With outdoor growing season underway across New York, state officials and cannabis industry representatives are reminding residents that home cultivation is legal for adults, but only within limits established by state law.
Under regulations adopted by the New York State Office of Cannabis Management, adults age 21 and older may grow up to three mature and three immature cannabis plants for personal use. Households are limited to a maximum of six mature and six immature plants, regardless of how many adults live there. Homegrown cannabis cannot be sold, traded or bartered, and plants must be kept in a secure location that is inaccessible to anyone under 21.
The regulations, which took effect for adult-use consumers in 2024, also prohibit the use of certain flammable materials when processing homegrown cannabis and require growers to take reasonable steps to prevent odors from becoming a nuisance to neighbors.
As residents begin planting this year’s crop, Darryl Hilkert, owner of High Points Dispensary in Geneva, said consumers should familiarize themselves with the state’s cultivation limits.
“Grow season’s upon us here. Hopefully everybody’s following the rules and regulations, and enjoying their own grow crops, and doing it the right way,” Hilkert said.
Hilkert noted that many growers remain confused about how the plant limits are applied.
“You can have six plants per person to two people per household, so you can have up to 12 plants,” he said.
While personal cultivation is permitted, commercial cultivation remains tightly regulated. Anyone growing cannabis for sale or distribution must obtain the appropriate state license.
The reminders come as New York’s legal cannabis industry continues to mature. Hilkert said dispensaries are still seeing a steady stream of new brands and products entering the marketplace.
The Office of Cannabis Management advises consumers to review state regulations before beginning a home grow operation and to ensure all cultivation remains for personal use only.
