Major weed event breaks new ground
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The cannabis market continues to evolve, with new products hitting store shelves seemingly every day. Retailers are constantly on the hunt for the next big thing, hoping to score points with customers hungry for the latest drop or exclusive collab. In California, brands and buyers bridge the gap at the popular Hall of Flowers event—and this year, attendees will have even more to explore.
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The biannual gathering hosts its spring show in Ventura on March 19-20 at the Ventura County Fairgrounds; the autumn installment is set for September 19th and 20th at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa. Retailers and press peruse the rainbow of booths, seeking out new products to feature. Most products can also be sampled via the on-site dispensary and enjoyed in the open-air consumption area in the middle of the action.
The upcoming Hall of Flowers will feature an entirely new section called BLUEPRINT. The curated B2B area is targeted toward operators seeking new markets as well as ancillary equipment and hardware manufacturers.
Organizers added the BLUEPRINT experience to bolster the supply chain by helping companies introduce their products to new audiences across the country.
“BLUEPRINT is a game-changing new section of Hall of Flowers, where you can open up new opportunities for collaboration and expansion with California’s leading brands and also experience the latest and most innovative cannabis hardware and technology,” explained Hall of Flowers co-founder Rama Mayo.
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Also new for 2025 is the AXIS Club. The exclusive, application-based ticket option offers expedited entry and lounge access, where attendees can take meetings and enjoy refreshments away from the hustle and bustle of the show.
Mayo teased a series of highly exclusive after-parties specifically for brands and buyers dubbed “Night Meetings.” More details on those VIP happenings are coming soon.
The coveted Iconoclast speaker series is returning this year, which sees some of the biggest names in cannabis on stage. Confirmed guests for Ventura include “Highest Host” Adam Ill, JP Murphy of the Good Pizza podcast, Lance Harman from First Smoke of the Day, journalists Bill Levers and Joey Brabo, and brand leaders like CAM’s Anna Willey, Luke Scarmazzo and Manndie Tingler of Prophet Brands, and Alien Labs founder Ted Lidie.
“We’re bringing even more of the industry together, with the same emphasis on brands, retailers, and on-site sampling, and that’s what I’m most excited about for Ventura,” Mayo concluded.