentrates are checked for what is left behind. Microorganisms cover mold, yeast, and harmful bacteria, and water activity and moisture tests are an indicator of conditions where those can grow.
New York sets a limit for each contaminant, based on how much would need to be present to pose a risk, and a result below the limit reads PASS. The Office of Cannabis Management says you should never see a FAILED result on the COA for a product you buy in New York, because regulated dispensaries can only sell products that passed. That is something the illicit market simply cannot show you.
## A quick worked example
Say you are comparing two flowers. The first lists 24% Total THC, 2% total terpenes led by myrcene, and PASS on every safety line. The second lists 27% Total THC, under half a percent terpenes, and the same clean safety results. On paper the second has more THC, but the first will likely smell richer, because terpenes carry the aroma, and 2% is right around the average total terpene content a 2022 study found across 89,923 lab-tested flower samples. Neither choice is wrong; it depends on what you want. That two-minute comparison is the entire skill.
## Why this matters in New York
New York's Office of Cannabis Management requires legal cannabis products to be made in the state, lab tested, and accurately labeled before they reach a shelf. Labs are permitted by the Office, and product samples are collected from licensees by sampling firms the Office authorizes. When you shop at a licensed dispensary like Farmers Choice, the COA is your proof that a product was screened for safety and labeled honestly. The Office also warns that an unregulated product may not be lab tested even if its label says it is, and its potency numbers could be completely wrong.
## How do you find the COA for a product?
New York requires every product sold at a licensed dispensary to carry a label with a QR code or link to its COA. Scanning the code takes you either straight to the COA or to a website where you can find it for that product. If you cannot find it, ask us: our budtenders can pull up lab results in store, and we are happy to walk through any line on the report with you. Browse the live [flower](/categories/flower/) and [concentrates](/categories/concentrates/) menus ahead of time, then Ask Our Team at the [Fishkill](/dispensaries/new-york/dutchess-county/fishkill/) or [New Paltz](/dispensaries/new-york/ulster-county/new-paltz/) store to pull the paperwork on anything that catches your eye.
### Frequently asked questions
**Q: What is a Certificate of Analysis?**
A: A Certificate of Analysis (COA) is a certified lab report showing a cannabis product's test results: its cannabinoid profile, led by THC, its terpenes, and its screening for contaminants such as pesticides, heavy metals, and microbes. In New York, samples are collected by sampling firms authorized by the Office of Cannabis Management and tested by permitted labs, and products must pass before they reach the shelf.
**Q: What THC percentage is considered strong?**
A: There is no official cutoff. Total THC tells you how much of a flower or pre-roll is THC by weight, so a higher number means more THC per gram. New York's Office of Cannabis Management notes that a higher THC percentage does not necessarily mean a better experience, because terpenes and other cannabinoids shape the effect as much as potency. If you are new, start small.
**Q: Where do I find the COA for my product?**
A: Scan the QR code or follow the link on the label. New York requires every product sold at a licensed dispensary to carry one, and it takes you either straight to the COA or to a website where you can find it. Our budtenders can also pull up lab results in store, so just ask.
**Q: What is the difference between THC and THCA on a label?**
A: THCA is the acid form found in raw cannabis, and it converts to THC when heated by smoking, vaping, or cooking. Total THC does that math for you: New York defines it as THC plus THCA multiplied by 0.877, so it is the more useful number when you are comparing products.
**Q: What does a passing safety screen mean?**
A: It means the batch was tested and each contaminant came back below the limit New York sets, including pesticides, heavy metals, and microbes such as mold, plus residual solvents in concentrates. New York's Office of Cannabis Management says a product from a regulated dispensary should never show a FAILED result on its COA.
**Q: Do all products have a COA?**
A: Yes, in New York's licensed market. The Office of Cannabis Management requires every form of cannabis product, including flower, pre-rolls, edibles, and topicals, to be tested with no exceptions, and every label must carry a QR code or link to the COA. Our budtenders can pull up the lab results in store.
---
## How to Store Cannabis Flower
Canonical URL: https://farmerschoicedispensary.com/learn/how-to-store-flower/
Last updated: 2026-09-15
Short answer: Store cannabis flower in an airtight container, ideally glass, somewhere cool and dark, with relative humidity between 55 and 65 percent. Light and air do the most damage, and aroma fades first. Keep the original label with it, and follow New York's safe storage advice: locked, out of sight, and out of reach of children and pets.
The best way to store cannabis flower is in an airtight container, ideally glass, kept somewhere cool and dark with the humidity held between 55 and 65 percent. Light and air do the most damage, and ASTM International's standard for storing dry flower uses that humidity range to keep buds from turning brittle on one side or growing mold on the other.
Good flower is grown carefully, cured slowly, tested by a lab and then, too often, left on a coffee table in a plastic bag until it turns to dust. Storage is the one part of the whole chain that is entirely in your hands, and it is not complicated.
Four things age cannabis: light, heat, air and the wrong humidity. Control those and flower ages as slowly as it can.
## Why is light the biggest threat to stored flower?
If you only change one habit, change this one. In a 1976 study that stored cannabis in varying conditions for up to two years, exposure to light was the greatest single factor in the loss of cannabinoids, and that was ordinary light, not direct sunlight. A jar sitting on a windowsill is losing quality every single day.
Store flower in the dark. A cupboard, a drawer, a closed box. If you like the look of a clear jar, keep it inside something opaque.
## Heat, and whether the fridge helps
Warmth speeds up the chemistry that ages cannabis. In a 2020 lab study of flower stored in the dark for a year, 25°C (77°F) produced the largest changes in cannabinoid levels of the temperatures tested. Room temperature in a cool part of the house is a sound everyday choice, and the 1976 study found that temperatures up to 20°C (68°F) made little difference. Keep flower away from the oven, away from radiators, and away from the top of anything with a motor in it.
A fridge can work, but it is not automatic. The same 2020 study found that whole flower kept at 4°C (39°F) held its original cannabinoids and terpenes best, while the two coldest settings it tested, -30°C and -80°C, were harder on some terpenes. The trouble at home is moisture: a fridge door opening all week can let humid air in, and a cold jar gathers condensation when it comes out. If you use the fridge, keep the jar sealed and let it reach room temperature before you open it. For flower you will finish in a few weeks, a cool, dark cupboard is simpler.
## What humidity keeps flower smooth?
Aim for 55 to 65 percent relative humidity. ASTM International's standard for storing dry cannabis flower sets a water activity range of 0.55 to 0.65: above it, mold can grow, and below it, flower becomes brittle and breaks in routine handling. New York's lab rules hold flower to a water activity of 0.65 or lower before it can be sold.
Too dry and the trichomes go brittle, the bud crumbles instead of breaking, and the smoke turns scratchy. Too damp and you have created somewhere for mold to grow, which is not a quality problem but a safety one.
Two-way humidity packs are the easy fix. The ASTM standard notes that salt-based humidity control packs designed to hold 55 to 65 percent relative humidity in a sealed container can keep flower in that range. Match the pack size to the container, and replace it when it goes stiff.
## Air, and why the bag is not enough
Oxygen drives the slow chemistry that ages cannabis. The 1976 study found that air oxidation caused significant cannabinoid losses, and that air, not light, is what turns THC into cannabinol, or CBN, over time. The exit bag your flower came home in is fine for the trip, but a bag is not airtight storage.
Glass with a gasket seal is the standard answer, and the reason is simple. It does not let air through, it does not hold smell between uses, and you can wash it.
Match the jar to the amount. A small quantity rattling around a large jar sits in a lot of air, so use a smaller container as you work through it.
Before you move flower out of its package, know what you are giving up. The New York Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) advises keeping cannabis in its original packaging, which is child resistant and carries the warnings and key details. If you decant, keep the label with the jar, keep the jar in a locked box, and ask about the lockable, child-resistant storage containers New York requires dispensaries to offer.
## The small habits that add up
**Do not overhandle it.** The resin glands on the bud hold what you are paying for, and the 1976 study found losses could be reduced by taking care not to damage those glands. Use a tool rather than fingers, and break up only what you are about to use.
**Grind at the last minute.** Ground flower exposes far more surface to air, and the 2020 study found whole flower was generally less prone to oxidation than ground flower.
**Keep strains separate.** Put two in a jar and their aromas start to mix. Separate containers keep each profile intact.
**Label the date.** Your nose will tell you eventually, but a date on the lid tells you sooner.
**Store it the way New York expects.** At home, OCM's advice is to keep cannabis locked, out of sight, and out of reach of children and pets. In a car, cannabis should be securely stored in a closed container: New York allows no open containers of cannabis in a vehicle, and neither the driver nor passengers can open the packaging.
## What does old flower look like?
Flower stored badly goes dry, pale and dusty, and the aroma flattens into something grassy. The smoke gets harsh because you are burning brittle plant matter rather than a well-cured bud.
Chemically, a few things are happening at once. Terpenes fade fastest: in the 2020 study, average terpene levels fell by more than half within four months at every temperature tested. THC slowly oxidizes into CBN, which researchers use as a marker of aging cannabis. That is why old flower is not simply weaker; its chemistry has changed.
Dry, dull flower is a quality problem. Visible mold, a musty smell, or flower that was stored damp is a safety problem. When in doubt, do not smoke it.
