New York’s legal cannabis market continues to expand, with licensed sales climbing and new brands appearing on dispensary shelves each week. That growth was on display at last week’s Flower Expo NYC, where crowds overwhelmed the venue and emerging brands jockeyed for attention.
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Buyers, members of the press, and paid ticket holders lined the block outside the club-style venue, waiting in freezing temperatures. Staff eventually turned many away after the space exceeded capacity, frustrating would-be attendees. GreenState gained entry to the event and, despite the suffocating show floor and deafening noise levels, spotted several notable product launches. Here’s what stood out.
A triple threat doobie to raise the bar
Pre-rolls are quickly becoming one of the best selling products at dispensaries thanks to their convenience and relatively low price. Most joints aren’t that exciting—except when they are. At Flower Expo, we were introduced to the new Rosin Roll from ElectraLeaf, which is likely the most intriguing pre-roll we’ve seen in a minute.
The flower brand has already amassed a cult following, and they’re taking things to the next level by partnering with Olio, one of the hottest hash brands in New York, and Picc Platform, makers of smooth-burning joints that are literally indestructible. If this were the Olympics of pre-rolls, Rosin Roll wins the gold medal.
Highly anticipated rosin collab closes concentrate gap
Concentrates remain a smaller segment of New York’s adult-use market compared with more mature states. Sure, there are a couple of quality brands, but it seems as though the state is still dialing in its extract game. Fortunately for hash heads out East, a new product is about to drop, and it’s certain to change the game.
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Royal Leaf has partnered with West Coast hash darlings Kalya to bring fire rosin to market. We got to taste the top-shelf terps at last year’s Hall of Flowers and couldn’t wait to see the product reach dispensary shelves. According to Scott Hammond of Kalya, who we bumped into on the unofficial smoking patio, the first three flavors of this epic collab will be ready for sale within days. Don’t sleep on this drop, it’s likely to go quick.
Niche products signal market maturation
When a cannabis market starts to grow, brands start to branch out. New York is clearly in this phase, with more niche products emerging, indicating its maturation. While not every SKU is a winner, it’s a sign that things are steady.
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For example, one brand making a splash at Flower Expo was Murray’s, showcasing smokeless THC pouches delivering 10 mg of cannabinoids per pouch, positioned similarly to nicotine pouches such as Zyn. While we aren’t sure if the product will take off (Murray’s is hardly the first to make infused pouches), Zyn has exploded in popularity, so crossover is possible.
We also saw several high-potency products on display. Monarchy, whose booth was complete with a real-life queen, claimed it offered the “world’s highest potency.” Jury’s still out on whether that claim can be verified, as many infused joints have THC levels above 50 percent. Meanwhile, the aptly-named Party Favors has behemoth 3-gram vapes on display, appealing to the growing number of customers who want big bang for their bucks.
Strong demand but growing pains
New York’s cannabis scene continues to evolve rapidly. Flower Expo’s New York debut drew strong interest but struggled with crowd control. For attendees who made it inside, the show offered a snapshot of a market experimenting with collaborations, concentrates, and niche formats. Organizers may need a larger venue if interest continues at this pace—and they may want to carefully consider who gets to come inside.
