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

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

Are You Ready to Master Cannabis Lingo? Explore Essential Terms Now

This glossary covers key cannabis-related terms that can help consumers better understand the cannabis industry, products, and their effects. Whether you're new to cannabis or looking to deepen your knowledge, these definitions offer clarity on common terms you might encounter.

Cannabis Basics: What is Cannabis?

Cannabis is a fascinating plant species that includes three main types: Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. Each of these species has unique characteristics and effects. The cannabis plant is a complex organism, rich in various compounds such as cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. These compounds contribute to the plant’s diverse range of effects and therapeutic benefits. Cannabis plants are cultivated for both medicinal and recreational purposes, and they can be consumed in multiple forms, including dried flower, extracts, and edibles. Whether you’re interested in the energizing effects of Cannabis sativa, the relaxing properties of Cannabis indica, or the unique traits of Cannabis ruderalis, there’s a cannabis plant to suit every need.

Cannabis Products: Cannabis Extracts

Cannabis extracts are highly potent products derived from the cannabis plant using various extraction methods, such as solvents or CO2. These extracts are concentrated forms of cannabis that can be used in several ways, including dabbing, vaporizing, or as ingredients in edibles and topicals. There are several types of cannabis extracts, each with its own texture and potency, including wax, shatter, oil, and crumble. These products are often favored for their high cannabinoid content and are commonly used for medicinal purposes, such as pain relief and anxiety management. Whether you’re looking for a powerful dabbing experience or a potent ingredient for your homemade edibles, cannabis extracts offer a versatile and effective option.

Keep ReadingShow less
U.S. States with highest revenue from cannabis taxes
U.S. States with highest revenue from cannabis taxes

U.S. States with the Highest Revenue from Cannabis Taxes

The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) hasn't seen any reason to remove cannabis from its list of Schedule I banned substances. Yet, cannabis in its myriad forms is pulling in billions of dollars in vital tax revenue for those states where it is legal —$3 billion in 2022 alone.

The drug has sat in the Schedule I classification alongside heroin, peyote, and other substances the DEA considers to have a high potential for abuse since 1970, when Congress enacted the Controlled Substances Act, making it federally illegal to possess them. Two decades after the law passed, following intense social pressure that segued into the realization of a new tax opportunity, certain states began to make the drug available to residents, citing the medical benefits and relative safety compared with other substances

Keep ReadingShow less
Kanye West Is Spiraling—And Our Mental Health System Is Letting It Happen - The Bluntness
Kanye West Is Spiraling—And Our Mental Health System Is Letting It Happen - The Bluntness
Photo by Axel Antas-Bergkvist on Unsplash

Kanye West Is Spiraling—And Our Mental Health System Is Letting It Happen - The Bluntness

Kanye West, aka Ye, isn’t just trending—he’s unraveling in real time. And instead of intervention, we get viral clips, condemnation, and an audience watching a man self-destruct. His latest stunt? Airing a Super Bowl ad promoting a swastika-emblazoned Yeezy shirt on his site—a move so blatantly antisemitic that even the most die-hard supporters had to step back. This act garnered significant media coverage, leading to brands cutting ties and agents dropping him. His social media account faced scrutiny and was ultimately deleted after a history of controversial postings. But here’s the problem: canceling Kanye doesn’t fix Kanye.

At this point, the question isn’t whether his actions are inexcusable (they are). The question is, what happens when one of the world’s most influential figures is also one of the most untreated cases of mental illness in pop culture history?

Keep ReadingShow less
image of a circle of doctors and surgeons standing over and looking at a patient on operating room table
New Study Confirms Medical Cannabis Benefits in Cancer Care—Time for Policy to Catch Up
Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

Cannabis & Cancer: The Evidence Is In—So Why Is the Medical Establishment Still Dragging Its Feet?

If you've ever watched a loved one battle cancer—or been on that journey yourself—you already know the harsh truth: the pain is real, the nausea is relentless, the appetite is gone, and the side effects of treatment often feel worse than the disease. So when patients say cannabis helps, it shouldn’t take 10,000 studies for the medical community to take them seriously.

And yet, here we are.

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