With more and more states opening up to the regulation of cannabis it's important to know what to expect when your state goes legal. So I would like to share some of my experiences and knowledge I've gained from my time in the industry.
Most people don't seem to want to wait for their home state to go legal before diving into the industry. This impatience definitely has a few pros and cons. Some things to think about would be cost over reward. Take for example Colorado, a state that pretty much started all of this. Colorado has seen a huge population boom because of this industry. This influx of people has not only caused living expenses to rise, but all these people are fighting for the same jobs. With landlords able to increase rent, and employers able to lower wages, it makes it not very profitable to move here with dreams of getting anywhere in the industry. With so many people here looking to get into the industry employers are able to set really high standards for new highers. Most expect previous experience, with no willingness to consider somebody without it. However picking a state like Ohio that is only beginning to develop would give you much easier opportunity. Even more so standing out if you can find yourself in a new state with previous experience.
After settling in on a state you will need to determine what job you would like to have. This decision is very important for your future endeavors in the industry. There are two sides to this industry, growing and selling. While any experience is a good thing, experience as a trimmer/grower is going to be of very little help to you if your dream is to own a dispensary. The two sides are very different and require very different skills. In this case starting off as a budtender would do a lot more for you. Not only would you gain knowledge of what the consumer is looking for in a good dispensary, but you will also gain network connections with the people who are already in the position you want to be in.
As my choice was more on the growing side I started as a trimmer. After making that choice I was faced with who to actually work for. Ultimately I got a job with a temp agency, which turned out to be the correct choice for several reasons. Not only does this give me the opportunity to go to several different locations giving me a wider perspective on the industry, but it also allows my potential future employers to bring me in and take a look at my work ethic before making any real commitment to hire me. This allows me to make sure I'm not only going to end up in the best grow, but also get hired on at a higher starting wage. The only problem being that not all temp agencies are the same. There are some that will expect you to pay for classes that don't seem to help you as hands on experience would. While others don't require much, but don't provide any job placement opportunities. I was lucky enough to find myself working for one that didn't require me to pay for a job, and is actively looking out for my future within this career.
Though I get an opportunity to speak with people who picked different companies. Is seems the industry is a hotbed for people with no real passion for cannabis, and are really just chasing money. At first the industry does make a very large profit. However it quickly becomes a very competitive market. In the beginning the industry is really only competing with the black market. In most states the black market average price is about $50 for an 1/8 and about $350 for an ounce. While here in Colorado competition has driven the price down to $20 for an 1/8 and about $100 for an ounce. Considering how expensive growing cannabis, even outdoors, can be as the industry develops they have to constantly fight lower profits. This causes corners to be cut and quality to diminish. As an effect of this consumers usually eventually choose to grow it themselfs as apposed to buying final product.
Only amplified as more industrial grows figure out that setting up in an existing building has made them subject to problems. Cannabis is no stranger to diseases. Several bugs like to eat it, the moister content makes it ideal for molds and fungus, and the plant needs freash clean air to thrive. These problems are almost impossible to stop in a building that use to make break pads.
