The legalized marijuana market is growing rapidly across the US. In 2020, legal cannabis added 77,300 full time jobs. That’s a stunning 32% year-over-year gain. 26,000 of those jobs came in states with newly opened markets. Now that ⅓ of Americans live in states with legalized cannabis, support continues to rise for a nationwide legalization. By 2025, the industry could employ over 600,000 people. The fast moving market is a great opportunity for entry level employees to pursue quick advancement.
Another great thing about cannabis jobs is that almost any worker can find a place in the industry for them. Trimmers, harvesters, and cultivators who care for the cannabis crops tend to be recruited from among cooks and dishwashers in the restaurant industry. Dispensary managers, on the other hand, might have worked in high-end retail or pharmacology in a previous career.
Jobs in the Legal Marijuana Industry
The cannabis industry needs people with all levels of education. While a marijuana courier may only need the skills of a good delivery driver, extraction technicians need to know how to maintain a safe laboratory environment, which means a background in science. Cultivators who grow to manage large scale operations can watch their salary bloom. Technicians who successfully oversee the safe production of oils and concentrates can aim similarly high for career success.
There are jobs that require direct handling of cannabis. However, marijuana businesses have the same needs for support services as any other business would. Being a newly legalized, highly regulated market, specialized knowledge may need to be acquired for nearly every aspect of operations. Marketing may have restrictions on the ads they can generate. Human resources may need to manage state licenses for their workers.
Having professional knowledge of the benefits, regulations, and legal status surrounding marijuana is an absolute must for many higher-level cannabis jobs.
