What Are The Best Jobs In The Cannabis Industry?

Cannabis photographer

As online ordering and cannabis delivery has taken off over the past couple of years, the need for professional, high-quality cannabis photography has grown. You may have heard the saying, people eat with their eyes, well we would argue the same for smoking. This is why product images are incredibly important. Customers want to see all the orange, purple or green crystally goodness each bud has to offer. Although many companies hire freelance photographers for product images, some have salaried positions available if you do a little digging. If you’re a content creator or lifestyle photographer looking for a career in the cannabis industry, this might be the job for you.

Buyer/purchasing manager

Ever wonder who decides which products a dispensary carries? That would be the Buyer or Purchasing Manager. Their job is to research new vendors and bring in new products, oversee in-store inventory and make sure inventory is tracked properly. They also research sales trends to make sure the store doesn’t run out of product or order too much of a poor seller. Because the cannabis industry is pretty heavily regulated, a knowledge of standard inventory management tools and best practices is a must for this position. So, it’s not exactly entry-level, but imagine how cool it would be to be the person who gets to curate a cannabis menu at their local dispensary. You’d never have to worry about running out of your favorite strain again.

Extraction technician

If you’re a budding scientist with a passion for concentrates and distillates, you might want to consider a career as an extraction technician. Extraction technicians use lab equipment, heat, pressure, and solvents to separate cannabis chemical compounds (THC, CBD) from cannabis plants. This means working closely with flammable, explosive, and dangerous substances like butane, ethanol, and carbon dioxide, so an interest in science and safety is a must. While some companies will hire those with an interest and train them, many prefer to hire people with relevant degrees. So, if you’re sitting on a bachelor’s in Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Chemical engineering, Ecology, Laboratory technology, Physics, or Phytobiology then you might be the next great extraction technician. We’d totally watch that reality tv show, btw.

Brand ambassador

Love talking about cannabis to anyone who’ll listen? You might want to consider a career as a Brand Ambassador for a cannabis company. As the increasing number of cannabis vendors on the market makes brand awareness a tough task to tackle, more companies are looking to brand ambassadors to educate their consumers on products. This job is designed for people who are out-going, organized, driven, flexible, and learn well on the job. Your job would be to represent the cannabis brand at scheduled pop-up events, trade shows, local dispensaries, budtender training, conventions, and local events. You’d work closely with consumers, clients, and the marketing team, so being a social butterfly that loves to fly high is a must.

Product tester/reviewer

For obvious reasons, product tester is definitely one of the best jobs in the cannabis industry. Although the pay isn’t always monumental, you’ll definitely make up for it in free products. So, depending on how much green you’re currently spending on your ganja you might actually come out pretty far ahead.

Unfortunately, product testing isn’t all lounging around in your underwear and getting high. There are also some specific things most companies are looking for, including comfort on camera, content-making abilities, and strong writing skills. Sometimes brands want unboxing videos, which would require being comfortable on camera and knowledge of content creating and marketing. Other brands prefer written reviews, but regardless you’ll need to have a pretty strong knowledge of cannabis, concentrates, and vapes to snag a product testing position.