Underground Cannabis Events in Los Angeles (2024–2025)

Underground Cannabis Events in Los Angeles (2024–2025)

The Los Angeles area hosts a thriving underground cannabis event scene that has persisted from the medical-marijuana era into the recreational era. From secret pop-up markets and social smoke sessions to cannabis-infused art classes and invite-only tasting parties, these events cater to niche subcultures within the cannabis community. They are often not widely publicized, instead relying on word of mouth, private social media groups, newsletters, or invite-only channels for promotion. Below is a structured overview of notable underground cannabis events (Jan 2024–May 2025), including their organizers, dates, types, and how enthusiasts typically find out about them.

Secret Sesh – Underground Pop-Up Gatherings

Secret Sesh is a long-running series of underground cannabis gatherings in LA, founded in 2012 by Tim Brown. It began as a secret medical-era “pot party” and has become “the barometer for Los Angeles cannabis events” over the past decade. Secret Sesh events function as pop-up markets and social sessions where multiple vendors, growers, and consumers meet at undisclosed locations. Despite the name, the brand is well-known in the community (even surviving into legalization era), but events are still semi-private. Attendees typically learn of Secret Sesh locations via Instagram announcements or member invites (e.g. via the official @secretsesh_la page) and sometimes through partner dispensaries. For example, one Secret Sesh in 2024 was promoted in collaboration with SkunkMasters dispensary and lounge and held on May 26, 2024 in Port Hueneme (outside LA, showing the brand’s regional reach). Secret Sesh has also teamed up with licensed operators – the team even helped produce Greenwolf dispensary’s Zalympix championship event. Events often feature live music, product sampling, and a festival vibe, though locations are revealed last-minute to confirmed guests to maintain discretion. (Notably, past Secret Sesh events have been held at venues like the Wisdome LA art park, and some have doubled as charity drives such as toy drives.) Law enforcement crackdowns have occurred in the past, so organizers keep promotion to private channels and community forums – for instance, Reddit users frequently ask “How can I find secret sesh in LA?”, with locals advising to follow insider social media pages or get referrals.

Kushstock Festival – Cannabis Music & Culture Fest

Kushstock is a larger-scale underground festival that celebrates cannabis culture with live music, art, and vendor booths. Founded in 2016, Kushstock has drawn tens of thousands of attendees over multiple events. It is an open-air “420 festival” that’s free or low-cost to attend, making it popular among SoCal cannabis enthusiasts. While not advertised in mainstream outlets, it’s promoted within cannabis circles (e.g. via Instagram @kushstock). In 2024–2025, Kushstock held events such as an April 19, 2024 pre-420 show in Los Angeles (promotional posts listed “April 19 – 1000 E 60th St, Los Angeles” as an event location) and a major Kushstock Festival on October 26, 2024 at the Adelanto Plaza & Event Center (in the High Desert area east of LA). The Adelanto event featured a full day of music performances, cannabis vendors, art installations, and on-site consumption areas. These festivals operate in a gray area (attendees must be 21+ and typically any “sales” are disguised as donations or free giveaways due to legal restrictions). Despite minimal public advertising, Kushstock draws crowds through social media, cannabis influencers, and community flyers. The organizers also partnered with the California Cannabis Awards Music Festival in 2024, combining an industry award show with the festival atmosphere. Kushstock’s recurring nature and “for the community, by the community” vibe have made it a staple in the SoCal underground scene.

Zalympix by Greenwolf – Elite Cannabis Competition

The Zalympix is an elite cannabis competition and party organized by Greenwolf (an LA dispensary) that, while not exactly secret, caters to connoisseurs and insiders. It is essentially a “cannabis cup” event where top growers and brands compete, and the community gets to sample and vote on the best products. In 2025 this event had a particularly high-profile gathering: the California Zalympix 2025 Awards on March 1, 2025 at The Beehive in Los Angeles. This event was a hybrid of an awards ceremony and a mini-festival, even featuring mainstream entertainment (hip-hop artists Gucci Mane and LaRussell performed). The Zalympix draws a niche crowd of “passionate connoisseurs, cultivators, and enthusiasts” celebrating top-shelf cannabis flowers and extracts. Tickets aren’t broadly advertised; promotion happens via Greenwolf’s channels and cannabis media. Attendees usually purchase judge kits (boxes of sample strains) from the dispensary ahead of time to partake in voting, and the culminating event is announced through industry newsletters and Instagram. Because it’s a licensed event (held by a legal dispensary) it skirts the “underground” label, but it remains niche – known primarily within cannabis insider circles. The Zalympix 2025 exemplified how even semi-public events still target the core community, with specialized knowledge needed to attend (e.g., knowing when judge kits drop, or following Greenwolf for tickets).