## Where to start
Check the dates on what you bring home. New York labels must show an expiration date for the unopened product, and OCM's advice is to look at the use-by date once a package has been opened, because cannabis changes when it is exposed to air. Every product also carries a QR code to its lab results, and our guide to [reading a Certificate of Analysis](/learn/how-to-read-a-coa/) explains how to use it.
Then keep it sealed, dark, cool and locked, with a humidity pack if you decant into glass. That is the whole system, and it is worth more to your enjoyment than almost any other decision you make after you leave the store.
The [accessories shelf](/categories/accessories/) at both the [Fishkill](/dispensaries/new-york/dutchess-county/fishkill/) and [New Paltz](/dispensaries/new-york/ulster-county/new-paltz/) stores carries jars, grinders and humidity packs, and the [flower menu](/categories/flower/) shows what is in stock. If you want to talk through what suits how much you actually keep on hand, Ask Our Team. New to all of this? Our guide to [your first dispensary visit](/learn/first-dispensary-visit-new-york/) covers what to expect before you arrive.
### Frequently asked questions
**Q: How long does cannabis flower stay fresh?**
A: The aroma goes first. In a 2020 lab study, average terpene levels in stored flower fell by more than half within four months at every temperature tested, while a 1976 study found cannabinoids reasonably stable for 1 to 2 years when cannabis was kept in the dark at room temperature. Check the expiration date on the label, and the use-by date once it is open.
**Q: What humidity should cannabis flower be kept at?**
A: Between 55 and 65 percent relative humidity. ASTM International's storage standard for dry cannabis flower uses that range because below it flower turns brittle and breaks in handling, and above it mold can grow. A two-way humidity pack designed for that range, sized to a sealed jar, holds it without you thinking about it.
**Q: Should I keep cannabis in the fridge or freezer?**
A: A fridge can work. In a 2020 lab study, whole flower stored in the dark at 4°C (39°F) kept its cannabinoids and terpenes closest to the original, while the two coldest settings tested, -30°C and -80°C, were harder on some terpenes. At home the risk is moisture, so keep the jar sealed and let it reach room temperature before opening.
**Q: Is a glass jar better than the bag it came in?**
A: Yes, for anything you plan to keep. An airtight glass jar keeps air out, does not hold odor between uses, and can be washed. If you move flower out of its original package, keep the label with it and keep the jar in a locked box, since the label carries the warnings and batch details.
**Q: Does storing cannabis in the dark actually matter?**
A: Yes, more than anything else. In a classic 1976 study of stored cannabis, exposure to light was the greatest single factor in the loss of cannabinoids, and air oxidation also caused significant losses. A clear jar on a sunny shelf is an easy way to waste good flower, so keep it in a cupboard, drawer, or closed box.
**Q: Can I store different strains in the same jar?**
A: You can, but their aromas start to mix and you lose what made each one distinct. Separate jars, or separate sealed containers inside one locked box, keep each terpene profile intact and make it easy to tell which label goes with which flower.
---
## Indica vs. Sativa vs. Hybrid
Canonical URL: https://farmerschoicedispensary.com/learn/indica-sativa-hybrid/
Last updated: 2026-09-15
Short answer: Indica, sativa, and hybrid are traditional cannabis labels. Indica is associated with relaxing, evening strains, sativa with energizing, daytime strains, and hybrids with a blend of both. A 2022 study of 89,923 lab-tested flower samples found the labels do not reliably match a strain's chemistry, so use them as a first filter, then compare terpenes.
Indica vs sativa vs hybrid is the first choice most cannabis menus ask you to make. Indica is traditionally linked with relaxing, evening strains, sativa with energizing, daytime strains, and hybrid with a blend of the two, but a 2022 study of 89,923 lab-tested flower samples found the labels do not reliably match a strain's chemistry. You will see those three words on almost every label, and most menus, including ours, are built around them. Here is what each one usually means, where the shorthand breaks down, and how to use it to actually find something you like.
## What do indica, sativa, and hybrid mean?
**Indica** is associated with relaxing, body-heavy, wind-down strains. The old memory hook is "in-da-couch," and it is a common evening choice for people who want to slow down. **Sativa** is associated with uplifting, more cerebral strains, which is why people reach for it during the day, before something creative, or in social settings. **Hybrid** is a cross of the two, usually described as indica-dominant, sativa-dominant, or balanced, depending on which side of the family tree it leans toward.
For a lot of shoppers this shorthand is a genuinely useful starting point, and it is how most menus, including the live menus for our [Fishkill](/dispensaries/new-york/dutchess-county/fishkill/menu/) and [New Paltz](/dispensaries/new-york/ulster-county/new-paltz/menu/) stores, are organized. If you remember nothing else, "indica for night, sativa for day, hybrid for somewhere in between" will still point you in a reasonable direction.
## Indica, sativa, and hybrid at a glance
- **Indica**: traditionally tied to relaxing, physical, mellow strains. Often chosen for evenings, downtime, and winding down.
- **Sativa**: traditionally tied to bright, heady, energetic strains. Often chosen for daytime and for being social.
- **Hybrid**: a blend of both, tuned toward one side or balanced in the middle. A sensible default when you want flexibility rather than a strong lean in either direction.
Think of that list as a map, not a promise. The next section is the part most people never hear.
## Are indica and sativa labels accurate?
Only loosely. The name on the jar tells you less than most shoppers assume. What you actually feel comes largely from a strain's chemistry: the mix of cannabinoids it carries, led by THC, which the National Institutes of Health describes as primarily responsible for how cannabis affects your mental state, together with the terpenes that shape aroma and character.
The best evidence on this comes from a 2022 study published in PLOS One, which analyzed 89,923 lab-tested flower samples from six US states. Samples labeled indica, hybrid, and sativa were highly intermingled by terpene profile, and the authors concluded that the labels do not reliably distinguish samples by their chemical content. Grouping the same samples by their dominant terpenes captured the real differences far better than the commercial labels did.
That is why two strains both labeled indica can smell and feel quite different from one another, and why the same strain can affect two people differently depending on their tolerance, the amount they take, and the setting they are in. The label is a category, not a prediction. The researchers behind that study sorted flower by its chemical profile rather than the indica or sativa bucket, and it is worth shopping the same way.
## Terpenes, the next level
Terpenes are the aromatic compounds that give each strain its smell, and New York requires every final cannabis product to be tested for them. You do not need to memorize them, but a few names show up again and again, and the state's own guide to lab reports pairs several of them with familiar scents:
- **Myrcene**: earthy and musky, common in strains described as relaxing. Along with caryophyllene and limonene, it was present at the highest average levels in the 2022 study.
- **Limonene**: bright and citrusy.
- **Pinene**: sharp and piney, often described as clear and fresh.
- **Linalool**: floral, the scent New York's guide pairs with lavender.
- **Caryophyllene**: peppery and spicy, the black pepper note in many popular strains.
Every regulated product label in New York carries a QR code or link to its certificate of analysis, where the terpene results live, and that list can tell you more about what to expect than the indica or sativa label on its own. Our [terpenes guide](/learn/terpenes-guide/) goes deeper, and our [guide to reading a COA](/learn/how-to-read-a-coa/) shows where to find the numbers.
Use indica, sativa, and hybrid as a first filter, then look one level deeper at
the terpenes and ask a budtender. That is how you find what actually works for
you.
## How this shows up on our menu
Our online menus sort products into indica, sativa, and hybrid so you can browse the way most people already think, and the [flower menu](/categories/flower/) is the easiest place to compare them side by side. Once you are in the store, that is where our Farm Hands earn their keep: tell us how you want to feel and when, and we will look past the top-level label to the aroma and the terpene profile to narrow things down. We have this conversation every day, and there are no wrong questions.
## How should you choose between indica, sativa, and hybrid?
Start with the experience you want, whether that is relaxed, social, or up and about, and the time of day you plan to enjoy it. Use the indica, sativa, or hybrid label as a filter rather than a guarantee. Read the terpenes on the certificate of analysis, since that is where the real chemical differences show up. Go slow with anything new, which is the New York Office of Cannabis Management's own advice: start low and go slow, especially with a format or strain you have not tried before, and give it time before deciding it is not for you. And when in doubt, Ask Our Team. Matching strains to how people describe wanting to feel is the most common conversation we have at the counter.
### Frequently asked questions
**Q: Is indica or sativa better for the evening?**
A: Indica is the label traditionally linked with relaxing, evening strains, so many shoppers look there first for a night in. It is only a rough guide: a 2022 study of 89,923 lab-tested flower samples found indica, sativa, and hybrid labels do not reliably match a strain's chemistry, so ask about the terpene profile too.
**Q: Is sativa a good daytime choice?**
A: Sativa is the label traditionally linked with uplifting, daytime strains, which is why many menus point daytime shoppers there. Individual response varies, and the label does not reliably predict a strain's chemistry, so the same strain can land differently for two people. Start with a small amount when you try something new.
**Q: What does hybrid mean?**
A: A hybrid is a cross between indica and sativa genetics. Hybrids are often described as indica-dominant, sativa-dominant, or balanced, and they are bred to combine traits from both sides of the family tree.
**Q: Are the indica and sativa labels scientifically accurate?**
A: Only loosely. A 2022 study in PLOS One analyzed 89,923 lab-tested flower samples from six US states and found that indica, hybrid, and sativa labels do not reliably distinguish samples by their chemical content. The mix of cannabinoids and terpenes in a specific batch tells you more than the name on the jar.
