The cannabis industry is exploding.
With state after state caving to public pressure and legalizing the plant for medicinal and recreational use, the market for cannabis and cannabis products is expanding quickly.
These leaves many a cannabis connoisseur wondering how to get a job in the marijuana industry. It isn’t as simple as planting a few buds under a grow light and hoping for the best.
Fortunately, we’ve got some great tips for getting a job and thriving in the cannabis industry.
Know Your Bud
Just because you enjoy cannabis, doesn’t mean you know enough to get a job in the industry.
There’s more to marijuana than the great high.
In order to get a great job in the cannabis industry, you need to know the science behind the weed.
This means knowing the properties of different strains, the nuances of THC vs CBD content, and the scientific makeup of the plants you’ll be handling.
Be Ready to Relocate
Only nine states have legalized the cultivation and use of cannabis for recreation.
So if you want a job in the marijuana industry and you don’t live in an already-legal state, you’ll need to look at moving.
Because the industry is new, you’ll also need to be careful. Don’t move unless you’ve signed papers for a legit job. If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Know Where to Look
Unfortunately, you can’t yet log on to standard job websites and find cannabis careers.
Instead, you’ll need to hunt down your future employment on marijuana-specific sites, like Weedhire and Ms. Mary’s Staffing. Both sites can connect you with professionals already in the industry who are looking to fill vacancies.
Shake Some Hands
Networking is key to how to get a job in the marijuana industry.
Join activist groups, attend conferences if you can, and make sure to make an impression.
Cannabis is still an industry in which success is very much “who you know”.
If you can shake the right hands and get your name in the right ears, a full-time gig shouldn’t be too far behind.
Brush up Your Education
If you have a degree in horticulture, agriculture, or botany, you already have a leg up.
Degrees in advertising, business, and marketing are useful too since not every role in the cannabis industry has to do with cultivation.
If you don’t have a degree, don’t fret. You can brush up on your cannabis-related education with a certificate from schools like Clover Leaf University in Colorado.
This kind of credentialing will give you legitimacy and knowledge necessary for a job in the cannabis industry.
You Know How to Get a Job in the Marijuana Industry: Now What?
Once you’ve gotten through these tips, it’s time to start streamlining that resume and putting out feelers.
The Cannabis industry is growing fast, but this is only the beginning. As more and more states move closer to legalization, demand is going to skyrocket, creating a boom in the cannabis industry. More demand = more jobs for the discerning cannabis enthusiast.
Need help getting your website seen by the right industry professionals? Contact us today!