5 marijuana industry jobs you probably didn't know existed

by Anthony Sodd
April 30, 2015

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Image via MMJ America

Working in the marijuana industry is no longer a matter of driving shady cars across the border or setting up illicit grow rooms in your basement – at least not in Colorado. Sure, it may still be hard to explain to your grandparents what you’re doing for a living, but it has to be easier than trying to explain what a user experience designer is.

But because the industry is so new, it can be a bit daunting to know just what sorts of jobs are available. So we caught up with Marques Moore, the COO of MMJ America, one of Colorado’s largest marijuana companies and asked him what sort of new jobs he’s seen since marijuana became legalized. Here’s what he's seen:

Bud Tenders: If you’ve ever been to a retail marijuana store, these are the people that help you at the counter. If you haven’t, think of them like a mixture of a bartender and a non-sleazy salesperson. It’s their job to be incredibly knowledgeable about the product, its effects, dosage, etc., while dealing with giddy (read tourist) customers.

Construction: “It takes a lot of individuals to maintain and keep up a grow house,“ Marques Moore COO of MMJ said. “We keep a handyman on hand at all times in case something happens.”

Marijuana Trimmers & Growers: Growing marijuana commercially isn’t like growing basil in your backyard – at least if you want it to be good enough to be sold in Colorado. Marijuana growers are experts in the art of getting the best tasting, best looking and best feeling marijuana out of each harvest – and consistency is key.

And once the plant is grown, it turns out that trimming the actual flower from the plant is an ordeal.

“Once the plant is harvested you have to trim off the actual flower,” Moore said. “That’s a tedious process, it takes all day.”

Consultants: According to Moore, due to budget restraints the Department of Revenue’s Marijuana Enforcement Division laid off a good number of people a couple years ago – before the state legalized the recreational sale of marijuana. Well a lot of those people who used to work for Uncle Sam now make a living consulting with marijuana companies, making sure they stay on the right side of the law.

Security: There’s security at the door of the store, security in the grow room, security around the register – a marijuana operation is like a casino. What’s more, the marijuana you buy at a dispensary is almost never grown there – and since that green stuff is like gold, it doesn’t travel without protection. Security companies are popping up all over the state to ensure everything runs safe and secure.

So next time you head into a dispensary (assuming that’s your thing), think about all the jobs you're creating just by being there. 

 

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