In the next 10 years, cannabis is estimated to be a $57 billion industry. While there are currently only a quarter of a million Americans who hold part- or full-time jobs in the cannabis sector, employment opportunities will grow as the market continues to expand.
Last year, for instance, job postings increased by an astounding 445 percent within the cannabis industry. To give you a sense of the explosive change, the year-over-year cannabis jobs growth in 2016 was just 18 percent.
Cannabis careers are outpacing healthcare and tech openings, so where are all of these jobs? The largest growth is in states that legalized in 2016 and have had time to build up to the latest hiring sprees, but there are a few budding markets, too. Here are the most in-demand cannabis positions in the country’s top 10 markets, as identified by ZipRecruiter.
California
Los Angeles, CA
The job: Cannabis Experience Expert
West Hollywood is accepting licenses for consumption clubs, and this neighborhood will be in need of experienced cannabis consumers who know how to run a restaurant and create an entertaining environment for enjoying cannabis. (Think night club promoter meets event coordinator.)
San Francisco, CA
The job: Compliance Expert
Since California’s adult-use market debuted on January 1st of this year, hundreds of cease-and-desist letters have been sent to illegal operators throughout the state. Compliance experts will be in charge of identifying which businesses are operating legally and which are not. The state is also in the process of reviewing nearly 8,000 felony and misdemeanor charges sentenced as recently as 1975. Any offenses that fall under the state’s new cannabis legalization laws will be removed from people’s records.
Santa Barbara, CA
The job: Investors
Santa Barbara County has more cultivation licenses—737—than any other in the US. With all of those new greenhouses in the pipeline, there comes a need for another type of green. It’s a sure bet these businesses are seeking additional investors.
San Jose, CA
The job: Tech Entrepreneurs
San Jose is known for being the land of tech startups. Those startups’ new neighbors could use app developers’ know-how to create resource protocols, best practices, or point-of-sale software. As seen recently in Washington state, security and traceability are also growing concerns for the industry. There is no shortage of problems that need to be solved within the tech sector.
Pacific Northwest
Portland, OR
The job: Accountant
Knowledge is power—and the difference between keeping your dispensary doors open or shuttered. Dispensaries in Portland are getting busted for tax evasion every year, and accountants who are familiar with IRS section 280E will thrive while others remain at the base of the learning curve.
Seattle, WA
The job: State Inspector
Washington will be hiring inspectors to evaluate compliance at cannabis companies. Earlier this year, the state announced businesses will need to pay an annual fee of $895 to produce cannabis-infused edibles. Money collected from these fees will be used to enforce the state’s sanitary processing requirements.
West Region
Denver, CO
The job: Business Strategist
With more dispensaries than Starbucks in Denver, many cannabis business owners will need strategists to ensure their facilities remain appealing to customers. Marketers, event planners, and business development specialists will all be paramount to staying afloat in a sea of competition.
Las Vegas, NV
The job: Show Stoppers
As with any new industry—or one that is recovering from decades of misinformation and taboo—it’s important to educate the public and consumers. Is there a better way to do that than through entertainment? A cannabis museum called Cannabition is expected to launch in downtown Las Vegas this summer, taking on a valuable role for the industry.
Florida
Miami, FL
The job: Lobbyists and attorneys
Florida’s cannabis industry is on hold due to litigation. Miami needs local lobbyists and attorneys to work with regulators and advocate for the industry in the meantime.
Tallahassee, FL
The job: Patient Care Coordinator
Also known as budtenders, patient care coordinators help with the intake process at a dispensary. While the Florida cannabis industry seems to be bogged down with litigation right now, Tallahassee will be opening three locations to serve the metro’s patients. While that may not seem like many compared to other booming markets, this is the biggest opportunity for Tallahassee residents looking to break in to the cannabis space.