**Q: What are terpenes and why do they matter?**
A: Terpenes are the aromatic compounds that give each strain its smell, such as citrus from limonene, pine from pinene, lavender from linalool, and black pepper from caryophyllene. New York tests every licensed cannabis product for them, so reading the terpene list on the Certificate of Analysis can tell you more than the indica or sativa label.
**Q: How should a beginner choose a strain?**
A: Start with how you want to feel and the time of day, use the indica, sativa, or hybrid label as a first filter, then ask a budtender to narrow it down by aroma and terpenes. The New York Office of Cannabis Management's advice for anything new is to start low and go slow, so begin with a small amount.
---
## Indoor vs Outdoor Cannabis: Greenhouse and Sun-Grown Flower Explained
Canonical URL: https://farmerschoicedispensary.com/learn/indoor-vs-outdoor-cannabis/
Last updated: 2026-09-28
Short answer: Indoor vs outdoor cannabis describes where the plant grew, not how good it is. Indoor flower is raised in a climate-controlled room under artificial light, greenhouse flower gets sunlight plus lamps under a roof, and outdoor or sun-grown flower grows under natural sunlight and weather. New York licenses all three, and neither is better as a fact. Sun-grown flower is harvested once a year, in the fall.
Indoor vs outdoor cannabis is a question about where the plant grew, not a ranking. Indoor flower comes from a climate-controlled room lit entirely by lamps, greenhouse or mixed light flower gets sunlight plus supplemental lighting under a roof, and outdoor or sun-grown flower grows under natural sunlight and weather. New York's Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) licenses all three ways of growing, and none of them is better by definition.
The reason this guide publishes in September is the calendar. Cannabis grown outdoors in New York flowers as the nights lengthen through the summer and comes in during the fall, so sun-grown jars are about to be at their youngest. Here is how the three methods differ, what the differences do and do not mean, and what a New York label will and will not tell you.
## What is the difference between indoor, greenhouse and outdoor cannabis?
New York's adult-use regulations define each one. Indoor cultivation is the cultivation of cannabis within an indoor climate-controlled structure using only artificial light, heat, carbon dioxide generators and dehumidification. Mixed light is cultivation of mature cannabis in a greenhouse, a hoop house with cultivation lights, a glasshouse or a similar structure, using a combination of sunlight and lighting. Outdoor cultivation is the cultivation of mature cannabis under natural sunlight and weather conditions.
Those definitions matter in New York because a cultivator license authorizes exactly one type of growing: indoor, mixed light, outdoor, or a combination of outdoor with mixed light. A farm chooses its method when it applies, and its canopy size tier goes with it. On a menu, sun-grown is the everyday word for outdoor, and greenhouse usually means a mixed light grow.
## How does each growing method work?
Cannabis is, in general, a short-day plant. Researchers at Cornell University's hemp breeding program in Geneva, New York, describe Cannabis sativa as usually flowering once the night reaches a critical length, with the exact threshold varying by cultivar. Everything about the three growing methods follows from that fact.
**Indoor.** The grower controls the light schedule. A 2023 University of Guelph study of ten drug-type cultivars describes the standard routine: plants are kept growing under long days of 16 hours of light or more, then switched to a 12-hour day to trigger flowering, a schedule the authors say the vast majority of indoor cultivators use. Because the room, not the season, decides when a plant flowers, an indoor farm can harvest all year and run several cultivars on the same cycle. The same study notes the trade: indoor growing has higher infrastructure and energy costs than outdoor or greenhouse production, in exchange for complete control of the environment and consistent production cycles.
**Greenhouse or mixed light.** The sun does most of the work and lamps fill in on short or dark days. New York's definition requires the lighting to meet the state's efficiency standard for the mixed light tier, and the structure itself, a greenhouse with rigid walls or a hoop house with a fabric cover, sits somewhere between a field and a sealed room in how much weather reaches the plants.
**Outdoor.** The plant follows the sun. In Cornell's New York field trials of hemp, which is the same plant species under a different legal definition, plants set out in June began flowering anywhere from July to early September depending on the cultivar, and in a 2020 trial they were harvested about five weeks after their first flower clusters formed. That is the New York outdoor calendar in outline: planted after the spring frosts, flowering through the summer, harvested in the fall.
## Why does New York's outdoor harvest land in the fall?
Because the plant reads the season from the length of the night. In Cornell's New York trials, flowering began anywhere from July to early September depending on the cultivar, and the flowers then needed weeks to mature: the 2020 trial harvested about five weeks after the first flower clusters formed. Add the drying and grading steps that New York's regulations count as part of cultivation, and the lab testing every product must pass before it can be sold, and sun-grown flower reaches dispensary shelves in the weeks after harvest.
Indoor rooms have no such season, so indoor flower shows up in a steady stream all year. Mixed light sits between the two. If you like sun-grown flower, autumn is when the choice is widest and the batches are youngest, and the collection date on the lab report tells you how young.
## How do indoor and outdoor flower tend to look and smell?
The honest answer is that it depends on the farm and the cultivar more than the method, and the science is young. A 2023 study in the journal Molecules compared genetically identical plants of two cultivars, grown indoors under artificial light in an artificial medium and outdoors in living soil under the sun, and found the two environments produced measurably different chemistry. The outdoor samples were more pungent and carried more of the heavier aromatic compounds called sesquiterpenes, including caryophyllene and humulene, the peppery and woody notes. It was a small study, three samples per group, and two of its authors come from California farms, one of which sells sun-grown cannabis, so read it as a sign that growing conditions shape the jar, not as a rule about which jar wins.
On the shelf, the method is harder to see than people expect: the same study found the indoor and outdoor flowers similar in shape and color. None of that is a quality verdict. A well-run outdoor farm and a well-run indoor room both produce flower that passes the same New York safety screening, and our [terpenes guide](/learn/terpenes-guide/) is a better tool for predicting what a jar will smell like than the growing method on its own.
## What does a New York label tell you about how flower was grown?
Less than you might expect. New York's packaging and labeling rules do not require a producer to state whether flower was grown indoors, in a greenhouse or outdoors. The label must name the processor that made the product, with its license number and contact details, and it may name the cultivator that grew the flower, but that second line is optional. So when a package says indoor or sun-grown, it is a claim the brand chose to make, and the rules say packaging cannot contain false or misleading statements.
Two words are policed more tightly. A label may not use the word craft unless OCM has designated the processor as processing a craft product, and the regulations define craft products to include flower or a pre-roll that is hang-dried, processed and manufactured exclusively by a Tier 1 cultivator using only its own cannabis, or by a licensed microbusiness. A label may not use the word organic unless the product's ingredients are at least 70 percent certified organic and the term is used in line with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's rules, though OCM notes that this does not stop a farm from growing with organic practices.
What every New York label does carry is a lot number and a code to the Certificate of Analysis. New York tests every cannabis product for terpenes, so the report shows the aroma profile of that specific batch, and its collection date tells you when the sample was taken. Our [guide to reading a Certificate of Analysis](/learn/how-to-read-a-coa/) walks through it.
## Is indoor or outdoor cannabis better?
Neither, as a fact. Both go through the same New York testing for pesticides, heavy metals, microbes, moisture and terpenes before they can be sold, and both have to be accurately labeled. The differences are real, but they are trade-offs rather than a ranking:
- **Consistency.** Indoor rooms deliver the same conditions every cycle, which the Guelph researchers describe as consistent production in length, yield and quality. Sun-grown flower varies with the year.
- **Season.** Indoor arrives all year. Sun-grown arrives in the fall and is youngest then.
- **Energy.** Indoor growing depends on artificial light and climate control, which is where its higher energy use comes from. Greenhouses borrow most of their light from the sun, and outdoor farms borrow all of it.
- **Character.** Growing conditions change the chemistry, as the Molecules study found, but which profile you prefer is a matter of taste.
The useful comparison is between two specific jars: the terpene lists on their lab reports, their collection dates, and how they smell when a Farm Hand opens them. Whichever you choose, keep it sealed, cool and dark at home, because our [guide to storing flower](/learn/how-to-store-flower/) shows that aroma is the first thing poor storage takes away.
## Shopping for it at Farmers Choice
The [flower menu](/categories/flower/) is live for both stores and shows what is on the wall right now. The jars come from licensed New York farms, so ask a Farm Hand which of them grow outdoors, under glass or indoors and what has come in from this year's harvest. Explore Your Options on the [Fishkill menu](/dispensaries/new-york/dutchess-county/fishkill/menu/) or at the [New Paltz barn](/dispensaries/new-york/ulster-county/new-paltz/), and bring a valid government-issued photo ID showing you are 21 or older.
### Frequently asked questions
**Q: Is sun-grown cannabis the same as outdoor cannabis?**
A: Yes. Sun-grown is the menu word for flower raised under natural sunlight and weather, which New York's regulations call outdoor cultivation. Greenhouse flower is different: New York calls it mixed light, because it combines sunlight with cultivation lamps under a roof, and a New York cultivator license authorizes one growing type: indoor, mixed light, outdoor, or outdoor combined with mixed light.
**Q: Does a New York cannabis label have to say indoor or outdoor?**
A: No. New York's packaging rules require the processor's name and license number, an ingredient list, a lot number and a code to the lab results, and they allow but do not require the cultivator's name. A growing method printed on the package is the brand's own claim, and the rules say labels cannot be false or misleading.
