5 Job Opportunities You Can Explore In The Cannabis Industry

Posted by Melvin Magadia on October 14th, 2019

Five years ago, selling or buying marijuana was a taboo in all 50 American states. Fast forward to today and cannabis has become legal in several states. Research by New Frontier Data, a cannabis market research firm, projects that legal marijuana industry will top billion by 2019. To date, 33 states have passed some form of marijuana legalization in the past 22 years.

With the cannabis industry continuing to grow, it opens up job opportunities that Americans can explore. Even though marijuana is still considered a banned substance, its growth is inevitable and it is opening up job opportunities very quickly. Data from ZipRecruiter revealed that the number of job openings in the marijuana industry increased by 445 percent in 2017, higher than tech (254 percent) and health care (70 percent).

If you are looking to explore potential jobs in the budding cannabis industry, here is a run down of the available jobs the industry has to offer.

Budtender

 The role of the budtender is crucial in a dispensary. They are responsible for making the customers understand each product and how to use them. Budtenders check IDs and prescription cards. They serve as the resource person answering questions and enlightening customers before they make a purchase.

Budtenders need be personable and should possess exceptional customer service skills. Although they need to have extensive knowledge of cannabis, budtenders need not have previous marijuana experience.

Edible Maker

 Both recreational and medical marijuana are available in different forms like baked goods, candies, and tea. This opens up potential employment opportunities as edible maker in a dispensary in Oklahoma. From being a chef to working in an assembly line or labeling and packaging, there is a lot of potential in the edible making sector.

As an edible maker, you will need experience in food handling and production. For the chef position, a culinary-related degree may be recommended.

Dispensary Manager

Managing a dispensary is no different from being a manager of a retail store. You manage people, track inventory, and maintain a clean and professional atmosphere. However, the role is much more complicated. A dispensary manager makes sure that employees comply with state laws. Also, they need to make sure that everyone entering the store is over 21 years old or with proper medical credentials if the dispensary is not recreational. If you don’t do this, there is a risk that your dispensary could be closed down by your state.

Director of Extraction

With this position, you will be tasked to oversee the production of oils and concentrates within the plants needed to manufacture such products. This may involve running a laboratory, managing people, or maintaining strict scientific protocols.

The Director of Extraction position may require some skills, though. You may need to have a degree in chemistry or a Ph.D holder as well. This is one of the most well-compensated positions in the cannabis industry.

Trimmer

Trimmers are called-in during harvest time to remove buds from stems and trim leaves in preparation for sale. Although some businesses employ trimmers throughout the year, smaller businesses may hire them either on a part-time or daily basis. A trimmer requires no special education although you need to be 21 years old and should be a holder of a special state permit.