The East Coast cannabis market is heating up. Massachusetts specifically has seen record-breaking sales year after year, raking in billions of dollars since the first medical cannabis sales began. With so many new brands (and consumers hungry for the latest drop), dispensary buyers need a way to discover and test products in a fun and smoke-friendly environment.
Enter The Flower Expo. Dubbed the Hall of Flowers of the East, the event sees hundreds of weed brands and industry pros take over the Franklin County Fairgrounds. Attendees can scope out the latest and greatest through low-priced samples—and actually consume the product on-site once it’s in their hands.
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Now in its second year, The Flower Expo aims to unite the East Coast marijuana space and create opportunities for the industry and locals alike through its highly curated experience. According to CEO Jason Bello, the event hopes to have a ripple effect beyond the haze-filled grounds.
“The event is designed not only to be a microcosm of the market but also to provide an equal-level platform where any brand can access every decision-maker in the state over the two days of the show,” Bello told GreenState.
The inaugural Flower Expo drew upwards of 70 percent of the state’s retailers, according to numbers provided by event organizers. Anticipated attendance for 2024 is projected to meet that energy, with an additional exhibition hall providing 65,000 square feet of eye-popping booths and activations.
A limited-edition merch collab with vape pioneers PAX is also new for 2024. An exclusive sneak peek showed a cheeky vintage vibe complete with a 90s-era color scheme. Other highlights include an amplified smoking lounge and an upgraded food truck plaza.
Folks who seek to add a bit of education between their sample seshes can check out the speaker series, featuring several local and national thought leaders (including yours truly). The official after-party will offer a set by reggae artist Carlton Livingston along with an epic drone show.
For those who can’t get out to Mass., there’s another Flower Expo taking place in Michigan later this summer. And while Hall of Flowers may have started on the West Coast, The Flower Expo seeks to carry the torch across the country.