**Q: When is outdoor cannabis harvested in New York?**
A: In the fall. Cannabis generally flowers once nights reach a critical length, which varies by cultivar. In Cornell University's hemp field trials in New York, plants set out in June began flowering between July and early September, and a 2020 trial was harvested about five weeks after the first flower clusters formed. Sun-grown flower reaches dispensaries after harvest, once it has been dried and lab tested.
**Q: Does greenhouse cannabis count as indoor?**
A: Not in New York. The state's regulations define indoor cultivation as growing in a climate-controlled structure using only artificial light, while a greenhouse, hoop house or glasshouse that combines sunlight with lamps is mixed light cultivation, a separate growing type under the cultivator license. Ask a Farm Hand whether a jar's farm grows under glass or in a sealed room.
**Q: Does outdoor cannabis smell different from indoor?**
A: It can. A 2023 study in the journal Molecules compared genetically identical plants grown indoors and outdoors and found the outdoor samples more pungent, with more of the heavier aromatic compounds called sesquiterpenes. It was a small study, and two of its authors come from California cannabis farms. The terpene results on a batch's lab report tell you more than the growing method does.
**Q: What does craft mean on a New York cannabis label?**
A: It is a protected term. New York's regulations define craft products to include flower or a pre-roll that is hang-dried, processed and manufactured exclusively by a Tier 1 cultivator using only cannabis it grew, or by a licensed microbusiness, and a label may not use the word unless the Office of Cannabis Management has designated the processor as processing a craft product.
---
## New York Cannabis Laws in 2026
Canonical URL: https://farmerschoicedispensary.com/learn/new-york-cannabis-laws/
Last updated: 2026-09-15
Short answer: New York cannabis laws let adults 21 and older possess up to 3 ounces of cannabis and 24 grams of concentrated cannabis, keep up to five pounds at home, and buy from dispensaries licensed by the Office of Cannabis Management. Using cannabis in a vehicle, driving under the influence, and crossing state lines with cannabis are all illegal.
New York cannabis laws allow adults 21 and older to possess up to 3 ounces of cannabis and 24 grams of concentrated cannabis, and to buy it from dispensaries licensed by the state's Office of Cannabis Management. The same laws ban using cannabis in a vehicle, driving under its influence, and carrying it across state lines.
New York legalized adult-use cannabis on March 31, 2021, and the state's list of licensed adult-use dispensaries now runs to hundreds of stores. What follows is a plain-language summary, not legal advice. The New York State Office of Cannabis Management, usually shortened to OCM, publishes the current rules and is the authority to check whenever something changes.
## The short version
Adults 21 and older can legally buy, carry, and consume cannabis in New York. Purchases have to come from a retailer licensed by OCM. The state caps how much you can carry and how much you can keep at home, and it restricts where consumption is allowed. Driving under the influence is illegal, selling to anyone under 21 is illegal, and taking cannabis across a state line is illegal no matter what the neighboring state permits.
Everything else is detail, and the detail is where most people have questions.
## Who can buy cannabis in New York?
Anyone 21 and older with valid ID. OCM's list of valid identification runs to several forms: a driver's license or non-driver ID card, whether New York issued it, another U.S. state did, or a Canadian province did; a passport, from the United States or any other country; IDNYC; and U.S. military ID. You do not need a medical card, you do not need to be a New York resident, and you do not need an appointment.
Expect your ID to be checked at the door and again at the counter. That is not a store being difficult with you. New York's regulations require licensed stores to limit access to adults 21 and older and to check ID before any sale, and OCM warns that dispensaries can lose their license or face other significant penalties for selling to anyone under 21. If a shop waves you through without looking closely, that tells you something about the shop.
Our full walkthrough of what a first visit looks like is in [your first dispensary visit in New York](/learn/first-dispensary-visit-new-york/).
## How much cannabis can you have in New York?
Adults 21 and older can possess up to 3 ounces of cannabis and up to 24 grams of concentrated cannabis, such as vape oil or edibles. At home, you can keep up to five pounds of cannabis at your private residence or on its grounds, as long as you take reasonable steps to keep it secured and out of reach of anyone under 21. The same numbers govern buying: Penal Law article 222 makes purchasing up to those amounts lawful, and a licensed store cannot knowingly sell you more than you can legally possess.
In practice most shoppers never come close. Licensed stores have to post the possession and purchase limits inside, and the staff will flag it if an order runs up against a cap before it becomes your problem. Because rules can be updated, OCM's own pages are the place to confirm the current numbers.
## Where can you consume cannabis in New York?
The rule of thumb from OCM is that adults can consume cannabis in a private home or in most places where smoking tobacco is allowed, with real exceptions that catch people out.
Not allowed: in a vehicle, whether it is moving or parked. In a private business, such as a restaurant patio, or in a hookah or cigar bar. Inside a licensed store, including ours. On federal land, including national parks and national forests. In New York State Parks, where state law bans smoking cannabis and tobacco. And anywhere smoking tobacco is prohibited.
Property owners can add their own rules on top. Landlords, property owners, rental companies, and hotels can all ban smoking or vaping cannabis on their premises, which covers a lot of rentals and many hotel rooms. When you are somewhere unfamiliar, the safe assumption is a private residence where the owner is fine with it.
## Licensed versus unlicensed, and why it matters
This is the part of New York cannabis law that affects shoppers most and gets explained least.
Unlicensed sellers still exist, and some look convincing, with polished signage and long menus. OCM's warning is that an unregulated product may never have been lab tested, whatever its label says, and that the potency printed on it can be completely wrong. A license is what gets you mandatory lab testing on every product, accurate labeling, sales tracked in the state's inventory system, a recall process if something is wrong, and a regulator you can report problems to.
Four ways to tell the difference:
**Scan the verification placard.** Every licensed dispensary in New York must post OCM's Dispensary Verification Tool near its main entrance. Scanning its QR code with a phone camera opens OCM's list of licensed adult-use dispensaries. It is the quickest check available, and you can do it from the sidewalk before you go in.
**Look for the license.** New York requires every licensed dispensary to post its adult-use retail license inside the store, in a spot where customers can see it. Ours are OCM-RETL-24-000045 in Fishkill and OCM-RETL-24-000119 in New Paltz.
**Check the state list.** OCM publishes the licensed adult-use dispensaries on its Dispensary Location Verification page, and both Farmers Choice stores are on it. If a shop selling adult-use cannabis is not on that list, ask why before you buy anything.
**Check the lab paperwork.** Every legal product must pass lab testing before it is sold, and its label must carry a QR code or link to its Certificate of Analysis. Our guide to [reading a Certificate of Analysis](/learn/how-to-read-a-coa/) covers what the numbers mean. A product with no lab report behind it did not come through the legal supply chain.
One more check happens on the package itself. Every regulated adult-use product sold in New York carries the state's universal symbol, which OCM describes as designating it a tested, regulated product. A package without that symbol is not a regulated adult-use product.
## Driving, travel, and the federal line
Driving under the influence of cannabis is illegal in New York, and OCM's fact sheet says you can be charged with a DUI and face the same penalties as driving drunk. Carry what you buy closed and packaged. An open container of cannabis is not allowed in a vehicle in New York, and the packaging stays shut on the way whether the driver or a passenger is the one holding it.
Crossing a state line is the other hard limit. Leaving or coming into New York with any cannabis product is against the law, because cannabis is still illegal under federal law, and that holds even when your destination allows adult use. The same federal line means you cannot consume cannabis on federal land, including national parks and national forests.
## What this looks like at our stores
We hold adult-use retail licenses for both locations and operate under the rules above, which mostly shows up as ordinary friction you barely notice: ID at the door, ID at the counter, lab paperwork available for anything you ask about, and staff who will tell you plainly when the answer is no.
You can browse the shelves for either store online and pick up in person at [Fishkill](/dispensaries/new-york/dutchess-county/fishkill/) or [New Paltz](/dispensaries/new-york/ulster-county/new-paltz/). If something in this guide raises a question about a specific product or a specific rule, Ask Our Team. Getting it right is the job.
For the wider picture of legal cannabis across the state, see our [New York dispensary guide](/dispensaries/new-york/).
### Frequently asked questions
**Q: Is weed legal in New York?**
A: Yes. New York legalized adult-use cannabis on March 31, 2021. Adults 21 and older can possess up to 3 ounces of cannabis and 24 grams of concentrated cannabis, and can buy from retailers licensed by the Office of Cannabis Management. Limits on where you can consume, on driving, and on crossing state lines all sit inside that basic yes.
**Q: Do I need a medical card to buy cannabis in New York?**
A: No. Adult-use dispensaries serve anyone 21 and older with valid photo ID, and the Office of Cannabis Management's list of valid ID includes out-of-state driver's licenses and passports from any country. New York still runs a separate medical cannabis program with its own rules, but you do not need any part of it to shop at an adult-use store.
**Q: How can I tell if a New York cannabis shop is licensed?**
A: Look for the Dispensary Verification Tool, which every licensed dispensary must post near its main entrance, and scan its QR code to open the state's list of licensed adult-use dispensaries. Inside, the store's license has to be posted, and every product should carry the New York universal symbol and a QR code or link to its lab results. Missing any of those is a warning sign.
