Cannabis is one of the most commonly used recreational drugs in the world. An estimated 180 million people worldwide consume cannabis extracts regularly. The global cannabis industry is currently worth an estimated $31.4 billion and is projected to be worth around $74 billion by 2027.
Some countries such as Canada, Uruguay, Netherlands, and parts of the United States have decriminalized the possession and use of small amounts of cannabis.
With more countries around the world moving towards legalizing the medicinal and recreational use of marijuana, this means there will be a high demand for cannabis industry jobs ranging from the medical field to commercial farming.
Because most cannabis companies are still in their early years of operation, employment might seem hard to come by. So if you want to attract job offers from the best companies, click here is how you can set yourself up.
1. Network Aggressively
Like in many other fields, success in the cannabis industry is all about knowing the right people and having the right kinds of connections with them. You need to work towards building a strong network by getting in touch with some of the movers and shakers of the business.
Try and attend industry-related events, show your enthusiasm by initiating conversations about cannabis on social media sites and marijuana blogs/forums. When you carve out a profile for yourself within the canna community, you’ll strategically place yourself in a position where you can learn from those already working in that industry.
Prove you are invested in the profession, always keep a close ear on the ground for future opportunities, and you will have a much better chance of being employed than your competition.
2. Choose Your Area of Specialization
This industry is a lot like the corporate sector. There is a wide variety of job titles in the cannabis field ranging from management to site work.
The cannabis industry comprises managers, assistants, accountants, administrators, security personnel, and delivery drivers. These job titles are more administrative oriented, focusing on supply chains and distribution, compared to the cultivation line that focuses more on the manufacturing of the product.
If you are a more hands-on person, you should consider a job in cultivation. Some of the sectors that require a hands-on approach include on site-management, lab and fieldwork, cannabis extraction, trimming, cooking edibles, trimmers, being a master grower, and even working in distribution.
There are also more specialized roles such as web development, IT management, compliance management, sales representatives, and cannabis tour guides. Naturally, different job titles demand different personality types, skill sets, and aptitudes.
Click here to find out which occupation could be the best for you. Knowing what you want to do beforehand will put you ahead of others who only have a vague idea of their aspirations.
3. Build a Foundation
All professions have different, specific requirements to achieve success and the cannabis industry is no different. One must be competitive and do whatever it takes to give them an edge over others seeking employment in the same industry.
Learn and refine the necessary skills you have to narrow down what you can do so you can ground yourself once the opportunity comes along.
4. Get Some Managerial Experience
This is one of the most valuable skills you can have in this industry. You must be comfortable and experienced in managing people, high-volume retail, and facilities such as dispensaries or smoke shops. You must learn to develop strong interpersonal relations with staff, co-workers, and clients or patients alike.
5. Get Some Tourism Experience
An increasingly common occurrence in the cannabis industry is field touring. Since it’s a relatively ‘young’ industry, potential investors and clients/patients usually do field tours where they are taken around growing fields to see the process the plant goes through; from growth to extraction, and ultimately, the finished product.
Having a background or knowledge in tourism will help you tackle this aspect of the job far more effectively and convincingly.
6. Be Open to Temporary Jobs
Whether you get work as a site-worker, a clerk, a plantation guide, or a delivery driver, any job in the industry will provide you with real-time on the job training and experience that you can build on so you can grow further in this industry.
No matter what capacity you want to work in, it helps to have a basic understanding of how different aspects of the industry function, coming together as a whole to create an entire industry dedicated to the cultivation and sale of medical and recreational marijuana.
You are also more likely to be recruited than graduates applying for the same job(s) fresh out of high school or college, especially if you showed professionalism and aptitude for the job during your tenure.
7. Build Your Scientific Knowledge
You don’t need a science doctorate to get a job in the industry. However, you might need to have a solid understanding of the science of marijuana. And not just about its cultivation and the different breeds or strains available, but also its chemical and physiological effects on the human mind and body.
Even in the 21st century, many stereotypes still surround the recreational and medicinal use of cannabis. Having a good understanding of the science behind it will improve your chances with potential employers.
This is particularly important for those who want to work in manufacturing and cultivation lines in the cannabis industry.
Become a Part of the Green Rush
The full potential of the cannabis industry is yet to be realized. Still, we now know that it has tremendous earning potential as it will tap into a massive market of clients that use the plant for medicinal and recreational purposes.
Attitudes toward cannabis are slowly but surely changing around the world. Once viewed as a harmful drug and even called the “Devil’s Lettuce,” cannabis is now being used to treat various illnesses and is also considered a safer, healthier alternative to alcohol and tobacco products.
Today almost half of the United States has decriminalized marijuana use in small amounts for personal consumption and governments around the world are starting to see the possible commercial and industrial profits to be reaped from decriminalizing this drug.
As more people continue to embrace the cannabis industry, this can only mean more significant employment opportunities for qualified individuals.