Budist and Cannabis Culture Club – Private Connoisseur Events

A significant development in 2024–2025 is the rise of boutique cannabis event organizers like Budist and Cannabis Culture Club, who host curated, intimate events for cannabis connoisseurs. These gatherings blend social, educational, and culinary experiences, often at private venues, and are invite-only or require RSVP via special links. Participants usually find out through email newsletters or by following the organizers on social media, then signing up on platforms like EventHi with a passcode. For example, Budist (a local cannabis community collective) regularly announces its “Budist Sessions” via a mailing list. Notable recent events include:

• “Pink Jesus” Ice Cream Social – May 3, 2025: A social tasting event co-hosted by Budist, Sonoma Hills Farm, and Fruit & Flower, celebrating a cannabis strain called “Pink Jesus.” Held at a private residence in Northeast LA, this afternoon gathering offered a “multi-sensory, elevated flavor exploration” with infused gourmet ice cream, edibles (Lost Farm chews), and hash pairings. Such an event mingles foodies and cannabis aficionados in a casual backyard setting. Attendance was 21+ and by pre-purchased ticket (EventHi), with the address given to confirmed guests only.

• Hash Nouveau – May 1, 2025: An immersive hash-tasting event at The Woods (a cannabis lounge in West Hollywood). Budist and POET partnered to create an experience inspired by wine harvest festivals (hence “Nouveau”). It celebrated the fresh 2024 cannabis harvest by showcasing newly made hash and rosin from top cultivators. Guests could meet hash-makers and sample concentrates in a controlled session. This exclusive one-night event required tickets and was 21+. Because The Woods is a licensed consumption venue, it provided a legal backdrop for an otherwise very niche connoisseur gathering.

• Higher Ground – March 30, 2025: A coffee-and-cannabis education brunch hosted by Budist at The Woods in Hollywood. Attendees explored the interplay of artisan coffee and craft cannabis, starting with a guided “coffee cupping” (tasting) led by a coffee expert, followed by an aromatic tasting of hash and flowers, and ending with a dab bar and joint rolling station, alongside specialty coffee drinks. This morning event (10am–1pm) highlighted the crossover of two subcultures (third-wave coffee and cannabis) in a sensory way. Tickets were limited and shared via Budist’s channels.

• Blue Dream Tasting Party – March 23, 2025: A private strain-focused party in Northeast LA centered on the classic “Blue Dream” cultivar. Co-hosted by Cannabis Culture Club, it featured a guided exploration of Blue Dream’s flavor profile, effects, and even culinary pairings, set to music. This was an afternoon 21+ gathering by invite – essentially a mini cannabis salon where enthusiasts deep-dive into a single strain. It exemplifies how specific and niche some events are (devoted to one famed strain’s legacy).

• “Big Spicy” Dinner – Feb 28, 2025: An underground fine-dining experience pairing gourmet Asian cuisine with premium cannabis extracts. Budist and Cannabis Culture Club collaborated with chefs (e.g. Chef Wendy Zeng) to present a 4-course dinner in Northeast LA, each course paired with solventless hash rosin curated by top extract brands. The theme explored “the rich history of spices and cannabis across ancient Asia”. Only a handful of guests attended (paid tickets), and notably the location and tickets were only provided via direct message (DM) through Cannabis Culture Club – a true word-of-mouth event. A portion of proceeds went to charity, adding a community aspect. These kinds of cannabis supper clubs operate completely off mainstream radar.

Many of these connoisseur events are recurring or part of a series. For instance, Fleur Nouveau (Dec 17, 2024) was a precursor to Hash Nouveau – it celebrated the fall sungrown flower harvest with tastings at The Woods. Likewise, the organizers host seasonal gatherings (harvest celebrations, “friendsgiving” dinners, etc.). A Friendsgiving event on Nov 21, 2024 at PleasureMed lounge in West Hollywood brought together industry folks for a cannabis-infused Thanksgiving-style feast. Earlier that week, on Nov 14, 2024, Budist and Leaf Magazine hosted a “Harvest Issue Release Party” at PleasureMed, featuring cannabis tastings, bingo, and brand showcases to celebrate the magazine’s fall edition. These examples illustrate the vibrant micro-scenes in LA – whether it’s haute cuisine with hash, or thematic tastings – all happening somewhat under the radar. Interested participants typically must subscribe to insider newsletters or follow organizations like Budist, Fruit + Flower, or Cannabis Culture Club to receive RSVP links.

Cannabis Lounges and Community Gatherings

With West Hollywood and Los Angeles slowly permitting cannabis consumption lounges, some “underground” culture has moved into semi-public but niche events at these venues. Licensed cannabis lounges such as The Artist Tree Studio Lounge (West Hollywood and in Fresno/Hawthorne), The Woods (WeHo), and PleasureMed (WeHo) regularly host community-centric events that cater to cannabis enthusiasts:

• Cannabis Comedy Nights: For example, The Artist Tree lounge has a recurring “Cannabis & Comedy Show” series. One such event on Mar 13, 2025 in Hawthorne featured stand-up comedians in an on-site consumption-friendly environment. These shows are typically ticketed via Eventbrite and advertised as 21+ “BYOC” (bring your own cannabis) comedy events. Only those plugged into cannabis-friendly event listings would know (they may appear on Eventbrite or DoLA under niche categories).

