Kingston's Local Smoke Event Canceled Amid Accusations Against New York Officials

Earlier this year, New York’s emerging cannabis industry had a big problem. There were hundreds of certified cannabis cultivators in the state but only about twenty licensed dispensaries, leaving many growers with a product they couldn’t even sell.So, in July, New York’s Office of Cannabis Management started the Cannabis Growers Showcase initiative. This allowed licensed cannabis growers and processors to showcase their products at public events like the Cannabis Growers Showcase, which took place alongside the Great New York State Fair.Local Smoke, scheduled for December 16th in Kingston New York, was set to be a similar Showcase, a Hudson Valley holiday market and celebration of the harvest. Eighteen licensed cultivators were set to participate before the Cannabis Growers Showcase Initiative ends later this month.But now that event is not happening, and one of the organizers blames New York officials, including Governor Kathy Hochul and the Office of Cannabis Management.That organizer, Small Farma, is a community of farmers and supporters working to further social and environmental justice initiatives within New York’s Cannabis industry.Nicole Ricci, President and Treasurer of Small Farma, spoke to Radio Catskill’s Jason Dole…