Enjoy this interview series recorded live on the show floor of Hall of Flowers 2026 in Ventura. We partnered with Respect My Region to spotlight the brands, cultivators, and operators pushing California cannabis forward through genetics, product quality, and retail-ready innovation. Catch the highlights in this blog and watch the full episode on Respect My Region’s YouTube.
Watch the full interview here:
Who’s in this episode
Respect My Region sits down with Shane Ponto, Co-Founder of Maven Genetics, at the Maven booth during Hall of Flowers Ventura 2026. The conversation covers Maven’s new strain lineup, their pop-up dispensary experience at the show, infused pre-rolls, hash holes, vape products, and why the brand continues to hold respect in one of the toughest cannabis markets in the world.
A strong Hall of Flowers showing for Maven Genetics
Shane describes the show as a strong one for Maven, with great energy, strong buyer response, and excitement around the brand’s newest strain releases. He notes that Hall of Flowers “checks all the boxes” when it comes to culture, people, product discovery, and commercial opportunity.
The booth itself was also active. Maven operated a mini pop-up dispensary at the event, giving buyers and attendees a direct look at the product lineup. According to Shane, they sold through product quickly on day one and saw strong demand around new SKUs.
For cannabis buyers, that matters. A booth that sells out is not just a booth. It is live market feedback.
New strain spotlight: Dirty Laundry
One of the main strains discussed is Dirty Laundry, a cross of French Laundry and Prism.
Shane describes both parent strains as heavy hitters with strong responses from the market. Dirty Laundry carries that same direction, with gas notes and strong impact. The host also notes the familiar French Laundry-style aroma and effect profile, calling it a sleeper and couch-lock type of experience.
This is exactly where Maven tends to stand out: flower that does not just look good, but also brings a clear sensory and effect identity.
More standouts: Chrome Dome, Pineapple Biscotti, and Lemon Cherry Tropicana
The conversation also touches on several other Maven strains, including:
- Chrome Dome
- Pineapple Biscotti
- Lemon Cherry Tropicana
Chrome Dome gets called out as a standout from a previous Catalyst Lounge experience, while Pineapple Biscotti is described with a sweet, pineapple-lifesaver-style nose and a strong dry pull through the joint.
That kind of detail matters for dispensary buyers. In a crowded flower market, the strains that are easiest to describe are often the easiest to sell.
Maven’s retail presence: Tarzana and beyond
Maven is not only showing flower at Hall of Flowers. The team also operates a real-world retail location in Tarzana, and at the event, they brought that retail energy into the show with a pop-up experience.
This gives Maven a useful advantage: they are not just guessing what consumers want. They have direct retail feedback from their own customer base, plus wholesale feedback from buyers across the state.
New product launches: Goldies and Mini Halos
Shane shares that Maven recently dropped new SKUs, including:
- Goldies, an infused pre-roll line
- Mini Halos, Maven’s new hash hole line
He highlights the balance of price point and quality as part of the appeal. These formats matter because infused pre-rolls and hash holes continue to be high-interest categories in California, especially when the flower and extract inputs come from a trusted cultivation brand.
For retailers, these are the kinds of SKUs that can create strong basket moments: premium, giftable, shareable, and easy to talk about.
Adult-use flower can still bring serious heat
A major theme in the interview is Maven’s reputation for quality in the California adult-use market.
The host points out that while people often criticize adult-use flower quality, Maven continues to earn respect. Shane explains that California is one of the most competitive cannabis markets because it has the pulse of what consumers want. To stay relevant, brands have to keep improving.
That is the Maven story: constant refinement.
A nod to the past: Cherry Gas and collaboration
The interview also revisits Cherry Gas, one of Maven’s past award-winning strains. Shane gives credit to a collaboration with Mr. D of Happy Dreams Farms, describing it as a meaningful partnership during a period when Maven was searching for new genetics while upgrading cultivation.
This is a good reminder that great cannabis brands rarely grow in isolation. Strong genetics, trusted collaborators, and a serious cultivation team all matter.
Vape products that stay true to the flower
Shane also touches on Maven’s vape line and all-in-one products.
The key point: Maven uses its own material and cannabis-derived inputs, aiming to parallel the strains people already enjoy in flower form. If a customer likes a Maven flower strain, the goal is to give them another format that still feels connected to that same cultivar experience.
That is smart product architecture. It lets a brand extend a strain story across flower, vapes, and other SKUs without losing the core identity.
Why this matters for cannabis buyers and retailers
1) Strain storytelling still sells
Dirty Laundry, Chrome Dome, Pineapple Biscotti, and other Maven drops have clear sensory hooks. That helps budtenders explain them quickly.
2) Pop-up sell-through is real feedback
A sold-out show booth suggests strong product pull, not just pretty packaging.
3) Category expansion works best when rooted in flower
Maven’s vapes and infused products make sense because they connect back to the cultivation program.
4) California quality still sets the tone
In a demanding market, brands that keep improving earn long-term shelf trust.
Where to find Maven Genetics
Buyers and consumers can ask for Maven Genetics at California dispensaries and visit their retail location in Tarzana.
Sponsorship note
This interview is part of the Respect My Region Hall of Flowers 2026 coverage. Canna Brand Solutions supported the broader series as a sponsor.
