Cannabis as a Job Opportunity

In recent years, legal cannabis has become a growing industry filled with job opportunities.  In 2020, the cannabis industry was able to employ more people than in other conventional industries, such as in electrical engineering and web development.  In fact, the legal cannabis industry is expected to employ at least 600,000 full-time workers across the United States by 2025.  

Legal cannabis has been able to see great growth even during the pandemic having added more than 77,000 full-time jobs in 2020 and even increasing sales by 71% compared to 2019.  Nowadays, one in three Americans live in places that support the legalization of cannabis, and as more states become more open to legal cannabis use, jobs will continue to grow.  

With the cannabis market getting larger, there is more opportunity for entry-level employees to advance more quickly in their careers.  There are already several positions in the industry that provide well.  For example, a master extractor can make up to $250,000 by overseeing the production of safe concentrates and oils while a master grower can make anywhere between $50,000 and $120,000 by being an expert in botany or horticulture and managing larger operations.  Even a basic entry-level job such as being a trimmer, harvester, or cultivator can pay up to $41,000 just by helping growers to trim, harvest, process, and care for cannabis crops.  

Although the cannabis industry is tightly controlled and requires specialized knowledge for all levels of operations, many professionals from other industries like marketing, software development, and logistics can apply their expertise to the industry.  Retail and restaurant workers who have gone into the cannabis industry have even stated that they were able to enter a more supportive and welcoming working environment.  

Getting into the legal cannabis industry requires some work, but it can be all worth it several years down the road.  Like any other job, you need to research job boards or cannabis sites like Leafwire, FlowerHire, and CannaRecruiter to figure out what job opportunities you can apply to.  It is crucial to expand your knowledge of cannabis as you search by reading about the history, social impact, and medical benefits of marijuana.  It is also important to keep up with the latest regulations and legalization efforts happening in the country. Sites like NORML and Canna Law Blog can provide you with the information you need.  Some states could also require you to get a marijuana worker license.  Nonetheless, make sure to present yourself as a thriving professional instead of an enthusiast to give the right impression.  

Who knows?  A cannabis job might be your chance at a successful career.