• Live Music and DJ Sessions: Lounges also hold music events like “Sunset Sessions” (a DJ and live music night at The Artist Tree’s WeHo rooftop, e.g. Aug 17, 2024) and themed dance parties. In May 2025, The Artist Tree Lounge hosted a “THC & Techno” night (advertised on Instagram as “a night where the dance floor meets the canna[bis] community” on May 15, 6–9pm, West Hollywood). These are essentially small nightclub-style events but with open cannabis use – something not found in mainstream clubs.

• Puff & Paint / Art Workshops: “Puff Puff Paint” classes have popped up, such as sessions at The Artist Tree Studio Lounge (e.g. one on Aug 11, 2024). These allow attendees to consume cannabis and create art under guidance, similar to the classic “wine and paint” concept but 420-friendly. They’re promoted through cannabis event calendars and the lounge’s website.

• Community meetups and advocacy: Groups like Los Angeles NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) hold monthly chapter meetings (often at cannabis-friendly venues or online) for activists and consumers – though these are more public, they are usually only circulated within activist networks. Similarly, industry networking groups have emerged: the Cannabis Chamber of Commerce held a Los Angeles Mixer on May 29, 2025 at The Artist Tree West Hollywood, aimed at entrepreneurs and professionals. This event (co-hosted by MJBizCon and Budist) was advertised via an EventHi link and through business channels, not general event sites. Another example is Blunt Brunch, a networking series for women executives in cannabis – while their big 2024 meet-up coincided with a Las Vegas conference, local LA-area Blunt Brunch or Women Grow meetups occur as private brunches or happy hours announced in closed Facebook or LinkedIn groups.

Finding out about these events: To tap into these happenings, enthusiasts often rely on private invites, social media, and insider platforms. Many events require joining a mailing list or RSVP’ing through a link that’s shared in closed circles. For instance, Budist’s site explicitly invites people to subscribe for “early invites and exclusive access”. Some event tickets are sold on mainstream platforms (Eventbrite, etc.) but under innocuous names or with age-gated access. Instagram remains a key hub – organizers post flyers on stories or private pages, and interested followers DM to get details (as seen with the Big Spicy dinner, where one had to DM for the secret location). Niche event sites like EventHi.io cater specifically to cannabis events and often list these pop-ups (requiring an account to RSVP). Additionally, community forums (Reddit’s r/CaliforniaCannabis or r/LAtrees) are used by newcomers to ask how to find “sesh” info – typically receiving advice to network with locals or follow certain accounts. In short, word-of-mouth and trust are key: the underground cannabis scene operates much like a modern speakeasy network, where each event’s details are shared discreetly to keep the vibe safe and insider-only.

Below is a summary table of key underground events from Jan 2024 to May 2025, illustrating the range of event types, dates, and venues, along with sources:

Event Name	Date (2024–25)	Type of Event	Location (if public)	Source(s)
Secret Sesh (LA series)	Recurring (e.g., May 26, 2024)	Pop-up market & social “sesh”	Varies (secret venues; e.g. SkunkMasters Port Hueneme lounge)
Kushstock Festival	Oct 26, 2024	Music/cultural festival	Adelanto Plaza & Event Ctr., CA
Zalympix Awards (Greenwolf)	Mar 1, 2025	Competition + concert event	The Beehive, Los Angeles, CA
“Pink Jesus” Ice Cream Social (Budist)	May 3, 2025	Infused food & product tasting	Private residence, Northeast LA
Hash Nouveau (Budist/POET)	May 1, 2025	Cannabis concentrate tasting	The Woods lounge, West Hollywood
Higher Ground (Budist)	Mar 30, 2025	Coffee x Cannabis education	The Woods lounge, West Hollywood
Blue Dream Tasting Party	Mar 23, 2025	Strain-focused social gathering	Private residence, Northeast LA
“Big Spicy” Dinner (Culinary Club)	Feb 28, 2025	Fine dining with cannabis pairings	Private venue, Northeast LA (secret)
Friendsgiving @ PleasureMed	Nov 21, 2024	Holiday-themed infused dinner	PleasureMed lounge, West Hollywood
Leaf Harvest Issue Party	Nov 14, 2024	Networking & tasting event	PleasureMed lounge, West Hollywood
Fleur Nouveau (Budist)	Dec 17, 2024	Fresh harvest tasting event	The Woods Ganja Garden, WeHo
LA Cannabis Chamber Mixer	May 29, 2025	Industry networking mixer	Artist Tree Lounge, West Hollywood
Cannabis & Comedy Night	Mar 13, 2025	Comedy show (BYO-cannabis)	Artist Tree Lounge, Hawthorne, CA

Each of these events demonstrates a facet of LA’s underground cannabis culture. Whether it’s a secret sesh in a warehouse, a glitzy awards night, or a tasteful private dinner, the common thread is community and exclusivity. Enthusiasts stay in the loop via private networks, ensuring that the events remain safe spaces for cannabis consumption and expression of subcultures – all thriving just beneath the surface of the public eye.