New York wants to put people to work in cannabis, and next month it is making the pitch in person. The state is hosting a free Capital Region Cannabis Job Fair in Albany, connecting licensed employers with job seekers as the legal industry keeps expanding.
The details
The job fair runs Tuesday, August 11, 2026, from 10am to 4pm at Empire State Plaza, Meeting Room 6, in Albany. It is hosted by the Office of Cannabis Management, the New York State Department of Labor, and the Black Cannabis Industry Association. For job seekers, the day offers direct hiring, networking, workshops, and career exploration, plus a nice practical touch: the Department of Labor will provide free professional headshots.
On the employer side, Capital District licensees can reserve a table at no cost, with a sign-up deadline of July 21 to participate.
Why it matters
Cannabis is one of the few industries actively adding jobs in New York, even as national employment in the sector dipped for the first time. Events like this are how the state turns license counts into actual careers, and how it delivers on the equity promise at the center of its cannabis program. If you have thought about working in the industry, this is a low-friction place to start. For adults 21 and over.