The pot culture in America has changed rapidly over the years as more and more legislation has taken effect and changed the way we view the plant.
While so many people are employed and make a good living because of the legal cannabis industry, the federally illegal status of the plant means the government does not count these employed people in their employment statistics.
However, those in the cannabis industry are not flying completely under the radar. Leafly found that manufacturers and distributors for both medicinal and recreational weed had a dramatic increase in jobs in 2018, with over 64,000 new positions coming in. Over 211,000 cannabis-related jobs exist across the nation now.
There are lots of jobs in the cannabis industry and some you probably have already thought about. Working in a dispensary is a fun way to get into the industry and help people hands-on, but there are so many other cannabis-related jobs that are oftentimes looked over.
CANNABIS TRIMMER
What better way to get hands-on experience in the industry and really understand the plant than to spend your days trimming it?
Trimmers spend most of their time making the plant ideal for consumption by removing the larger leaves, the stems, and buds. You’ll need to be quick and have an eye for detail.
This is an entry-level position and the least lucrative in the industry, but nevertheless a crucial part of the process and an interesting job. If you’re sick of entry-level jobs in other industries, cannabis trimming may be a better fit for you.
EXTRACTION TECHNICIAN
Extraction technician jobs range vastly across different companies and operations. Some require a Ph.D. while others do not require any sort of diploma. Just look up “extraction technician” and you’ll find a plethora of cannabis companies looking for help.
The job involves preparing trimmed cannabis for extraction and operating machinery to extract different compounds from the plant. It requires some physical work, but a lot of it comes down to using the machines properly and allowing them to do the heavy lifting.
MARKETER
Though cannabis is popular on its own, the legal industry would not be thriving as it is without marketers keeping awareness alive. As a digital marketer, you may never even come in contact with the plant.
Cannabis digital marketers are responsible for coming up with marketing strategies to enhance brand awareness. They develop, implement, and manage different marketing avenues to keep brand awareness strong.
Marketers will need to have a knack for sales, storytelling, and be great at running social media platforms or writing blogs with industry insights that provide value for the consumer.
OTHER CANNABIS-RELATED JOBS
There are so many different cannabis-related jobs on the market today, there’s no doubt you’d be able to find your place in the industry if you’re determined and the opportunities are even higher for creating positions that help fix a problem in the industry.
From store managers to grow masters to lawyers and insurers, there is a place for pretty much everyone who has a passion for the product.
If you’re looking to get involved in the growing cannabis industry, look to your strengths and see how you can mold them into a cannabis career. Jobs in the marijuana industry are not going away any time soon, so keep your eyes peeled, you just might be the next Cannabis guru.
