If you’ve been Googling “cannabis jobs near me,” and you have a special passion for medical marijuana, this post is for you! You’ll get a complete rundown of the different opportunities available for medical marijuana jobs in 2023 (and maybe an option you might not have considered before.)
One of the greatest things about being in this new cannabis industry is that there is a huge variety of cannabis jobs available. Plus, the cannabis industry is growing rapidly worldwide. Positions focusing on medical cannabis can be found in every sector, from cultivation and dispensary jobs to healthcare, education and product development.
In fact, you can bring any past experience (or current passion) and make it work in this space.
But, before you jump headfirst into the medical cannabis industry, you should know about some of the challenges of working there.
In today’s post, we’ll discuss the different types of cannabis jobs available and some of the benefits and challenges associated with working in the medical cannabis space.
(If you’re in a place where there are no cannabis jobs near you, we have the perfect solution for you. Take our free class, Cannabis Careers 101 – How to Get Paid to Talk and Write About Cannabis. In under an hour, you’ll learn how we earn money from the comfort of our own homes by sharing our love for cannabis with the world.)
What kind of medical marijuana jobs are out there?
The great thing about this space is that we’re just at the very beginning of growth. As legalization sweeps across the United States and the globe, the demand for talent in the cannabis industry will be growing for years to come.
If you’re looking to be on the cutting edge of a new space, if you want actually to help to shape it, this is the time for you to jump in!
Let’s take a look at some of the best medical marijuana jobs out there.
- The Cannabis Educator – The best medical marijuana job around!
- The Budtender – The best cannabis job to learn the ropes of the industry.
- Cannabis Growing or Trimming Jobs – The best medical marijuana job for those who love working with plants.
- Working In Corporate Medical Cannabis – The best cannabis job for health care practitioners
- Starting A Cannabis Edibles Business – The best medical marijuana job for people who can roll with the regulatory punches
The Cannabis Educator – The best medical marijuana job around!
The best cannabis job for those who are passionate about medical marijuana is actually not getting a cannabis job at all. It’s being your own boss and starting your own cannabis business as a Cannabis Coach or Educator.
This way, you can work from home, even if cannabis isn’t yet legal in your state. Corinne Tobias, the founder of the Cannabis Coaching Institute, created the school to give entrepreneurs a different way into the cannabis industry without dealing with corporate cannabis or ever-changing regulations.
When you become a certified Cannabis Educator, you’ll have the knowledge, skills, support, and confidence to take your passion for cannabis and turn it into money.
Our cannabis training program covers everything from the health and well-being aspects of medical marijuana to ethics, laws, and regulations. We dive into medical use cases, how to talk to others about cannabis so they can do something with the information, and so much more.
And we specialize in cannabis business coaching, so you can take everything you learned and turn it into a profitable side hustle or career.
Join the Cannabis Coaching Institute here, and you can be certified in as little as 3 months.
The Budtender – The best cannabis job to learn the ropes of the industry.
A budtender is the person behind the counter at a medical marijuana dispensary. It can be a great way to get started in the cannabis industry. Budtenders are the first face many people see when considering cannabis for the first time.
They also have to be some of the most knowledgeable people in the space as far as products go. However, they don’t have to go it alone. In medical marijuana dispensaries, there is often a trained healthcare provider on staff as well.
However, budtending has some drawbacks. One of the main problems with this job is that it can be difficult to find steady work. Budtenders are often laid off when business is slow, and because this is still such a volatile industry, dispensaries are often being closed or bought out by other companies.
Additionally, although budtenders are some of the most passionate and knowledgeable people in the space, they typically earn relatively low wages, so it can be hard to make ends meet financially.
Cannabis Growing or Trimming Jobs – The best medical marijuana job for those who love working with plants.
Growing and trimming cannabis is a wonderful way to understand how beautiful and complex the plant is. You get to see up close where the medicine comes from. And for many people, this is their first foray into the space.
But, cannabis growers and trimmers are often paid low wages, despite working long hours in difficult conditions.
You’d think that with the millions of dollars some corporate cannabis companies are raking in that they’d want to share with the people doing the work. But, many of the problems associated with traditional agriculture jobs are alive and well in cannabis.
And because cannabis is still illegal under US federal law, many workers in the cannabis industry do not have access to basic labor protections like overtime pay or worker’s compensation. Plus, it’s just really hard manual labor.
Working In Corporate Medical Cannabis – The best for health care practitioners
Speaking of corporate cannabis, there are some medical cannabis opportunities available there as well. Medical marijuana companies need healthcare providers, intake counselors, cannabis coaches, educators, and more.
While most cannabis companies are happy to hire anyone with the right skills, working in corporate cannabis can be problematic.
Why? It’s extremely volatile.
Cannabis has been federally legal in Canada for over four years. People were so excited about the green rush that was coming. I watched firsthand when many of my colleagues picked up their whole lives and moved across the country to work at various startups and established medical marijuana companies. The excitement was amazing.
Then, one after another, many of them had to start all over when their company got bought out or just closed completely.
It was devastating to watch. And it’s not a Canada-only thing. This is a brand-new baby industry, and everyone is building their planes as they fly them, so things are bumpy sometimes.
Also, you may find that corporate cannabis doesn’t reflect your views and values, even in the medical marijuana space.
If cannabis has changed your life and brought you peace or healing, you might feel like everyone who works in this space should have a deep reverence for cannabis. That’s what I naively thought when I started here.
It turns out that much of corporate cannabis is run by people who have no love or appreciation for the plant, and it’s really hard to spend so much time in that environment.
However, there are also loads of medical cannabis companies that are doing it well, run by people who deeply care about cannabis and their patients. So, when looking for a job in cannabis, do your research to ensure you can feel good about what you’re spending your days doing and who you’re doing it with.
Starting A Cannabis Edibles Business – The best for people who can roll with the regulatory punches
To be honest, this is what I thought I would do when I joined the Cannabis Coaching Institute (CCI). I was sure I could use my passion for cannabis and my talent as a baker and make some money helping people struggling with health issues.
And I’m not alone. A lot of CCI students want to try it as well. But, there are definite challenges with this plan.
Here are three of the biggest problems you’ll face if you decide to start a cannabis edibles business:
1. The cannabis industry is highly regulated, and it can be difficult to get your products approved by state regulators. (Or, you’re working “under the table,” which we do not recommend.)
2. The regulations are constantly changing. Just when you think you have your dosing and packaging on point, a new rule change comes online, and you have to scrap everything.
3. There is a lot of competition in the cannabis edibles market, and it can be tough to stand out from the crowd.
What’s the best cannabis job out there?
Becoming a certified Cannabis Educator is the best job for those passionate about helping people discover the many benefits of this healing plant. As a cannabis educator, you’ll be able to share your knowledge and experience with others who are interested in exploring its medicinal properties.
In our program, you’ll receive comprehensive training from qualified instructors specializing in this growing field. The training is self-paced and online so you can do it from anywhere, plus our monthly interactive live classes guarantee that your learning experience is second to none!
If you’ve ever dreamed of being part of the exciting world of legal cannabis education – now’s your chance! Sign up today for our next class and become a certified cannabis educator today!
What’s YOUR ideal cannabis job? Tell us about it in the comments.
With love,
Andrea
