Oregon Greenlights Cannabis Sampling and Sales at Trade Shows in 2026: What It Means for the Industry and Consumers

29 May 2025

A new law (SB 558) is set to shake up the Oregon cannabis industry starting January 1, 2026. The updated legislation will allow licensed cannabis businesses to provide product samples and conduct wholesale sales at OLCC-registered events, such as trade shows and fairs.

This change is designed to lower operational barriers and help legitimate businesses grow—benefiting producers, retailers, and ultimately, consumers.

Key Changes to Oregon Cannabis Laws

What’s New for the Oregon Cannabis Industry

Licensed cannabis businesses (producers, processors, wholesalers, and retailers) can now:

• Offer non-retail product samples to other licensed businesses and their employees
• Conduct on-site wholesale transactions at registered events
• Transport and display cannabis products at trade shows, including events like the Oregon State Fair

Benefits for Oregon Dispensaries and Producers

• Faster, more efficient wholesale deals (no 24-hour waiting period)
• Lower marketing and logistics costs
• Opportunities to showcase new products directly to buyers and other licensees
• Better product visibility, leading to stronger retail placement across Oregon dispensaries

How This Impacts Medical and Recreational Consumers

While this law does not directly affect point-of-sale purchases at cannabis dispensaries in Oregon, patients and recreational users may still benefit, especially those using medical cannabis in Oregon.

Indirect Benefits for Consumers

• Higher product quality due to better business-to-business transparency
• Faster innovation in product development
• More variety and refined offerings available in Oregon dispensaries

What This Means for Oregon’s Cannabis Businesses

This law brings Oregon closer in line with other maturing cannabis markets that are expanding legal sampling and sales tools. For businesses focused on cultivating cannabis, cannabis testing, or wholesale distribution, this change simplifies operations and increases opportunities for growth.

With better tools for showcasing products, this also strengthens the legal cannabis market’s ability to compete with the unregulated, illicit trade.

What's Next

This law takes effect on January 1, 2026, giving Oregon cannabis operators several months to prepare. Businesses should begin planning now for:

• Compliance with new OLCC trade event rules
• Inventory systems for sample tracking
• Marketing strategies for live trade event engagement