Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Hall of Flowers 2025: Why This Santa Rosa Showcase Remains a Standard Bearer for Cannabis Trade Shows

Diverse mix of people sitting outdoors, around a table smiling at camera

Scenes from a past Hall of Flowers. HoF begins September 10 & 11, 2025 in Santa Rosa, CA.

Press photo provided by Hall of Flowers

The cannabis industry has no shortage of events, but very few manage to balance business, culture, and community the way Hall of Flowers does. Since its launch in 2018, the Santa Rosa-based show has become a must-attend gathering for licensed brands, retailers, investors, and innovators.

This year’s edition takes place September 10–11, 2025, at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds, continuing a legacy that goes far beyond trade show floor traffic. Hall of Flowers has become a barometer for where cannabis is now and where it's heading—and how brands and buyers can stay ahead of the curve.


Mixed crowd walking around at outdoor conference or festival Scenes from Hall of FlowersPress photo provided by Hall of Flowers

A Curated Approach That Stands the Test of Time

Unlike many trade expos where volume trumps value, Hall of Flowers has remained highly curated. Exhibitors are vetted, attendees are qualified, and the result is a show that feels purposeful, not chaotic.

That focus has allowed the event to grow steadily while maintaining its reputation as a serious B2B marketplace. For many retailers and buyers in the California market, Hall of Flowers isn’t just another industry meet-up—it’s where real deals are made.

What sets Hall of Flowers apart is its commitment to making cannabis culture a central part of the experience:

  • Consumption lounges and sampling protocols that are compliant but still engaging.
  • Music, art, and culinary programming that elevate the atmosphere beyond booths and badges.
  • A sense of authenticity that reminds attendees why they’re in this space in the first place.

It’s this fusion of culture with commerce that ensures Hall of Flowers never feels like a sterile convention hall. Instead, it feels like a living snapshot of the cannabis movement, evolving in real time.

Overhead shot of Hall of Flowers conference - showing booths, vendors and attendees Scenes from Hall of FlowersPress photo provided by Hall of Flowers

Adapting to Industry Shifts

The cannabis landscape is constantly changing—tight regulations, shifting consumer demand, and new technologies keep everyone on their toes. Hall of Flowers has responded by:

  • Introducing new platforms like AXIS Club (exclusive networking for executives and buyers) and BLUEPRINT (a showcase for emerging technologies, packaging, and solutions).
  • Expanding to include festival-style elements, like live music and food, that connect brands more directly with consumers.
  • Offering compliance-friendly sampling systems that allow buyers to evaluate products responsibly.

By evolving with the market, the event has avoided the stagnation that plagues so many conferences.

West Coast Roots, National Relevance

While Hall of Flowers is deeply tied to California—the birthplace of modern cannabis culture—its influence is national. In fact, next month, New York will host it's first Hall of Flowers October 8 & 9. For comparison, New York’s long-standing Revelry Buyers Club carries a similar ethos: connecting licensed operators, retailers, and brands in a curated environment that prioritizes quality relationships over hype. Revelry will be hosting its latest Revelry Festival event on Friday and Saturday September 12 & 13 at Pier 36.

Together, events like Hall of Flowers and Revelry Buyers Club represent a shift toward smarter, community-driven trade experiences that support the legal market and elevate the cannabis industry’s credibility while lifting-up the entire cannabis community.

Two people talking at industry conference Respect My Region's Joey Brabo talking to an exhibitor at Hall of FlowersPress photo provided by Hall of Flowers

Why It Still Matters in 2025

For brands, Hall of Flowers is about visibility in front of the right buyers. For retailers, it’s about finding standout products in an increasingly crowded space. And for the industry as a whole, it’s about building an ecosystem where commerce, culture, and compliance can coexist.

Seven years in, Hall of Flowers remains more than just a trade show. It’s a statement: that cannabis deserves events as sophisticated and dynamic as the plant itself.

More For You

Are you paying too much attention to THC percentage? - The Bluntness

Are you paying too much attention to THC percentage? - The Bluntness

High-THC: Is % Important?

If this comes as a surprise, you’re not alone. The value of a simple number on a label receives too much credit from consumers and budtenders alike. It seems no matter how many times we think we understand cannabis, science manages to throw us off - in a good way, of course.

The question of whether percentage matter is often debated, as THC percentage alone is not a reliable indicator of overall quality or experience. Like it or not, the way cannabis interacts with the mind and body makes a simple THC measurement inaccurate to tell how high you’ll get. Potency - like many things about cannabis - is complicated.

Keep ReadingShow less
gif of actor Kevin James from King of Queens; asking "How Much Does That Cost?"
Why Is Some Weed More Expensive Than Others? Understanding Cannabis Pricing
Giphy

Unraveling Cannabis Pricing: Factors Behind the Cost of Weed


Step inside a cannabis dispensary for the first time and the experience can be overwhelming. The meticulously labeled glass jars showcase dozens of strains with names like "Wedding Cake" and "Blue Dream," while refrigerated cases display concentrates, edibles, and tinctures at wildly different price points. Unlike the days when consumers were limited to whatever their neighborhood dealer offered, today's legal market presents a dazzling array of options that might leave newcomers with both wonder and sticker shock.

Keep ReadingShow less
Comprehensive Glossary of Cannabis Terminology - The Bluntness
Cannabis Terminology - The Bluntness
Photo by Margo Amala on Unsplash

Cannabis Glossary: 120+ Terms

Cannabis terminology can be overwhelming for new consumers. This glossary defines 120+ essential terms including cannabinoids (THC, CBD), consumption methods (vaping, edibles), and industry concepts to help you navigate dispensaries and products confidently.

Why Cannabis Terminology Matters

Cannabis terminology can feel overwhelming when you first step into a dispensary or browse online menus. Understanding the language helps you:

  • Communicate effectively with budtenders and medical professionals
  • Make informed decisions about products and consumption methods
  • Navigate dispensary menus with confidence
  • Understand product labels and lab results
  • Find products that match your needs and preferences
  • Stay safe by recognizing quality indicators and potential issues

This glossary provides clear, accurate definitions for over 120 cannabis terms, from basic concepts to advanced cultivation and processing terminology. Whether you're a first-time consumer or an experienced enthusiast, this guide will enhance your cannabis knowledge.

Keep ReadingShow less
protesters holding sign, peaceful, democracy

The Proposed Hemp Ban That Would Destroy a $28 Billion Success Story - The Bluntness

Photo by Leo_Visions on Unsplash

Hemp Ban Threatens $28B Industry

Congressional negotiators are trying to bury a hemp definition change in appropriations language, a backdoor maneuver that would treat nearly any THC in hemp-derived products as federally illegal. This is happening in real time, behind closed doors, without public hearings.

Sen. Rand Paul has pledged to hold up spending bills to stop this ban, but he's issued a stark warning: there's a "real danger" the prohibitionists win unless constituents flood Congress with calls immediately.

Keep ReadingShow less
Talking Joints Memo - Chris Faraone
Talking Joints Memo - Chris Faraone

Massachusetts State Lawmakers Release Scathing Critique of MA's Cannabis Control Commission

By Chris Faraone, Talking Joints Memo. Reprinted with permission from Talking Joints Memo. .

“The public deserves some accountability on why these issues have proven so hard to stamp out, and what long-term changes the agency is making to get its work done with more transparency and efficiency.”

There has been endless drama around the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission over the past few months, all of which is only heightening in the wake of state Treasurer Deb Goldberg suspending the agency’s chairwoman last week.

Keep ReadingShow less