**Q: Can I smoke cannabis in my car in New York?**
A: No. It is illegal to use cannabis in a vehicle, and illegal for the driver or any passenger to smoke in one, moving or parked. You can carry cannabis in a car within the legal limits, but New York allows no open containers, so keep it closed in its packaging. Driving under the influence of cannabis carries the same penalties as driving drunk.
**Q: Can I bring cannabis I bought in New York to another state?**
A: No. The Office of Cannabis Management is plain about it: leaving or coming into the state with any cannabis product is against the law, because cannabis is still illegal under federal law. That holds even when the other state allows adult use, so buy what you plan to use while you are here.
**Q: How much cannabis can you keep at home in New York?**
A: Up to five pounds of cannabis at your private residence or on its grounds. New York law expects you to take reasonable steps to keep it in a secured place that no one under 21 can get to, and the Office of Cannabis Management's safe storage advice is to keep it locked up and out of reach of children and pets.
---
## Pre-Rolls Explained: Sizes, Packs, and What's Inside
Canonical URL: https://farmerschoicedispensary.com/learn/pre-rolls-explained/
Last updated: 2026-09-21
Short answer: A pre-roll is cannabis flower that a licensed New York producer has ground and rolled into a joint, sold as a single or in a multi-pack. New York's rules limit what goes inside to cannabis, concentrate, terpenes, paper, filter tips and approved inactive ingredients, every batch is lab tested, and the label carries the net weight, the ingredients, an expiration date and a QR code to the lab results.
A pre-roll is cannabis flower that a licensed producer has already ground and rolled into a joint, so what you buy at a New York dispensary is ready the moment you open the tube. It is the same lab-tested flower that sits in the jars, sold as a single or as a multi-pack, with a label that tells you the weight, the ingredients and where to find the lab results.
Both Farmers Choice stores carry pre-rolls from licensed New York producers. Here is what is inside the paper, what the words on the package mean, and how to pick one.
## What is a pre-roll?
New York's adult-use regulations group pre-rolls with flower. The Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) lists cannabis flower products as whole flower, ground flower, shake and pre-rolls, and a licensed processor is the business that makes them. The difference between a pre-roll and a jar of flower is the work: the grinding, rolling and packing happen at the processor, and the roll arrives in a tube, a box or a tin.
The rules are strict about what can go in. Unless OCM approves something else, a cannabis product meant to be inhaled may contain only cannabis, cannabis concentrate, terpenes, rolling paper, pre-roll filter tips and inactive ingredients the U.S. Food and Drug Administration permits for inhalation. There is no tobacco in a licensed New York pre-roll and no undisclosed filler, and New York's packaging rules require every ingredient to appear on the label, even for a single-ingredient product such as whole flower.
If you already shop the [flower menu](/categories/flower/), think of the [pre-roll case](/categories/pre-rolls/) as the same shelf in a different format.
## What is inside a pre-roll: whole flower or shake?
Either, and the label says which. Some producers grind whole buds for their pre-rolls. Others use shake, the smaller pieces of flower left over when buds are handled and trimmed, or a blend of the two. OCM's regulations name whole flower, ground flower and shake as flower products in their own right, so none of them is off limits, and a pre-roll made from shake is still a licensed, tested product.
What matters more than the word is what the lab found. In New York, every form of cannabis product, pre-rolls included, has to pass lab testing before it can be sold, and the sample the lab tests is the finished pre-roll, listed on the Certificate of Analysis under sample type. That means the results describe the flower inside the paper, not a jar it may have started in. New York also holds pre-rolls to a moisture and water activity limit, and it tests every cannabis product for terpenes, which is the part of the report that tells you how it will smell.
The label typically lists the cultivar, or strain, inside as well. If the indica, sativa and hybrid words on the tube mean little to you yet, our [guide to indica, sativa and hybrid](/learn/indica-sativa-hybrid/) explains what they do and do not tell you, and why the terpene list on the lab report says more.
## Singles, multi-packs and sizes
Pre-rolls come two ways: a single roll in its own tube, or a multi-pack of several rolls in a box or tin. Singles let you try one cultivar at a time. A multi-pack is the sensible buy once you know a variety you like, and a tin keeps the rolls protected.
Size is a matter of weight, and in New York it is printed on the front of the package as the net quantity. Singles and multi-packs come in different weights, and a multi-pack often bundles several smaller rolls, so read the net quantity to compare them. The front panel also carries the brand name and the total THC as a percentage, which is how New York labels potency on inhaled products. Read that percentage as one input rather than a scoreboard. OCM's consumer guidance says the key to understanding how cannabis might affect you is understanding potencies, terpene combinations and product forms together, and it points shoppers to the cultivar name and the type of extract used as well as the number.
## What does infused mean on a pre-roll label?
An infused pre-roll is flower with a concentrate added: kief dusted through it, hash or resin worked in, or diamonds coated on the outside. OCM calls these mixed matrix products, because they combine unextracted cannabis with extracted cannabis, and it lists pre-rolls infused with resin, flower dusted with kief and pre-rolls coated with diamonds as examples. The label has to list every ingredient in descending order by weight. If a solvent was used to make the concentrate, it has to be listed too, and New York requires infused pre-rolls to be tested for residual solvents on top of the usual screening.
The practical point is simple: an infused roll usually tests higher in THC than the same flower on its own, so it is not the place to start. Begin with a standard single, learn what you like, and come back to infused rolls later.
## How to read a pre-roll label
New York's packaging rules put specific information in specific places, so a pre-roll label reads the same way from brand to brand.
**The front panel.** The panel meant to face you on the shelf carries the brand name, the net quantity and the total THC as a percentage.
**The rest of the package.** Somewhere on the outer layer you will find the full ingredient list, the expiration date of the unopened product, a lot number or bar code, the storage conditions, the name, location, license number and contact details of the processor that made it, and a scannable code that links to the lab results. Every package also carries New York's universal symbol, the warnings the state requires, and one of a set of rotating health warnings.
**The dates.** OCM's advice is to check the expiration date if the package is still sealed and any use-by date once it has been opened, because cannabis changes when it is exposed to air. A pre-roll that has sat open in a drawer for a season is not the product the lab tested.
New York prohibits health claims of any kind on cannabis packaging, and a label cannot be false or misleading. A pre-roll sold as a fix for anything, or a package with no lot number and no code to the lab report, is not a compliant New York product.
## How do you find the lab results for a pre-roll?
Start with the scannable code on the tube or box. Every product sold at a licensed New York dispensary has to carry a QR code or a link, and following it lands you either on the Certificate of Analysis itself or on a page that leads to it. The report names the processor and its license number, the lot number that should match your package, the sample type, and the dates the sample was collected and the results were reported.
Read three sections: the cannabinoid results, the terpene results, and the safety screening for heavy metals, pesticides and microbial contaminants, which should each read PASS. OCM says a product bought at a regulated dispensary should never show a FAILED result. Our [guide to reading a Certificate of Analysis](/learn/how-to-read-a-coa/) walks through the whole document, and a Farm Hand can pull the report up at the counter if you ask.
## How to store pre-rolls
Keep pre-rolls in the package they came in. OCM's safe storage advice is to keep cannabis in its original, child-resistant packaging, which carries the warnings and key details, and to store it locked, out of sight and out of reach of children and pets. OCM's packaging guidance allows clear tubes for flower and pre-rolls, but it also tells stores to keep those products out of direct sunlight, and the same applies at home: a windowsill is the worst shelf in the house for them. Cool, dark and sealed is the whole recipe, and our [guide to storing flower](/learn/how-to-store-flower/) explains why light and air do the most damage.
In the car, everything stays sealed: New York allows no open containers of cannabis in a vehicle, and nobody inside it, driver or passenger, may open the packaging.
## Choosing a first pre-roll
Ask a Farm Hand. Tell them whether you have tried cannabis before, which aromas you have liked and whether you want one roll or a few, and they will show you what is in stock. For a first pre-roll, a standard single made from a cultivar you like the smell of is the usual advice, and OCM's guidance for anyone new to cannabis is to start low and go slow.
The [pre-roll menu](/categories/pre-rolls/) is live, so it shows what is in stock now. Order Now from the [New Paltz menu](/dispensaries/new-york/ulster-county/new-paltz/menu/) or come by the [Fishkill farm stand](/dispensaries/new-york/dutchess-county/fishkill/), bring a valid government-issued photo ID showing you are 21 or older, and ask to see the lab report on anything that catches your eye.
### Frequently asked questions
**Q: What is inside a pre-roll from a New York dispensary?**
A: Cannabis flower, and nothing that is not on the label. New York's adult-use rules let an inhaled product contain only cannabis, cannabis concentrate, terpenes, rolling paper, pre-roll filter tips and inactive ingredients the FDA permits for inhalation, and the label must list every ingredient. Some producers grind whole buds, others use shake or a blend, and the lab tests the finished roll.
**Q: How can I tell if a pre-roll is infused?**
A: Read the ingredient list on the package. An infused pre-roll combines flower with a concentrate such as kief, hash, resin or diamonds, and New York requires every ingredient to be listed in descending order by weight, along with any solvent used to make the concentrate. A Farm Hand can point out which rolls in stock are infused.
**Q: How do I find the lab results for a pre-roll?**
A: Scan the QR code or follow the link printed on the package. New York requires every product sold at a licensed dispensary to link to its Certificate of Analysis, which shows the cannabinoid and terpene results and the safety screening for the exact lot on your label. A Farm Hand can pull it up at the counter if the code is hard to read.
