Up a steep flight of stairs in Manhattan’s Chinatown neighborhood, a hazy cloud hung over the gang that had gathered over the weekend, at an occasion house accented by a cartoon mural of Fats Albert holding a gallon bag of faux weed.

It was the awards occasion for the New York Growers Cup, a brand new grass-roots competitors highlighting native craft growers who’ve been working for years — within the shadows and now in a authorized grey space — to good their specific strains of marijuana.

Presently, most weed bought in New York arrives via backdoor channels from California, however weed grown within the Empire State would be the centerpiece of its new leisure market: Retailers will solely be allowed to promote marijuana grown in New York.

With the market right here anticipated to turn into one of many nation’s largest, lots of the contestants at this occasion have been hoping not solely to seek out legitimacy as doorways open, but additionally turn into the subsequent huge title in hashish.

On Saturday evening, some individuals introduced their very own smokes or tried free samples on show. At almost each desk, somebody was rolling a joint or taking a dab. (A dab is a concentrated type of hashish that is available in a sticky wax and may also be smoked from a pipe or a bong.)

Growers in gold wristbands talked store with potential distributors, whereas others danced to well-liked songs performed by a D.J. with a big Afro and waist beads, lounged on couches or grazed at a desk with mozzarella sandwiches, meatballs and a cheese board.

A person who calls himself Mr. Puffington walked round spraying vapor from a contraption he known as the cloud cannon, which seemed like a cross between a bong, a water gun and a plastic meals storage container.

Some individuals on the occasion gave simply their first names or enterprise monikers as a result of for now, their actions stay unlicensed and unlawful.

Like wine, hashish has completely different notes which are outlined by terpenes — pure compounds affecting its style, odor and colour. There are believed to be at the very least 150 terpenes in hashish, however for brevity’s sake, the competitors narrowed the flavors to 5 classes: haze, unique and uncommon, fruit, fuel, and “different.”

Strains from the West Coast have lengthy dominated the market in New York. Odee, whose minty Cap Junky strand received finest unique and uncommon selection, lamented that New York shoppers have been lacking out on the standard and selection grown in their very own state.

“We all know what we’re doing right here,” he mentioned, however individuals must know that “THC isn’t every thing.”

About 80 growers entered the competitors, which was organized by a bunch of growers and a former journalist. The members all work within the state’s long-running legacy market, which existed earlier than legalization.

They wish to get licensed, however making use of for one means they’ll have to reveal their actions to the federal government with none assure that they are going to be authorised. It’s a dangerous transition for a bunch of people that derive their livelihoods from a plant that is still federally unlawful.

The Kolektor, 35, one of many occasion’s organizers and a former infantryman, began rising weed to wean himself off opioids prescribed for post-traumatic stress dysfunction. His weed is “native, clear, by no means sprayed and represents the tradition of New York,” he mentioned. His household additionally will depend on the cash he makes from promoting it.

“If there’s no means for individuals like me to get into the trade, we’re not going to alter our life-style,” he mentioned.

Because the chief fairness officer for New York’s hashish program, it’s Damian Fagon’s job to ensure the state’s insurance policies assist legacy growers make the leap.

“We wish to see occasions like this occur,” he mentioned. “It helps us after we’re writing the rules.”

When Theresa and Brian Lawrence, of Ballston Spa, N.Y., began smoking as preteens 50 years in the past, it was “hush-hush, don’t inform,” Mrs. Lawrence mentioned.

They tried 20 entries within the unique and uncommon class with their daughter, Kayla, who goes by “Strawberry Dutchess” and was a contest decide.

They loved “nearly each one,” Mr. Lawrence mentioned.

Eleni, who goes by “the Godmother,” began rising weed in her closet when she was 15. On Saturday, at 23, she walked away because the winner for finest fuel — a class she known as “so New York!”

“That is so surreal,” she mentioned. “I labored my”— butt — “off.”