The legal marijuana industry in the U.S. has expanded quite a bit in recent years. Medical marijuana is now available in more than 20 states, and several have even legalized it for recreational use. An entirely new cluster of jobs have become available alongside this growth, and because the industry is so new, workers may or may not be familiar with all of their options. Jobs in the legal marijuana industry extend beyond growers and dispensary workers. Here are a few other new and less well-known job titles within the field.
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1. Petitioners.
There are a lot of individuals who’ve helped encourage the expansion of the legal marijuana industry, and the work isn’t over yet. In addition to legal marijuana lobbyists, who also work on the legislation side of things, some folks work as petitioners collecting signatures and acting as advocates. This could be a great option for folks who are passionate and knowledgeable about the cause.
2. Reviewers.
In states where marijuana is legal for recreational use, some folks are starting to find jobs working as reviewers. The process of reflecting on and writing about different strains is more complicated than most people think, as different products vary considerably and in a number of ways. These workers really need to know their stuff, and they should have solid writing skills as well.
3. Trimmers.
In order to prepare the plant for next steps, some maintenance is required – mainly the cutting away of leaves. The work can be a bit tedious, but while bud-trimmers need some training and expertise, they don’t require nearly as much as other professionals in the field. Therefore, this is a great entry-level position for someone working to break into the industry.
4. Edible creators.
Working as an edible creator requires a lot of expertise. Also, states have different laws about how edibles need to be labeled and how they’re regulated. But, for some folks, working to infuse marijuana into everything from soda to oatmeal to candy could be a dream come true.
Similar to reviewers, marijuana journalists work within the industry to publish articles on a wide variety of topics. In addition to talking about differences between the strains, they might also review dispensaries or talk about how the culture around legal marijuana is changing. In order to land one of these positions, one would need excellent writing skills and they should also have their finger on the pulse of their local industry.
For serious scientists looking to work within the industry, a job as an analytical chemist could be perfect. These folks work in labs and test for potency, pesticides, heavy metals, etc. They help regulate products for consistency and safety. This is important and highly skilled work that must be done by a trained chemist.
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