**Q: How long do pre-rolls stay fresh?**
A: Check the expiration date on the label, which New York requires for the unopened product. Once a package is open, the Office of Cannabis Management advises checking any use-by date, because cannabis changes when it is exposed to air. Kept sealed, dark and cool in its original package, a pre-roll holds up far better than one left loose in a drawer.
**Q: What size pre-roll should I buy first?**
A: A single. Size is printed on the front of the package as the net quantity, and a multi-pack often bundles several smaller rolls, so compare the weights before you choose. One roll of one cultivar lets you learn what you like before you commit to a pack, and a Farm Hand can suggest a standard, non-infused roll to begin with.
**Q: Can I keep a pre-roll in the tube it came in?**
A: Yes, and you should. The Office of Cannabis Management advises keeping cannabis in its original packaging, which is child resistant and carries the warnings, the lot number and the code to the lab results. Keep the tube sealed, out of direct sunlight, and locked away out of sight and out of reach of children and pets.
**Q: What does the THC percentage on a pre-roll label mean?**
A: It is the product's total THC stated as a percentage, which is how New York labels potency on inhaled products, and it sits on the front panel with the brand name and the net quantity. Read it as one input rather than the whole story. The Office of Cannabis Management points shoppers to the cultivar and the type of extract used as well.
---
## What Terpenes Are and Why They Matter
Canonical URL: https://farmerschoicedispensary.com/learn/terpenes-guide/
Last updated: 2026-09-15
Short answer: Cannabis terpenes are the aromatic compounds, such as myrcene, limonene, pinene, linalool, and caryophyllene, that give each strain its smell and flavor. Terpenes shape aroma, while THC is primarily responsible for how cannabis affects your mental state. New York requires every licensed cannabis product to be tested for terpenes, so scan the label's QR code for the Certificate of Analysis and compare profiles.
Cannabis terpenes are the aromatic compounds that give each strain its smell and flavor, from citrus and pine to lavender and black pepper. New York requires every licensed cannabis product to be tested for them, so a strain's terpene profile sits on its Certificate of Analysis, and learning the common ones gives you a better shopping tool than the THC percentage alone.
Walk into either store, open a jar, and the first thing that happens is not a number. It is a smell. Pine, or citrus peel, or something closer to diesel and black pepper. That smell is terpenes.
## What are cannabis terpenes?
Terpenes are aromatic compounds produced by plants. Cannabis makes a lot of them, in the same sticky resin glands that produce cannabinoids like THC. They are what your nose is reading when a strain smells like lemon cleaner or fresh soil.
They are not exclusive to cannabis. The New York Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) describes terpenes in its guide to lab reports as the compounds that provide the aroma of cannabis and a variety of other plants, and it pairs the common ones with familiar scents: limonene with citrus, pinene with pine, linalool with lavender, and caryophyllene with black pepper. Encountering them in a cannabis jar means you are smelling the same family of molecules found across the plant world.
What makes them worth learning is this: OCM's consumer guidance says terpenes and other cannabinoids contribute to the overall effect just as much as potency, which is one reason two strains with nearly identical lab numbers can feel like different products. The label tells you potency. The aroma tells you character.
## The ones you will actually see
You do not need to memorize a chemistry chart. New York's lab rules require testing for a set list of terpenes that includes myrcene, beta-caryophyllene, limonene, alpha-pinene, alpha-humulene, linalool, beta-pinene, terpinolene, and ocimene, and five of them cover most of what people talk about at the counter.
**Myrcene** is one of the most abundant terpenes in cannabis. In a 2022 study of 89,923 lab-tested flower samples from six US states, myrcene, beta-caryophyllene, and limonene were present at the highest average levels. Earthy, musky, a little like ripe fruit, it runs through a lot of strains people describe as heavy or relaxing.
**Limonene** is bright citrus. Lemon, orange peel, the top note in a cleaner. Strains that lead with limonene are often described as upbeat and are common in daytime recommendations.
**Caryophyllene** is peppery and warm, the black pepper note OCM uses to describe it, and one of the three terpenes present at the highest average levels in that 2022 study.
**Pinene** is exactly what it sounds like, sharp and fresh, like walking into a stand of pines. Frequently described as clear-headed.
**Linalool** is floral and soft, a lavender note. Often present in small amounts, and common in strains described as mellow.
Most strains carry several at once, and the ratio matters as much as the list. The 2022 study sorted THC-dominant flower into three main chemical types, led by caryophyllene and limonene, by myrcene and pinene, or by terpinolene and myrcene. A strain that is mostly myrcene with a touch of limonene will not smell or land like the reverse.
## How do you read a terpene profile?
Terpene results live on the same document as everything else: the Certificate of Analysis for that batch, which the label links to by QR code or link. Our [guide to reading a COA](/learn/how-to-read-a-coa/) walks through the whole document, but the terpene section is straightforward.
You will see a list of compound names with percentages by weight next to them. In the 2022 study, total terpene content averaged 2% by weight, and individual terpenes were rarely present at more than 0.5%, so the numbers look small next to cannabinoid figures. That is normal. What you are looking for is the ranking: which terpene is on top, and what sits under it.
In New York, terpene testing is not optional. OCM's testing rules require every final cannabis product, beverages included, to be tested for terpene content, so the COA for anything on a licensed shelf should include a terpene section. If the package itself does not list terpenes, the QR code is where to look, and your nose is a good second opinion.
## How do you shop by nose?
Here is the practical part. The industry spent years training people to shop by one number, and OCM's own guidance says a higher THC percentage does not necessarily mean a better experience. Two people can take the same strain and describe two different afternoons.
A better sequence looks like this. Tell a Farm Hand what kind of experience you are after and when you plan to have it. Ask what is fresh, because terpenes fade in storage: in a 2020 lab study, average terpene levels in stored flower fell by more than half within four months at every temperature tested. Then smell what they hand you. If it genuinely appeals to you, that is meaningful information, not a guess.
This is also why storage matters at home. Keep containers closed, cool, and dark, because the aroma is the first thing to go, and the aroma is the part you were shopping for. Our [guide to storing flower](/learn/how-to-store-flower/) covers the details.
## Where this connects
Terpene thinking pairs naturally with the [indica, sativa, and hybrid](/learn/indica-sativa-hybrid/) labels, and it is honestly the better tool of the two. The same 2022 study found that grouping flower by its dominant terpenes captured real chemical differences far better than the indica, hybrid, and sativa labels, which did not reliably distinguish samples by their chemistry.
If you are newer to all of this, the [first visit guide](/learn/first-dispensary-visit-new-york/) covers what happens at the counter. And when you are ready to look at what is in stock, both the [Fishkill](/dispensaries/new-york/dutchess-county/fishkill/) and [New Paltz](/dispensaries/new-york/ulster-county/new-paltz/) stores carry the same core range: browse [flower](/categories/flower/) or the full [shelf list](/categories/), and Ask Our Team to pull the paperwork on anything that catches your eye. They do it all day and nobody thinks it is a strange request.
### Frequently asked questions
**Q: What are terpenes in cannabis?**
A: Terpenes are the aromatic compounds that give a cannabis strain its smell and flavor. They are not unique to cannabis: New York's guide to lab reports describes them as providing the aroma of cannabis and many other plants, with limonene smelling like citrus, pinene like pine, and linalool like lavender. Every strain carries its own mix, which is a big part of why strains differ.
**Q: Do terpenes get you high?**
A: No. THC is the compound the National Institutes of Health describes as primarily responsible for how cannabis affects your mental state. Terpenes shape aroma and flavor, and New York's Office of Cannabis Management notes that terpenes and other cannabinoids contribute to the overall effect just as much as potency, which is why terpene profiles are worth comparing, not just THC numbers.
**Q: Which terpenes are linked with relaxed, evening strains?**
A: Myrcene and linalool are the two names that come up most often for strains described as relaxed or suited to the evening, and many menus lean on them that way. That is a description, not a promise. Individual response varies a lot, so read the label as a starting point and tell a Farm Hand what kind of evening you have in mind.
**Q: How do I find the terpene profile of a product?**
A: Scan the QR code or follow the link on the label to the Certificate of Analysis for that batch. New York requires every licensed cannabis product to be tested for terpene content, reported as a percentage by weight, and every label to link to its COA. Ask our team and they will pull the paperwork for anything on the shelf.
**Q: Can I choose a strain just by smelling it?**
A: Often, yes, and it is a better method than most people expect. Terpenes are the compounds that provide the aroma of cannabis, so a jar's smell is a direct read on its terpene mix. If a jar smells genuinely appealing to you, that is real information. Many regulars shop exactly this way.
---
## Your First Dispensary Visit in New York
Canonical URL: https://farmerschoicedispensary.com/learn/first-dispensary-visit-new-york/
Last updated: 2026-09-15
Short answer: A first dispensary visit in New York takes one thing: a valid government-issued photo ID showing you are 21 or older, such as a driver's license or passport. You do not need a medical card or an appointment. Staff check ID before you enter and again before you buy, and you cannot consume cannabis in the store.
For your first dispensary visit in New York, bring a valid government-issued photo ID that shows you are 21 or older; that is the only thing you need. Staff check it before you enter and again before you buy, a budtender helps you choose, and at Farmers Choice you can order online ahead of time and pay at pickup.
