Ask Rama Mayo what Hall of Flowers delivers that MJBizCon can't, and he needs one word: "Cannabis."
"MJBizCon doesn't even allow cannabis at the event. It's a corporate dinosaur," said Mayo, the show's co-founder. "There's no M at MJBizCon."
MJBizCon, held in Las Vegas, has kept actual product off its floor because of rules at its venue. Hall of Flowers built its model the other way: licensed brands bring real product to licensed buyers.
You can't evaluate flower from a pamphlet.
That model returns to Pier 36 in Lower Manhattan on Wednesday, October 21, and Thursday, October 22, and budtenders can attend on Day 2. The show's 2025 New York debut drew 3,500 attendees and 230 exhibitors, according to Mayo, who expects similar numbers this year.
Who Can Attend Hall Of Flowers NYC?
Hall of Flowers NYC is not open to the public. Admission is limited to cannabis industry professionals with credentials, and each group gets in a different way.
Retail buyers: Free. Applicants need an active retail license and go through a vetting process. Apply here.
Budtenders and retail staff: Day 2 only. Mayo said staff register online and upload their work badges.
Other operators: A two-day industry ticket costs $595 and requires an application and approval. Hall of Flowers says the pass is not intended for agencies or service providers.
Day 2 only: An industry ticket for October 22 is listed at $295 early bird and $395 standard, with no application required.
Inventory is limited, so check the ticket page before building a schedule around it.
What Do Retail Teams Get From A Plant-Touching Show?
Mayo's pitch for the floor is relationships. In cannabis, he said, word of mouth and a handshake have always been how business gets done and how trust gets built. Buyers and store managers can handle product and meet founders and cultivators in person instead of collecting brochures.
The payoff reaches past the buying desk. "Your retail team learns things on the floor that make them better at the counter: what's new, who's behind it, and why it's worth recommending," Mayo said.
The floor is also designed so booth budgets don't decide who gets noticed. Hall of Flowers owns its booth equipment, so "a small craft brand and a big multistate operator can both show up looking their best," Mayo said. The Bluntness described rows of matching booths at the 2025 show that pushed brands to compete on product, pricing and execution.
What's New At Pier 36 This Year?
The show returns with a bigger footprint and outdoor space on the river, according to Mayo. On the business side, they’ve got tech in place to help connect attendees with exhibitors using, so expect badge scans and follow-up emails (no more broken trade show promises). The show's visual identity was created with Craig Costello of KRINK.
Hall of Flowers has also built a week of events around the show:
Monday, October 19: David Bienenstock's one-man show at Caveat
Tuesday, October 20: Mixer and art show
Wednesday, October 21: Official afterparty from Puffco and Astor Club
Thursday, October 22: Closing party on The Delancey rooftop with Third Thursday and Honeysuckle
Beyond New York, Mayo said the company is focused on California and New York for now. The next show is Sacramento on November 4-5.
How Should Retail Teams Work The Floor?
Thursday is a selling day, so managers sending staff should lock in shift coverage now. Set expectations before Day 2, too: who is going, which categories they should cover and what they report back to the team.
Register early. Buyer applications are vetted, and Day 2 staff need a work badge on file.
Pre-book meetings. Prioritize brands you already carry or plan to test, then leave time to walk the aisles.
Ask what your customers will ask you. Who grew it, how it was made and how it differs from what is already on your shelf.
Write it down. A founder conversation only pays off if it makes it into the next staff huddle.
The show is only as useful as the follow-up. Exhibitors will be scanning badges this year, and the buyers and budtenders who leave Pier 36 with notes on two or three brands worth a trial order or a staff pick will get more from the day than those who leave with a stack of business cards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hall Of Flowers NYC Open To The Public?
No. Admission is restricted to cannabis industry professionals with proper credentials.
Can Budtenders Attend Hall Of Flowers NYC?
Yes, on Day 2, October 22. Mayo said budtenders register online and upload their work badges.
Do Dispensary Buyers Pay To Attend?
No. Licensed retail buyers receive complimentary passes after a vetting process and must hold an active retail license.
How Big Is Hall Of Flowers NYC?
The 2025 debut drew 3,500 attendees and 230 exhibitors, according to co-founder Rama Mayo, who expects similar numbers in 2026.