Hall of Flowers 2024
Photos Courtesy of Author
I attended day two of Hall of Flowers in Ventura and what an interesting experience for this East Coast gal. Here’s a recap of my recent visit.
But first, I want to address one point: I support all women to feel safe, and secure, and not to be threatened in any situation. I know there is controversy surrounding this year’s event, but I’m giving my perspective on what I saw, who I met, and who I had conversations with. I’m not commenting on the controversy here because I didn’t see the person in question, but don’t read this as acceptance of it.
Hall of Flowers: The Ultimate Gathering of California Cannabis
Hall of Flowers is a trade show for buyers and sellers of California cannabis to meet in one place and check out the variety of flower and products cultivated and produced in the state. This was the first time being held at Ventura County Fairgrounds, which is a great venue for the show.
Ventura is a true California beach town with a cool, retro vibe and the fairgrounds are located next to the beach. The open-air buildings let the sea air flow through with plenty of sunshine for the attendees to relax outside, get to know each other, sesh with friends, and colleagues, and of course, make the deals. The outside lounge area was a nice touch with comfy chairs, sofas, and coffee tables. The setting is casual but focused, so no one feels rushed or herded through massive convention hall floors.
The first day is reserved for buyers and sellers only, which helps keep the focus on making the deals with fewer distractions. Day two is open to all who want to attend. There were several after-parties as well. California has a lot of brands and processors, and it can be a lot to take in.
My first walk-through was to scan the booths for the brands I was familiar with and to see what caught my eye. An interesting component of Hall of Flowers is the onsite dispensary. Participating vendors allow their products to be purchased at a fraction of what they cost in a dispensary, allowing participants to try out the brands or products they want. The Hall of Flowers App guides one through the process, and I found it easy to navigate and use.
I’ve been a fan and advocate of legacy farmers, so meeting Judy Nelson of Sol Spirit Farms was special. She has amazing flower and a passion for the plant and its healing properties. She and her husband operate Sol Spirit in Northern California and they also offer glamping retreats as well. I was fortunate to spend an evening with Judy and we discussed the California market and what Hall of Flowers means for her business.
The trade show gives her and Sol Spirit a chance to meet with many vendors, sales teams, and dispensaries in one place, which is a massive time saver for a cultivator located in the Far Northern areas of California.
I sat in on the Beard Bros talk with Randy Lanier, a former race car driver and cannabis smuggler who spent 27 years in prison. He now operates a non-profit, Freedom Grow, which helps prisoners still incarcerated for cannabis to stay connected to their families and communities by providing commissary funds so they can send their spouses and children gifts on birthdays and holidays. They also encourage the prisoners to create art, music, and writing which is then shared with the public. The art is available for purchase which helps fund Freedongrow. NO ONE should be incarcerated for cannabis, but many remain, and we must do all we can to support them. I applaud the Beard Bros for keeping the conversations going in our industry. They are making sure nothing gets overlooked.
The Hall of Flowers was an interesting two days, and I would like to see other states have similar trade shows in the future. Coming together, connecting, conversing, and networking are key to our industry moving forward. Huge conventions are daunting, and the Hall of Flowers was a refreshing change to a massive convention hall.