Walking into a dispensary for the first time can feel a little intimidating. It should not. New York's licensed stores are regulated shops, and the staff do this all day. Here is exactly how a visit to Farmers Choice works, start to finish, so you know what to expect before you go.
## What do you need to bring to a dispensary?
Bring a valid, government-issued photo ID that proves you are 21 or older. That is the only requirement. The list of valid ID published by New York's Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) includes a driver's license or non-driver ID card from any U.S. state or a Canadian province, a passport issued by the United States or any other country, IDNYC, and a U.S. military ID, so visitors from out of state are covered. The name and date of birth need to be readable. You do not need a medical card to shop at an adult-use dispensary, and you do not need an appointment. If you would rather skip the browsing, you can look over our menu online first and even place an order ahead of time.
## At the door
You will show your ID at check-in, every visit, even if you have been in before. New York's cannabis regulations require licensed stores to identify the people who come in so that access is limited to adults 21 and older, and staff also have to confirm your age before any sale, so keep your ID handy. That means anyone entering the store must be 21 or older, so plan for younger companions to wait outside.
## Browsing the menu
Once you are in, you can browse our live selection of flower, pre-rolls, vapes, edibles, tinctures, topicals, concentrates, accessories, and more. The person helping you is a budtender, and telling them a few things makes the whole visit easier: whether you are new to cannabis or experienced, the kind of experience you are after, the format you prefer, and roughly what you want to spend. There are no bad questions. Helping people find the right thing is the entire job, and nobody is going to rush or pressure you.
## What can you buy at a dispensary?
If you are not sure where to start, it helps to know the main categories. [Flower](/categories/flower/) is classic bud you grind and roll or pack. [Pre-rolls](/categories/pre-rolls/) are ready-to-go joints. Vaporizers heat oil or flower without burning it. [Edibles](/categories/edibles/) and drinks are swallowed. Tinctures are dosed with a dropper. Topicals go on your skin. Concentrates are potent extracts better suited to experienced users. You can read more about any of these on our [category pages](/categories/), and a budtender can point you to the right shelf in a sentence or two. If the indica, sativa, and hybrid labels are new to you, our [guide to those three labels](/learn/indica-sativa-hybrid/) explains what they do and do not tell you.
## Ordering and paying
At Farmers Choice you can order online ahead of time from the [Fishkill menu](/dispensaries/new-york/dutchess-county/fishkill/menu/) or the [New Paltz menu](/dispensaries/new-york/ulster-county/new-paltz/menu/) and pick up in store, or shop in person and decide at the counter. Either way, you pay at pickup. Most online orders are ready within the hour. Payment options vary from store to store and can change, so it is worth having a little cash the first time or calling ahead to confirm.
Know the rules. New York adults 21 and older can possess and buy up to 3 ounces
of cannabis and 24 grams of concentrated cannabis. You can't consume on the
premises, and you can't drive under the influence.
## What New York rules should first-time buyers know?
A few rules are worth carrying in your head. You must be 21 or older to buy, possess, or consume adult-use cannabis. Under New York law, adults can possess and purchase up to 3 ounces of cannabis and up to 24 grams of concentrated cannabis, and a licensed store cannot knowingly sell you more than that. You cannot consume inside a dispensary, in a vehicle, moving or parked, or anywhere smoking tobacco is prohibited, and driving under the influence is illegal and dangerous. New York allows no open containers of cannabis in a vehicle, so keep products closed in their original, labeled packaging while you travel home.
## A few tips to make it easy
Come with a rough idea of what you want, but stay open to suggestions, since budtenders often know the batch that just landed. If you are curious about a product's lab results, every regulated product label carries a QR code or link to its Certificate of Analysis, and our [guide to reading a COA](/learn/how-to-read-a-coa/) shows what to look for. Tipping is welcome but never expected. And if you are trying something new, buy a small amount first and see how it suits you before committing to more.
## After your visit
Store everything in its original, child-resistant packaging, locked, out of sight, and out of reach of children and pets, which is OCM's own safe storage advice, and away from heat and light so it stays fresh. Our [guide to storing flower](/learn/how-to-store-flower/) covers the details. If you are trying something new, start low and give it time before deciding what you think. Then come back and tell us how it went, because that is how we help you dial in the next visit. Our [guide to edibles dosing](/learn/edibles-dosing-guide/) is a good next read if edibles are on your list, and our [guide to New York cannabis laws](/learn/new-york-cannabis-laws/) covers what the state does and does not allow. When you are ready, Visit Us at the [Fishkill farm stand](/dispensaries/new-york/dutchess-county/fishkill/) or [the New Paltz barn](/dispensaries/new-york/ulster-county/new-paltz/).
### Frequently asked questions
**Q: What do I need to bring to a dispensary in New York?**
A: Bring a valid government-issued photo ID that shows you are 21 or older. Valid ID on the New York Office of Cannabis Management's list includes a driver's license or non-driver ID from any U.S. state or a Canadian province, a passport from any country, IDNYC, and a U.S. military ID. You do not need a medical card or an appointment.
**Q: How much cannabis can I buy in New York?**
A: Under New York law, adults 21 and older can purchase and possess up to 3 ounces of cannabis and up to 24 grams of concentrated cannabis. A licensed dispensary cannot knowingly sell you more than you can legally possess, and every licensed store has to post the possession and purchase limits inside.
**Q: Can I use a credit card at a dispensary?**
A: It depends on the store, and payment options can change, so call ahead if you want to be sure. At Farmers Choice you can order online and pay at pickup, or shop in person and pay at the counter, and bringing some cash on your first visit is a safe plan.
**Q: Do I need an appointment to visit Farmers Choice?**
A: No. You can walk in during open hours, or order online ahead and pick up. Either way, bring a valid government-issued photo ID that shows you are 21 or older, because staff check it before you can enter or buy.
**Q: Where can I use cannabis after I buy it?**
A: In a private home, or in most places where you could legally smoke tobacco, unless the owner bans it. New York does not allow using cannabis in a vehicle, moving or parked, in a private business such as a restaurant patio, on federal land, or anywhere smoking tobacco is prohibited. Never drive under the influence.
**Q: Can someone under 21 come inside with me?**
A: No. New York's cannabis regulations require licensed dispensaries to limit access to people 21 and older, and staff check ID at the door, so plan for under-21 companions to wait outside.
# Blog index
- Dutchess Rail Trail: Parking, Access Points, and a Fall Walk (https://farmerschoicedispensary.com/dutchess-rail-trail/): The William R. Steinhaus Dutchess Rail Trail is a 13.4-mile paved county trail from the Walkway Over the Hudson in Poughkeepsie to the restored Hopewell Depot in Hopewell Junction, through LaGrange, Wappinger and East Fishkill, and part of the Empire State Trail. It is open dawn to dusk, with trailhead parking in every town it crosses. Farmers Choice Fishkill is 5 to 11 miles from the trail towns.
- A Kingston Day Trip: Stockade, Waterfront, and the Drive Home (https://farmerschoicedispensary.com/kingston-day-trip-guide/): A Kingston, NY day trip splits into two neighborhoods. Uptown, walk the 1658 Stockade District to Senate House, where New York's first Senate met in 1777, and the Old Dutch Church. In the Rondout, visit the Hudson River Maritime Museum and the Reher Center's historic bakery. Farmers Choice New Paltz is about 25 minutes south by the Thruway.
- Waterfalls Near New Paltz: Awosting Falls and Beyond (https://farmerschoicedispensary.com/waterfalls-near-new-paltz/): Four waterfall walks sit within about an hour of Farmers Choice New Paltz at Thruway Exit 18. Awosting Falls at Minnewaska State Park Preserve and Split Rock at Mohonk Preserve's Coxing Trailhead are each about 20 minutes away. Verkeerder Kill Falls at Sam's Point and Kaaterskill Falls are 50 to 60 minutes out, and Sam's Point requires weekend and holiday parking reservations through November 15.
- Hudson River Fall Foliage Cruises 2026 (https://farmerschoicedispensary.com/hudson-river-fall-foliage-cruises/): Three operators run Hudson River fall foliage cruises into late October 2026: Hudson River Cruises and the Maritime Museum's solar boat Solaris from Rondout Landing in Kingston, and the Bannerman Castle Trust's island tours from 2 Red Flynn Drive in Beacon. Kingston is about 25 minutes from Farmers Choice New Paltz; Beacon is about ten minutes from Farmers Choice Fishkill.
- Things to Do in Hyde Park, NY: FDR, Vanderbilt, and Where to Eat (https://farmerschoicedispensary.com/things-to-do-in-hyde-park-ny/): Hyde Park, NY fills a fall day for adults 21 and over. The FDR Presidential Library and Museum at 4079 Albany Post Road is open 9AM to 6PM through October, the Home of FDR runs guided tours on first come, first served tickets, and the Culinary Institute of America's public restaurants are on the same road. Farmers Choice Fishkill is about 19 miles south.
- Order Ahead and Pick Up: How Dispensary Pickup Works at Farmers Choice (https://farmerschoicedispensary.com/order-ahead-pickup-farmers-choice/): A dispensary pickup order at Farmers Choice works in four steps: browse the live menu for Fishkill or New Paltz, place the order for pickup, bring a valid government-issued photo ID showing you are 21 or older, and pay at the counter. Most orders are ready inside an hour. Fishkill, 18 Westage Drive, is open until 11PM Thursday to Saturday, about 18 minutes from downtown Poughkeepsie.
