The legalization of cannabis has brought about a ‘semi-flood’ of jobs across many states where the drug has been legalized for medicinal (or recreational) purpose. With the growing awareness around the drug and many Universities offering ‘specially-crafted’ programs, the number of people willing to take up jobs in such niche is only going to skyrocket.
If you also wish to land a job in the cannabis industry, here are a few tips to start the ball rolling:
Decide the job profile you see yourself fitting in
Of course, you can always opt to work as a dispensary worker or a bud trimmer. However, don’t forget the fact that the weed industry is now like any other industry – so if you have some background in, say, communications, opting for advertising and public relations should be far more worthwhile than indulging in other generic weed jobs.
Research well
First things first, since you are looking to be a part of the weed industry, get yourself well-acquainted with all the terms and technologies, irrespective of whether you’ll be directly ‘dealing’ in such words. A few basic terms that each person from this industry should know, include: cannabinoids, cannabidiol (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), sativa, indica, terpenes, CBD isolate, Full Spectrum CBD, Broad Spectrum CBD, etc.
Then there is a dire need to understand all the state rules and regulations that apply not only to medical and recreational marijuana but also to standalone CBD products. Remember that cannabis is still federally illegal; so you can’t afford being ignorant about the conflicting laws.
Improve your social media profile
In order to check if a person is the same as he is portraying to be, most of the employers these days verify a candidate’s ‘ethical claims’ via their social profiles on LinkedIn and Facebook. Would you like to lose a job to someone just because their social profile was better than yours? This rule, in fact, applies to all the industries and isn’t just specific to cannabis.
Don’t remain stuck with just one job portal
Of course, job listing websites like Indeed (and even LinkedIn) should be your go-to portals. However, don’t just get stuck with the two; some staffing agencies can also help you find out the ideal job. Here’s a list of a few notable staffing agencies:
- HempStaff
- Vangst Staffing
- Viridian Staffing
- THC Staffing Group
- Mary Staffing
- Cannamed Talent Solutions
Think long term and don’t rush
It is believed that the first step is always the most crucial one. The cannabis industry is in its initial phases and will only boom with time. So you should take your time, consider your passion, experience and willingness to explore a particular profile and only then apply for it. A poor career choice made in haste may even make you think that the whole industry isn’t worth it; while in reality, it may be exactly the opposite.