Having been to every edition of Hall of Flowers since it began in 2018, I knew the key to sampling the most cannabis is getting there early. So I was up early on September 10 to head to Santa Rosa for the foremost weed industry expo in Northern California.
Clouds and fog blanketed the sky all the way up Highway 101 and even covered the Santa Rosa Fairgrounds until after 2pm. Otherwise the weather was beautiful. For the first time ever I did not need a hoodie or jacket. Where do I put my phone? I felt so exposed.
I attended on the event’s second day, which last year organizers experimented with opening up to the public. This year, that public access was gone, and the event was noticeably smaller, down to one event hall and the outside area. That’s not to say it wasn’t fun—the team has added rides and quite a few new attractions. (Some worked better than others, but I admired that they are trying to grow and change.)
The vibe was welcoming, exciting, and everyone seemed happy to do all things weed, a universal aspect of cannabis events that led me to fall in love with the culture to begin with.
I got started by hitting that main hall, eagerly awaiting all the new bud I was going to try. The first person I ran into was Ali Jamalian from Sunset Connect, one of my favorite brands. How can you not love those generous one-gram joints for around $5? He was happy to point out where his booth was, and I took it as a sign that it was gonna be a fun day!
The point of Hall of Flowers is to provide weed companies, farms, and growers a chance to show off their new products to the buyers who will sell them in their dispensaries. It is a great time for the cannabis community to get together and celebrate weed in all its forms. Getting lots of weed to sample for a cheap price is pretty awesome too. Everything ranges in cost from free to $5. I compare it to Halloween, when you “trick or treat” for cand—except it’s all weed.
This year, I was all about finding the lines. If I saw a long line, I just got into it and waited. At one point someone asked me, “What are you in line for?,” and my response was, “I don’t know, but I am sure it is good!” And it was! All the brands with buzz had big lines because everyone wanted their weed. So I just followed the herd and was not disappointed. Cam, CBX, Maven Genetics, Stiizy, Oakfruitland, LAX Packs, Luigi, Wave Rider, Fig Farms had popular booths among the 180 companies there.
As always I ran into lots of friends and brands that support BONG-O BINGO, my drag cannabis bingo show at Mission Cannabis Club on second and fourth Saturdays of the month. I saw Tamara from That Good Good Farm, Joyce and Aaron from Sonoma Hills Farm (who also made the cover of The Cannabis Guidebook program at Hall of Flowers), Amy Fisher and her fun Traveling Hemp Museum, and all the fine folks at Greenline, Henry’s Original, Himalaya Vapes, Sense, Sluggers, and so many more.
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I especially enjoyed two new things at this year’s event: Skunk Magazine‘s Breeders Village, which gave all the seed and genetics companies a chance to show their wares, and the “showcase tasting experience,” which showcased six of the best brands at Hall of Flowers up for the Best Product Award and its $10,000 prize, decided by attendee voting.
To participate, you went to the marked building, where six stands stood with a giant jar full of weed on each one. First, you opened the jars and smelled the cannabis, then you bought a tasting kit. The tasting kit had six half-gram joints from each of the brands in unmarked, color-coded tubes. You tasted the herb and felt the high, scanned a code, and voted for your favorite. The contestants were Maven Genetics, Nameless, Wizard Trees, Originals, CBX, and Jungle Boys. Voting is still happening, and I look forward to finding out the winner of the big prize.
As the day wore on, samples ran low, and everyone went outside to sit in the consumption area and crack open some of their new weed. They were accompanied by good music and several food trucks.
Later, there was a big party at the fairgrounds with all kinds of weed, food, and DJs, as well as many other after-parties all over the Santa Rosa area. It was a big night for everyone to celebrate another successful Hall of Flowers and the power of the weed community.
Next up is Hall of Flowers New York, October 8-9 on Pier 36. Having witnessed the weird way legal cannabis has been treated in the state, I can tell you: boy, do they need it! I am sure it will be a blast. Then the trade show will journey back to Toronto, Los Angeles, and then back to its home base in Santa Rosa. I hope they are all big successes so the cannabis industry can continue growing and thriving.
Now, I have the thankless task of sampling all this cannabis and reporting back to you the best stuff to look for in your neighborhood dispensary. Somebody has to do it.
Until then, stay high and safe.
Now, I’m going to light up!
