Contributor: KC Scannell
If you’re like me, you’ve probably wondered about how to get into the cannabis industry. Well, getting in the marijuana industry isn’t as hard as you may think it is, but they’re not just letting anyone in, mind you. You have to have the right amount of passion, experience, and business acumen in order to take on such a THC-related endeavor.
Find A Job In The Cannabis Industry With These Simple Tricks
But, like with anything else marijuana-related, it all comes down to education. In short, the more you know about the industry, and it’s various ins and outs, the better off you’ll be, as far as being prepared to enter the cannabis industry is concerned.
And that’s exactly what this collection of helpful industry tips is for, to better help you prepare for this somewhat tasking effort that lies ahead. But, rest assured, if you stick to it, and make the right moves, you’ll be able to acquire one of those sought-after positions in this ever-growing industry.
So, in absolutely no order whatsoever, here are some helpful tips and tricks on how to get into the medical marijuana industry (from budtenders to business ownership).
Learn The “Lingo”
In other words, know what you’re talking about. It’s easy for pros in the weed game to spot a poser. So, if you think a night’s worth of YouTube-ing cannabis vernacular is going to cut it, you’d be dead wrong. Budtenders are only hired if they can prove they have an extensive knowledge and personal history with marijuana. They need to make informed, compassionate recommendations all the time, and a person who is merely faking a passion for the plant, will never be able to survive in such an environment. So, study up, party people!
Provide A Clean Record
This is one of those “goes without saying” situations, but it’s worth repeating. Since people are still a bit skeptical about allowing cannabis to be sold legally, you need to prove that you are a “trustworthy” person, via a clean criminal record. Any blemish will likely be too big to ignore, so if you have a crime-free past, you stand a very good chance at gaining employment in this industry, that’s for sure.
Be Ready To “Roll With The Punches”
The cannabis business, unlike most others of its kind, is always changing. New regulations and products are constantly hitting the market, in addition to ongoing fluctuations in taxes and whatnot. So, you always have to be malleable enough to go with whatever the market throws your way. It’s hard to prepare for the future in this business, but so long as you keep your finger on the pulse of the cannabis community, you’ll know exactly what moves to make, and when to make them.
Ready To Relocate?
This really only applies to certain people who may live in an anti-cannabis state, but still want to pursue a career in the marijuana field. In which case, the only chance for them to succeed at such a THC-related endeavor is to pack up and head to “greener” pastures, if you catch my drift. This could mean a full-on migration to the West Coast, but wherever you decide to call your new home, be ready to hit the ground running, because companies are always looking for passionate people willing to relocate their entire lives in order to make their dreams a reality.
Is The Wage Worth It?
Obviously, if you are able to get a dispensary off the ground, you stand a good chance at turning a mighty healthy profit, but that’s only if things are done right. For budtenders, on the other hand, their income is far less than that of their owner counterparts – for many justifiable reasons. But these positions, as crucial as they are, aren’t valued as much as they should be at some places. So, it’s vital that you do the math on a potential job opening in the field, to see if your time and effort will even be worth the wage.
Does The Position Feel Right?
Like any other position, things should feel comfortable before diving into something headfirst. By that I mean, if you have everything in order to open up a dispensary, but the only location is in a sparsely-populated part of town, known for being anti-cannabis, that probably won’t bode well for the future of your business. But, if the location is full of accepting, youthful enthusiasts, looking for a new “go-to” establishment, then you should absolutely proceed onward with your dreams of opening a dispensary! It’s all about how it feels, at the end of the day.
As Cool As It Is, It’s Still A Job
As a casual cannabis enthusiast, daydreams of a job in the marijuana industry always seem like nothing but fun, right? And, to be honest, you’re right – but only to a degree. Because, when it’s all said and done, this is a business after all, and you have a job to do. You can’t just expect to walk into an establishment, get high all day, do nothing, and go home with a fat paycheck – that’s simply never going to happen. You’ll need to put in the work in order to reap the rewards, just like any other occupation.
Do You Have A Solid Source To Learn From?
This is incredibly important. You need to find a trusted government website or knowledgeable publication that will constantly inform you about the goings-on in the cannabis community, at large. You’ll want to stay abreast of every single evolution and development that takes place. That way, you can stay ahead of the curve, and be prepared for any upcoming changes that may occur in this constantly changing industry.
Establish Strong Contacts & Connections
Whether you’re a budtender or a dispensary owner, creating business relationships with powerful companies only makes sense. Inquire about their upcoming products, negotiate with them on pricing, whatever you do, just make sure to compliment them. Flattery will get you everywhere in this business, plus that’ll only help you get the best price from those providers later on in your career.
Just Be Courteous
Which brings me to this final point: just be courteous. Nobody wants to work with a jerk. I’m sorry, but they just don’t. You may think you’re having a “no-nonsense” approach to cannabis, which is fine, but more often than not, that demeanor is frowned upon and besmirched by colleagues in the cannabis community. So, just be nice to people – be nice to everyone. Customers will want to shop at friendly places, and they’ll want to come back because of friendly customer service. That’s just “Day One” stuff, people.
Now, of course, these are just a few of the many things one will need to consider when trying to get into the medical marijuana industry, but it’s certainly a strong starting point, as far as critical cannabis knowledge is concerned.
Best of luck, my fellow cannabis enthusiasts!
