Here’s Why the Cannabis Industry Is Growing and How to Get in Now
The cannabis industry is set to be one of the fastest-growing markets in the coming decade. As more states legalize cannabis for both medicinal and recreational use, the more jobs are going to be created.
The 9-to-5 rat race you’re living in needs something to breathe new life into it. Getting into the cannabis industry could just be the career change you’re looking for.
What Is Cannabis?
Cannabis is a group of plants in the Cannabis family is known for its medicinal properties. Products and consumption methods differ offering relief from a variety of symptoms and conditions that range from pain and muscle spasms to insomnia, nausea and anxiety. While some consumers use marijuana it for its sedative effects, others consume cannabis to help with focus and energy to get through the day.
The cannabis industry gained popularity when states started to legalize medicinal and recreational use of the plant. As of 2020, there are 11 states and the District of Columbia that have fully legalized recreational use of cannabis. There are a total of 41 states that have some type of medical program.
With the growth in popularity and support for the legalization of cannabis, the cannabis industry has evolved into storefronts that represent the people of America.
What the Economic Forecast Says About Cannabis
With the first legalization of recreational marijuana in 2012 in Colorado and Washington, there has been an economic boom in these cities related to the cannabis industry. Cannabis industry jobs have sprung up thanks to the licensing of cultivators, processors and dispensaries. Entrepreneurs have successfully launched brands that have gone on to be featured in many states.
By 2016, the cannabis industry had over $6 billion in global sales. Year-over-year this trend has continued and the forecast for cannabis industry investors looks to see $73.6 billion in global sales by 2027.
What does that mean for the United States? It means that while the industry is still young, it has no where to go but up. Not only is cannabis accepted globally, the U.S. market is growing in leaps in bounds with not only legal marijuana but also with the addition of CBD retail shops.
Different Types of Positions
Cannabis industry job are highly sought after and extremely competitive these days. Because of the rapid growth in the states, new positions are created daily. There are a variety of jobs ranging from inventory clerks, security guards and delivery drivers to master cultivators and extraction specialists.
Entry-level positions into the cannabis industry vary from budtender (dispensary agent), to extraction technician (extractor/processor) and cultivation site workers. What do you currently do? The Hemp and Cannabis businesses need accountants, receptionists, procurement clerks, inventory specialists and salespeople.
If you enjoy customer service positions, budtenders or dispensary agent positions are a great place to start. In this position, the candidate will spend time with their customers providing plant information and cannabis product knowledge. If you do not have plant knowledge, research cannabis training classes to help you get your foot in the door.
The higher the salary, the more experience and perhaps degrees, the position will require. Specialized positions include Directors of Cultivation, Master Extractors, General Managers and Directors of Marketing.
How Well Does the Cannabis Industry Pay?
As with any field, when you start off in the cannabis industry, there are different brackets for pay depending on skillset and experience.
If you are looking to get into an entry-level role with no experience, you can look to make a decent wage. The average dispensary agent will be looking to make around 14 to 15 dollars an hour, depending on the state.
Management salaries are commiserate with experience. If the candidate has been a store manger for a large department chain over the past ten years and is hired on to be a dispensary manager, they can look to make 50 to 80 thousand dollars a year.
There are also different risks when addressing different types of jobs. If you’re ringing someone up every day and just deal with the sale of the products, you have little to no risk. Unfortunately, this also means little to no hazard pay.
Now, if you’re working in a laboratory or working security, there are certain risk factors that will affect your pay. You may have to deal with dangerous chemicals if you work in the lab. If you are working overnight security and this business is in a questionable neighborhood, you can expect a higher dollar amount per hour.
Where Does America Sit on the Cannabis Fence?
America is in a constant debate on what to do with cannabis. The majority of the states have at least legalized the plant for medicinal purposes. But there are still about eight that think it is a bad idea or will not even give their people the option to vote on it.
Under the current presidential administration, there seems to be no definitive stance on the subject. The comments made by President Trump seem to indicate that he is not in favor of legalizing the plant federally but does seem to support the states legalizing it themselves.
The majority of Americans seem to be in favor of legalizing Adult-Use cannabis. This number has been steadily rising over the past few years. It can be expected to reach new heights of support with continued studies supporting the benefits.
The Cannabis Industry: Your Future
The cannabis industry is at an all-time high. Major metropolitan states continue the trend toward legalizing marijuana. The studies being done have shown that the benefits outweigh any possible negative that may come with it.
Taking the steps to get into the cannabis industry now can be one of the most profitable and fulfilling decisions for your career. This can be looked at as getting into the manufacturing jobs that once took over America in the early 1900s or getting into the Dot Com in the early 2000s. Expect the numbers to keep growing when it comes to sales and the number of people switching industries to meet the boom that is currently happening.
If you’re looking to start your career in the cannabis industry, check out the list of openings around the United States and make the change today.
