Hall of Flowers Santa Rosa is officially in the books. The brand showcase featured hundreds of exhibitors hoping to get the attention of buyers and press. For the first time, consumers joined the fun on day two. Day one is for industry members only. Attendees can pick up heavily discounted brand samples to find a market hit. And journalists like me love the prospect of discovering the next big thing.
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I had to secure favorites like Pink Zaza from SOG Army, RSO tablets from Emerald Bay Extracts, nighttime CBN and THC tincture from Beard Bros Pharms, extracts from Globs, and hash rosin edibles from Space Gem. But Hall of Flowers is a chance for brands to showcase their latest and greatest drops, something I’m always excited to explore.
This year’s show featured plenty of new brands and products, and I can happily say there was almost something for everybody. From minor cannabinoid blends to high-dose gummies, here are some of Hall of Flowers 2024 standouts.
Spicy Arugula pre-rolls – Sonoma Hills Farms x Chef Chris Cosentino
I had a blast spending time with Top Chef Masters winner Chef Chris Cosentino at OutsideLands and was stoked when I heard he was involved with Hall of Flowers. Cosentino and several other celebrity chefs planned a cannabis-inspired food demo at the newly minted culinary experience, presented by Sonoma Hills Farm and Humboldt Seed Co. Cosentino’s White CBG-infused ice cream and meringue “shatter” were a big draw. Still, the popular chef had another surprise in store.
The Spicy Arugula pre-roll, released through Sonoma Hills Farm, blends THC, CBD, and CBG flower. Cosentino told me the formulation was designed for people with anxiety, adding he had been successful in giving up SSRIs in favor of cannabis. As someone who has been struggling with panic attacks as of late, I felt incredibly seen and compelled to stock up on four-packs ASAP.
Blueberry Trainwreck flower – Poet
The Spicy Arugula wasn’t the only sungrown CBD flower in the Hall of Flowers mix. Despite both options being extremely limited, the Blueberry Trainwreck flower from Poet was a welcome discovery. I briefly stopped by the brand’s booth but was distracted and somehow missed the opportunity to grab a jar. Fortunately, my friend Lindsay MaHarry (aka _Oystergirl_) did.
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The 3:1 sativa smelled divinely hazy, and I instantly regretted not paying better attention earlier in the day. But the best products at Hall of Flowers leave you wanting more, and Poet will certainly be a brand I intend to explore further and submit for review on the Budist app.
Float minis chocolate bites – Kanha
Another brand jumping on the minor cannabinoid bandwagon is Kanha. The edibles market staple is best known for its fast-acting and consistent nanoemulsions. I secured Higher Power live rosin belts and Minis Float chocolate bites from the brand at Hall of Flowers.
The former’s high-dose formulation made me a bit nervous, but the Minis are precisely what I need. The sugar-coated chocolate bites give M&Ms energy but in a cannabinoid blend perfect for someone like me, containing 4mg of THC and 2mg of CBG per candy. CBG has several therapeutic benefits, and I was thrilled to see the compound on display at HOF.
Ruby Violet rosin – Heritage Hash Co.
There were a decent amount of concentrate products at Hall of Flowers, but the Heritage Hash Co. booth easily had some of the best. The award-winning Mendo hash makers displayed several unique varieties, from dry sift to temple balls. I was excited to cop a couple of grams of rosin, both top-tier.
The Ruby Violet, in particular, is easily one of my favorite Hall of Flowers scores. Lightly floral and ever so sweet, the buttery soft extract filled my heart (and head) with joy. I typically shy away from using effects as a basis for judging quality, but the Ruby Violet made me feel so good that I can’t help but sing its praises.
Lemonade Slush flower – Team Elite Genetics
One brand I never get enough of is Team Elite Genetics. The LA-based cultivators are highly regarded for their terpene-rich bud, which is easily some of the loudest on the market. The company had several jars on display at HOF, and I wanted them all.
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The THCV-rich White Bronco was a standout, but the Lemonade Slush really got my gears turning. The Cuban Linx x Styrofoam Cup #6 cross is acrid in the best way, with overpowering notes of diesel fuel and candy-coated lemons. I’ll admit that I was a bit afraid of this full sativa, given my recent paranoia spells, but with terps like that, it felt worth the risk.
100 Fatso gummy – Lost Farm
Speaking of scary, the latest drop from Lost Farm is intimidating for some but welcome respite for others. The new 100 solventless live rosin-infused gummy is a whopping 100mg of THC in one large fruity disc. The gummy is scored, so you theoretically could split it up, but the brand admits the 100 is specifically for seasoned consumers.
“This product is NOT for the canna-curious,” Lost Farm’s brand director Lauren McNaughton recently told GreenState senior staff writer Cara Wietstock.
While this product may not be for folks like me riding the low-dose wave, I do know a lot of high-dose consumers and patients could really benefit from something like the 100 gummy. With that in mind, the edible simply had to make my best-of list.
Alien Finger infused joint – Alien Labs
Stopping at the Alien Labs/Connected booth at Hall of Flowers is always a trip. The cosmic branding and thick crowd is a show in and of itself. I was fortunate to score highly coveted buyer’s boxes from both brands. The Alien Labs kit was especially entertaining, as it held not just a variety of products but a branded scale as well.
Outside of the box was the Sacramento, Calif. brand’s newest innovation: the Alien Finger. Ted Lidie, the founder of Alien Labs, described it as a “pre-roll joint painted with really nice cold cure rosin and then rolled in super nice hash.”
“We went a little different with it,” he told GreenState.
Lidie explained that the name came from old-school joint slang hippie fingers. The newest iteration is almost certain to see users blasting off into deep space.
Grumpy Tiger flower – Wood Wide
I was first introduced to the Grumpy Tiger strain by the fine folks at Snowtill, who got a cut from Wood Wide. The True OG x Platinum x Kush Mints x Animal Cookies mega-cross is a complex amalgamation of herbaceous spice. Caleb, aka TheHighestCritic, said the aroma is “Kind of like a skunk ate only mi goreng sauce packets for a month then sprayed a calamansi tree.” Love it.
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Knowing Grumpy Tiger is such a powerhouse, I simply had to grab a jar from the original breeders. Cracking the jar, I was floored by the potent bouquet. Anyone trying to keep their stash low-key will want to tread lightly with this one, as its pungent odor is anything but subtle.
Trichome vape
Cannabis vapes are quickly gaining market share thanks to their convenience. Despite the controversy surrounding the products, consumers love their ease of use, and I can’t say I disagree. I was able to taste test a number of vaporizer products at Hall of Flowers, from CCell’s new Rosin Bar to proprietary carts from Airo and live rosin from Binske. But an all-in-one vape at the My Green Network / Ay Papi booth was likely the top.
Filled with First Class Funk oil derived from bud grown by Luma Farms, the My Green Network vaporizer offers a smooth draw with even smoother flavor. The packaging was no frills, letting the product inside speak for itself. While Ay Papi may have been the hot brand in the booth, I predict the Trichome vape could be the next up-and-comer.
Hall of Flowers remains one of my top cannabis events, and for good reason: it’s a journalist’s dream, offering a one-stop shop for innovation. This year’s Santa Rosa show had lots of old favorites as well as new drops the market is sure to love. Which ones will emerge as California consumers’ most loved? Only time will tell.
