In December 2025, the Office of Cannabis Management adopted amended Packaging, Labeling, Marketing, and Advertising (PLMA) Regulations — and the changes affect nearly everyone operating in New York’s adult-use market.
Whether you’re a budtender, compliance manager, packaging designer, or marketing lead, these updates have real implications for how you do your job. From new rules on loyalty programs and outdoor signage to packaging sustainability requirements, staying informed isn’t just good practice — it’s essential for avoiding violations and supporting the growth of a compliant, equitable cannabis market in New York.
We Broke It Down at Our Lunch & Learn with Lehman College
On February 18, 2026, the Cannabis Workforce Initiative partnered with Lehman College for a Lunch & Learn Webinar dedicated to unpacking the updated PLMA regulations. Attendees got a guided walkthrough of what’s changed, what it means for operators, and why it matters for workers across the supply chain.
Missed it? You can access the full slide deck from the webinar here: Download the Webinar Slides →
Key Changes at a Glance
Here’s a quick overview of what the updated PLMA regulations address:
Loyalty Programs & Discounts Are Now Officially Advertising
Discounts, coupons, points-based rewards, bundled deals, and customer loyalty programs are now permitted — but they must comply with all advertising regulations. That means required warning language, age-appropriate placement, and content that doesn’t appeal to people under 21. Products also cannot be sold below fair market value, and cannabis taxes must be calculated before discounts are applied.
Outdoor Signage Gets Clearer Rules
Signs may include your business name, address, contact info, directions, and licensed activity. What’s still off-limits: content appealing to minors, advertising on vehicles, and placements near youth-focused venues. Billboard size is tied to distance from your licensed facility, and all ads must include the required bright yellow warning box with approved font, size, and bolded text.
Packaging & Labeling Standards Are Strengthened
Plastic packaging must now contain at least 25% post-consumer recycled (PCR) content. New licensees have 12 months from licensure to meet this requirement, with proof due at first license renewal — ask your packaging manufacturer for a certificate of compliance. Updated labeling rules also emphasize clear THC content per serving and per package, expiration dates for unopened products, a scannable QR code or link to the product’s Certificate of Analysis (COA), and accurate processor identification.
Who Needs to Pay Attention?
These changes touch virtually every role in the cannabis workforce. Marketing teams and packaging designers need to audit their current materials and plan updates within the six-month compliance window. Compliance managers should review loyalty and discount programs against the new advertising rules. Retail staff need to understand what can and can’t be communicated at point of sale. Processors and manufacturers must confirm COA access, label accuracy, and PCR compliance in their packaging supply chain.
Download Your Free PLMA Fact Sheet
We’ve put together a free, two-page PLMA Fact Sheet that summarizes everything operators and workers need to know — from loyalty program compliance to outdoor signage rules and packaging requirements. It’s designed to be shared with your team, pinned in your break room, or kept handy during your next compliance review.
→ Download the Free PLMA Fact Sheet
Want to go deeper? The PLMA module is part of the CWI Cannabis Career Exploration and Worker Rights 15-Hour Certificate Course.
