Jobs. Cannabis jobs, to be exact. This profitable multi-million dollar industry has created thousands of job openings that have one thing in common: they’re the dream job of any cannabis lover.
Learn more about how you can work in the cannabis industry, which are the best 10 cannabis jobs out there and how our education programs & executive networking can help you get the job you always wanted.
The cannabis industry & overall growth
First, let’s discuss a bit about the industry and how it’s evolved in the past few years.
Leafly stated that the industry already provides a workplace for over 243,700 people. And what’s more, Marijuana Business Daily’s projections indicate that this number could almost double by 2023, providing sustenance for over a little under half a million.
And according to Forbes, “the CBD market will grow to $2.1 billion in consumer sales by 2020 […], with $450 million of those sales coming from hemp-based sources.” And according to Marijuana Break, the marijuana industry “could be worth $57 billion by 2028”, or even “73.6 billion by 2027” in a global scale according to a report published by Grand View Research, Inc.
In other words, the future is green, people!
This means that thanks to legalized cannabis, jobs that never existed before now are not only endless today, but also lucrative and full of talent. Passionate people from all over the world are united under a common cause: their love for cannabis and their love for helping others.
A new & competitive job market
The increasing global legalization and the medical & recreational uses that will boost the growth of the green industry can only mean one thing: more job opportunities.
So if a “normal” desk job isn’t your thing, you’ve come to the right place. A cannabis job may just be waiting for you. Cultivation, extraction, production, packaging, delivery, dispensing and even marketing and customer success have become new areas where cannabis experts can flourish.
Let’s discuss them a bit further:
12 Great Jobs in the Cannabis Industry
Master Grower
A grower is the first step to make the magic happen. In charge of the cultivation operations, they need to know planting, cloning, plant nutrition, pest management, grow-house technology, and compliance and regulations. Harvesters and cultivators are an ideal position for those experienced in gardening and with a green thumb (pun intended) who are looking to transition into a growing market with an extreme potential for success.
Master Extractor
“I love knowing that the product I help manufacture, market, sell, and distribute is going to help the end-consumer. That means the world to me. […] I’m so proud of what we do.”
Ian Kelly, CBD VP of Operations at NuLeaf Naturals
In the medical marijuana field, this is one of the top jobs. Master extractors need a rare combination of expertise, since their job requires them to oversee the production of safe and effective oils, concentrates and extracts of the marijuana plant, measure accurate amounts of THC/CBD and manage the laboratory facility, adhering to safety and government regulations. This is also where jobs like trimmer, harvester or cultivator can also take place.
Chef of Edibles
If they’re bored with the traditional kitchen, skilled chefs or pastry artists may well look into the cannabis industry for a job. Chefs in charge of edible will be creating, developing and overseeing the productions of all the different food items with cannabis as the star ingredient. So if you love making candies, chocolates, baked goods, soda, coffee, and treats and you also love marijuana, you’re in for a dream job.
Dispensary Jobs
“The best job opportunity right now in cannabis and the easiest place to start would be a budtender in a dispensary. This is a great ground-level position as it would introduce a novice to all the brands available in their state as well as give them an opportunity to show off their enthusiasm.”
Kyle Rosner, Production Director at 420Interactive
Marijuana dispensary jobs are one of the biggest components in the marijuana industry. From manager to budtender to even cashier, dispensaries have tons of opportunities to offer inside a more retail-focused environment. You’re the front line to the customer, the point of purchase, the direct recommendation. Your word is gold here.
Packaging
For either the cannabis buds, edibles or even vaporizers, safe packaging is always a must. Ergonomics, safety, and appeal require an efficient hand throughout the entire process.
Distribution
From couriers to distribution operations, delivering packages to people’s homes is no longer only up to Fedex or Amazon. Cannabis is becoming a big part of this sector – one that will only continue to grow in the coming years.
Legal
“Attorneys who are well versed and knowledgeable in cannabis law will become the cannabis business consultants of the next decade. Every marijuana entrepreneur who wants to break into the industry will need the services of one of these attorneys to make sure they are doing everything within the law, which is incredibly complex and often confusing when you consider each state has its own code of laws.”Steve Lopez, CEO of The Green Solution
Zachary Parker, partner at Core Extractions
Marketing
This is by far, one of the most important cannabis jobs out there. Cannabis operates in a tricky legal area. Between constantly changing state laws, complex regulations and
Plan, develop, and launch an exciting new cannabis brand. From brand managers to designers and even marketing directors, the cannabis industry has a LOT to communicate. So if this sounds like your cup of tea, you’re in it to win it because there are opportunities aplenty.
Lab technician
Testing, testing, testing. From the buds to the edibles, lab technicians (third party or industry-owned) are required to check for THC & CBD levels, pests, and other contaminants. They’re the final line of defense when it comes to consumer safety, so their job is one of the most important ones.
Real estate
Unique knowledge of legal, agricultural and real estate knowledge is needed here to take advantage of your expertise to provide a marijuana company owner the perfect space to create their marijuana farms, set up their dispensaries and establish their corporate offices.
Tourism
Yes, you read correctly: a cannabis job for travel enthusiasts. Whether people want to enjoy quality marijuana for recreational purposes or they need a medical treatment that’s not provided in their home state, a lot of people are traveling across the country to purchase and consume marijuana. This opened the way for words like cannabis tours, cannabis travel packages and even cannabis Airbnb’s to exist.
Consultant
Consulting is a 360º challenge. A combination of lawyers, accountants of other experts in the marijuana field can help businesses find an acceptable location, obtain the necessary licenses and even manage bookkeeping and tax requirements. They’re sort of the master pulling the puppet’s strings, making sure everything is going according to plan.
And if none of these interest you, you can always take a leap into entrepreneurship and create your own company. The sky’s the limit.
Aside from these 10 top cannabis jobs, there are obviously other types of work involved, from security to Human Resources, writing, web development, and design.
“The best thing about a day working in this industry is that no day is the same and that I get to work with the best team in the industry who are all passionate about cannabis. We hire hard-working, passionate employees that are working to better their communities and make a positive impact in our state. “
Steve Lopez, CEO of The Green Solution
Now to the big question: how can you get one of these cannabis jobs? Aside from professional experience in any administrative, creative or business field, qualifications within the cannabis industry will certainly be a plus. You can become a cannabis expert by doing one simple thing: going to school.
Our Programs, Courses, and Certifications
At Cleveland School of Cannabis, we want to equip all our students with the necessary knowledge to succeed in this blooming industry and get the cannabis job of their life. That’s why we’ve developed different programs, courses, and certifications where you can enroll in order to deepen your knowledge and widen your professional landscape:
Cannabis Horticulture
This program is meant to teach everything you need to know about growing medical-grade cannabis. People interested in cannabis jobs focused on growth and farming will benefit greatly from it.
Cannabis Dispensary
This program is meant for future managers, supervisors, and entrepreneurs. It’s a well-rounded approach for anyone looking for a cannabis job with a more administrative approach.
Medical Applications of Cannabis
This program is meant to equip anyone with scientific facts about cannabis medicine, going into detail as to its effects on the human body & the medical community approach. This is particularly useful to students with a medical background, but will also work for anyone interested in consulting, journalism, policy, advocacy, and government cannabis jobs.
The best part? You can take our programs either physically or online.
Keep in mind that while the marijuana industry is still young, very few people have the qualifications needed to succeed in this industry. That’s where school comes in. Education is key for success, and this applies to every single industry – cannabis jobs included.
So get ready, dream job. Because here we come.