- Dutchess County Fall Festivals 2026 (https://farmerschoicedispensary.com/dutchess-county-fall-festivals/): Dutchess County fall festivals in 2026 run from the Fishkill Farms harvest weekends, every Saturday and Sunday through November 1, to the NYS Sheep and Wool Festival at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck on October 17 and 18. Farmers Choice Fishkill, at 18 Westage Drive where Route 9 meets I-84, is the closer Farmers Choice for most of them and stays open until 11PM Thursday to Saturday.
- Hudson Valley Apple Picking 2026: Orchards Worth the Drive (https://farmerschoicedispensary.com/hudson-valley-apple-picking-2026/): Hudson Valley apple picking in 2026 runs from Labor Day weekend to about November 1 at five u-pick orchards near the Farmers Choice stores: Twin Star Orchards, Jenkins-Lueken Orchards and Dressel Farms in New Paltz, Fishkill Farms in Hopewell Junction and Barton Orchards in Poughquag. Fishkill Farms requires reservations, Dressel picks on weekends only, and Wilklow Orchards in Highland has closed its u-pick and farm stand.
- Shawangunks Leaf-Peeping Road Trip (https://farmerschoicedispensary.com/shawangunks-leaf-peeping-road-trip/): The Shawangunks fall foliage loop from Farmers Choice New Paltz runs west on Route 299, up Route 44/55 past Mohonk Preserve, the Trapps and Minnewaska State Park Preserve, then down to Route 209 and home through Accord, Stone Ridge, High Falls and Rosendale, about 46 miles and 75 minutes of driving. Mohonk Mountain House says peak color typically comes in the second and third weeks of October.
- Things to Do in Fishkill, NY for Adults (https://farmerschoicedispensary.com/things-to-do-in-fishkill-ny/): Fishkill, NY has a full afternoon for adults 21 and over: the Main Street Historic District's Greek Revival buildings and the 1732 Van Wyck Homestead Museum, Fishkill Farms' weekend Fall Harvest Festival running through November 1, Main Street and Route 9 restaurants, and the 1,000-acre Stony Kill Farm trails. Farmers Choice Fishkill on Route 9 is minutes from all of it.
- Farmers Choice Named Cannabis Dispensary of the Year 2026 (https://farmerschoicedispensary.com/farmers-choice-new-paltz-dispensary-of-the-year-2026/): Farmers Choice New Paltz, the barn dispensary at 1 Old Route 299 by NYS Thruway Exit 18, was named 2026 Cannabis Dispensary of the Year by the Consumer Ratings Institute (CRI). Mercury Project Design worked with Creative Director Sharif Jamal on the farm stand design, which includes a barn shop-in-shop, a vintage tractor, and Grow Your Own and Apothecary departments.
- Walkway Over the Hudson, the Perfect Day Trip (https://farmerschoicedispensary.com/walkway-over-the-hudson-day-trip/): Walkway Over the Hudson is a former railroad bridge, 1.28 miles long and 212 feet above the Hudson River, linking Highland and Poughkeepsie. It is free to walk and open daily from 7AM to sunset, weather permitting, an easy day trip on foot or by bike. Farmers Choice New Paltz, a licensed dispensary for adults 21 and over, is about 7 miles from the Highland entrance.
- Fall Is Coming to the Hudson Valley: Your New Paltz Guide (https://farmerschoicedispensary.com/fall-is-coming-new-paltz-guide/): New Paltz fall color usually reaches the Shawangunk Ridge first, in early to mid October, then the village and orchards a week or two later. On weekends, park early at Mohonk Preserve or Minnewaska, or use the free River-to-Ridge Trail, then pick apples at Twin Star Orchards. Farmers Choice New Paltz sits at 1 Old Route 299, by Thruway Exit 18.
- Things to Do in Beacon, Poughkeepsie and Wappingers Falls (https://farmerschoicedispensary.com/end-of-summer-hudson-river-towns/): Beacon, Wappingers Falls and Poughkeepsie sit within about fifteen miles of each other in Dutchess County, close enough for one late summer day: Dia Beacon and Main Street, Wappinger Creek and Mesier Park, then the Walkway Over the Hudson, open 7AM to sunset. Farmers Choice Fishkill, at 18 Westage Drive by the Route 9 and I-84 interchange, is about ten minutes from Beacon.
- Skydive The Ranch: What to Expect and Where to Go After (https://farmerschoicedispensary.com/skydive-the-ranch-what-to-expect/): Skydive The Ranch is a skydiving center at 55 Sand Hill Road in Gardiner, about six miles south of New Paltz, where first-timers make a tandem jump from 13,500 feet, weather permitting. Jumpers must be at least 18, and the Ranch says to plan on two to three hours. Farmers Choice New Paltz, a licensed dispensary for adults 21 and over, is the stop for after the jump.
- Hiking Mohonk Preserve? How to Make a Full Day of It (https://farmerschoicedispensary.com/mohonk-preserve-full-day-new-paltz/): Hiking Mohonk Preserve makes a full day from New Paltz. Park at the West Trapps trailhead before 9AM on summer and fall weekends, walk the 5.2-mile Undercliff and Overcliff loop or climb Bonticou Crag from Spring Farm, eat on Main Street, add Minnewaska or the rail trail, then pick up an order at Farmers Choice New Paltz by Thruway Exit 18.
- Twin Star Orchards and Farmers Choice: Two Reasons to Love New Paltz (https://farmerschoicedispensary.com/twin-star-orchards-and-farmers-choice/): Twin Star Orchards, the home of Brooklyn Cider House at 155 North Ohioville Road in New Paltz, pours cider and serves wood-fired pizza and burgers, with apple picking in the fall. Farmers Choice New Paltz, a licensed dispensary for adults 21 and over at 1 Old Route 299 by Thruway Exit 18, is about two miles away, so the two make an easy afternoon loop.
- Hudson Valley Summer Bucket List 2026: Start in New Paltz (https://farmerschoicedispensary.com/hudson-valley-summer-bucket-list-2026/): The 2026 Hudson Valley summer bucket list from Farmers Choice New Paltz has eleven stops within a short drive of New Paltz, including a lifeguarded swim at Lake Minnewaska, sunrise on the Mohonk Preserve carriage roads, a ride to the Rosendale Trestle, pizza at Twin Star Orchards, the Walkway Over the Hudson, and a provisions stop at the farm stand by Thruway Exit 18.
- Farmers Choice Sponsored the 2026 New Paltz Fireworks (https://farmerschoicedispensary.com/farmers-choice-new-paltz-fireworks-2026/): Local at Heart held the 2026 New Paltz Fireworks Celebration on Saturday, July 4, 2026, at the Ulster County Fairgrounds as a fundraiser for local food pantries, with fireworks at dusk. Farmers Choice New Paltz, the dispensary at 1 Old Route 299 by Thruway Exit 18, was a Rocket Sponsor, one of more than 50 business sponsors.
- The Ultimate Hudson Valley Road Trip: Trails, Wineries & Outdoor Adventures Around New Paltz (https://farmerschoicedispensary.com/the-ultimate-hudson-valley-road-trip-trails-wineries-outdoor-adventures-around-new-paltz/): A good one-day Hudson Valley road trip from New Paltz loops from Thruway Exit 18 to Minnewaska State Park Preserve and Awosting Falls, Whitecliff Vineyard in Gardiner, Dressel Farms, and Water Street Market, about 75 minutes of driving in all. Day two adds Mohonk Preserve, Bonticou Crag, Robibero Winery, and the Wallkill River. Farmers Choice New Paltz, for adults 21 and over, is the last stop.
- Keith Haring and Alex Katz Art at Upstate Art Weekend in New Paltz (https://farmerschoicedispensary.com/new-paltz-hosts-keith-haring-alex-katz-art-for-upstate-art-weekend/): Upstate Art Weekend is an annual art festival across upstate New York, and its 2026 edition ran June 25 to 29. In New Paltz, The Cronin Gallery and Trimper Gallery showed works by Keith Haring, Alex Katz, Ryan Cronin, and Dylan Martinez at Water Street Market. Farmers Choice New Paltz, a licensed dispensary for adults 21 and over at 1 Old Route 299, is a few minutes away.
- Robibero Winery Sangria Festival, a New Paltz Summer Tradition (https://farmerschoicedispensary.com/new-paltzs-favorite-summer-tradition-returns-robibero-winery-sangria-festival/): The Robibero Winery Sangria Festival is a summer festival at Robibero Winery, 714 Albany Post Road in New Paltz. The 2026 edition, billed as New York's Sangria Festival, ran June 27 and 28 from 11AM to 6PM with free admission, sangria, wine tastings, and seafood and BBQ from Hooked Events. Farmers Choice New Paltz, a licensed dispensary for adults 21 and over, is a short drive east.
- Recreational Cannabis Shopping Tips From Our Farmhands (https://farmerschoicedispensary.com/guide-to-recreational-cannabis-shopping/): Buy only from a dispensary licensed by New York's Office of Cannabis Management, check the product's Certificate of Analysis (COA) for a passing safety screen, and judge flower by its terpenes and aroma rather than THC alone. That is the core advice from Farmhand Jordan at Farmers Choice, whose Farmhands in New Paltz and Fishkill can pull up the lab results for any product.
# Attribution
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