Living the high life in Colorado is certainly one way to enjoy the Rocky Mountains. Working in the cannabis industry is yet another means to earn a decent salary while doing exactly what you love. As medical marijuana dispensaries are popping up everywhere in the Centennial State, consider getting a job at one and realize just how much of an impact you can make on another's overall well-being.
What is a Marijuana Dispensary?
For anyone who's been living under a rock the past decade, a cannabis dispensary is an organization that doles out medical marijuana supplies, hemp products, weed paraphernalia in the confines of a retail operation. Oftentimes, you'll need a prescription to visit a marijuana dispensary and gain access to the numerous healing treatments available.
Yet, more and more legal dispensaries are able to sell to the general public at large. San Francisco started the first marijuana dispensary in 1992. From that moment on, hundreds--if not thousands--of cannabis dispensaries have sprung up in the United States in the last 20 years, with Denver, and Colorado as a whole, being one of them.
Medical Marijuana Reasons for Dispensaries
Colorado's medical marijuana laws--and according to the Colorado constitution--Article 18, Section 14 gives residents the right to grow and use marijuana to treat the most debilitating health conditions. This law also offers specific protections to individuals who are the primary caregivers to medical marijuana patients. However, the caregiver cannot sell, possess, manufacture, transport, or use cannabis for anything other than medical purposes.
Obtaining a medical marijuana card in Colorado allows the holder to legally purchase cannabis to treat the following illnesses:
The above are the qualifying medical conditions for someone who ventures into a medical marijuana dispensary. If you're lucky enough to be hired at one in Colorado, chances are you're going to have to answer a lot of questions from medical patients and perhaps field questions from primary caregivers and doctors.
It's important to note that there are medical marijuana dispensaries and recreational cannabis dispensaries, with the latter not requiring a prescription from your doctor. If you're interested in finding a job at a weed dispensary, the sky's the limit.
Getting a cannabis job in Colorado requires obeying all of the laws that the state imposes. For instance, to work in retail sales of recreational marijuana, it's an easy process involving an application to start, different types of forms to fill out, fees to pay, and your willingness to obey Colorado marijuana laws.
Before you take the plunge in getting hired at a weed dispensary, understand that this industry is highly regulated. The state and city governments are particularly notorious for their seriousness about the marijuana industry and who's involved.
The rules and regulations change all the time, especially for the employees who choose to work at dispensaries and other cannabis industry jobs. It's not for the faint of heart, and it requires your diligence and patience to see your way through.
To get hired at a weed dispensary, you must adhere to most of these requirements:
When you're ready to start looking for how to get hired at a dispensary in Colorado--especially the cannabis-bustling Denver area--look no further than prominent marijuana recreational sales sites or find job search boards that allow you to plug in the keywords "how to get a job in a dispensary" and all sorts of options will pop up.
What Type of Education Do You Need to Work in a Weed Shop
Given that the recreational cannabis industry is as popular as the medical marijuana industry, it's no surprise that you'll need to pass some tests and be of age with all of the regulations and laws in Colorado. The job qualifications for working at a weed shop in Colorado are practically the same in other states--such as Arizona and Oklahoma--that local and government officials heavily watch. It's not to deter you but to raise your level of interest even further.
To work at a weed shop, you'll need to qualify, and that means the following:
So you see, working at a weed shop has plenty of requirements, but if you're clean and meet all the above, it's one of the most highly rewarding and essential jobs in the cannabis industry.
Why You'd Want to Work at a Dispensary
We hear this question all the time, and the answer can be simple. Because you are passionate about every aspect of the cannabis industry--both medical and recreational--and you want to educate others on the benefits of cannabinoids and marijuana, in general.
Let's say that you are an entry-level worker at a dispensary, and a customer walks in and wants to know all the ins and outs of legalized marijuana, the specific CBD products used for pain and inflammation, and how to acquire a job such as yours. It's true. People from all walks of life are curious about cannabis and are interested in why you want to work at a dispensary.
Working in this industry has plenty of social stigmas attached to it, as there are ramifications that could leave you unemployed in the future should you leave your dispensary job. Yet, before we discuss why working at a cannabis dispensary is very rewarding and beneficial to you and your employer, consider how this can impact you in the long run. Are you ready to go full steam and be more engaged than ever within this industry?
If so, you've made the right move. The options are endless once you make the decision to get hired at a weed dispensary. For instance, you can climb the ladder of success and become a dispensary manager or assistant manager and earn more money, and have more accomplishments on your resume, should you decide to remain in the weed industry.
Also, both ZipRecruiter and Indeed are excellent job search sites that have hundreds of medical dispensaries seeking new hires with a cannabis background.
In Summary
Working at a cannabis dispensary, whether recreational or medical, has proven to be some exceptional employment for job seekers. The only hiccup would be to pass every qualification and requirement as outlined by the Colorado state government. But, it's no secret that the industry is a constantly changing environment.
One day you might realize that what was required at the beginning of your job search and employment looks entirely different the year afterward. Every potential employee seeking a job at a dispensary has to undergo background checks, be of qualified age, and perhaps have an exceptional education in botany or horticulture. Many dispensary employers are searching for new hires who know about cannabis and want to learn more.
The key is to do your research, understand the ins and outs of the dispensaries in your area, and get to work on applying and creating a sassy resume that showcases your talent. One other thing to remember, if you plan to make working at a dispensary your career choice, get ready to dive in and not exit anytime soon.
Most outside employers of the cannabis industry might consider it a stain on your resume if you list your dispensary work as part of your overall employment history.
Otherwise, enjoy the ride and live high in the Rocky Mountains!
