The cannabis industry is big business. And big business requires professionals. And just because you didn’t hang around the stoners in school doesn’t mean a cannabis career isn’t for you.
Sure, cannabis has its fair share of smokers and midnight tokers, but it also has bolstered its professional standing significantly since going mainstream. As the industry legitimizes, a full spectrum of people are joining cannabis’ employment rosters, including professionals in finance and accounting, human resources, IT, marketing, and more.
And remember, you don’t have to like getting high to find that this business can bring you joy in other ways, such as knowing that you’re providing folks with relief from anxiety without prescription drugs, easing the pain of chemotherapy patients, or helping veterans with PTSD sleep better at night. Today the benefits of cannabis are supported by research, widely accepted, and in some cases, life-altering.
So, how to get into the business?
For many job seekers, the blooming cannabis biz presents an attractive opportunity for full-time employment. In fact, many employees working outside the weed business think the grass looks significantly greener on the cannabis side of things.
And because there are so many employment opportunities available in cannabis, a recruiting and staffing partner like Higher Growth Search can help you find a role that works for you.
Transferring traditional skills to cannabis
In the cannabis world, some candidates really want to get their hands dirty, while others simply want to find success within a more familiar role.
Professionals with careers in traditional industries have many options to transfer their skills to cannabis companies focused on particular sectors, including cultivation, lab extraction and testing, manufacturing, distribution, and retail.
Cannabis employers have open positions for full-time direct-hire roles that include many of the same benefits and growth opportunities (and even accelerated growth opportunities) as traditional companies.
If you’re interested in bringing your skills and experience to a high-growth, emerging industry, cannabis might be for you.
Working directly with weed – the green thumbs
It’s totally cool if you want a job with a contact high. When it comes to weed, let your work do the talking in key jobs such as:
- trimmer
- sales associate/budtender
- dispensary manager
- production technician
- cultivation manager
- integrated pest manager
- extraction technician
- quality technician (aka weed tester)
- and many more!
Working indirectly with weed – the behind-the-scenes team
Many jobs in cannabis don’t require you to work directly with weed all day, such as these operational or support roles:
- accounting & finance professional
- IT manager
- HR specialist
- marketing director
- sales rep
- security guard
- delivery manager
- and many more!
A marijuana license? You might need one!
Commercial cannabis activity is highly regulated. In many states, such as Colorado and California, proper licensing is required before entering the industry, so you’ll need to be aware of the requirements.
According to Trade-Schools.net, every state with legalized marijuana has its own laws and regulations. “Potential employers will also appreciate it if you have the proper license, permit, or badge to work around cannabis — before you apply for jobs with them.”
However you plan on entering the industry, it’s important to find a role that suits you and your career ambitions. If you have questions, reach out to us. We’d be glad to share what we know about working in the cannabis industry.