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Getting Cannabis Industry Jobs: Industry Employment Guide

Getting Cannabis Industry Jobs: Industry Employment Guide

by | Nov 20, 2018 | cannabis culture, cannabis industry, Cannabis Law & Compliance, Season 2, The Real Dirt Podcast Episodes

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There’s a lot of cannabis industry jobs out there. They’re just hard to find.

There are now more than 30 states that have legalized cannabis for medicinal or recreational use, and the jobs are there if you are willing to look. Due to its stigmatized nature and lack of advertising, finding cannabis industry jobs can be tough, especially in states that have just recently opened their markets.

States like Massachusetts and Michigan are both projected to be highly successful markets. But whereas Michigan just legalized with plans in place for a recreational marketplace within one year, Massachusetts has been legal for two years and has yet to open a dispensary, although that looks to be changing soon.

Cannabis Industry Jobs by State

Every state has set up their legal cannabis markets differently, whether medicinal or recreational. Colorado has one of the most effective and respected programs, and it is highly regulated. California on the other hand has much less restrictions on working in the industry, but a more difficult process of starting a cannabis business in the state.

The more you know about each state’s laws, the easier it will be to decide where you want to work, and what you want to do. Some states are only giving out licenses for growing and extracting, while others have given them all out, and now just need budtenders. Some states require you be a state resident to work in the industry in that state. Other states have no such requirement.

Another way to learn about getting into the industry from the outside is to hear the story of someone who did just that…me!

This Week on The Real Dirt

If you didn’t notice by the author line at the top, I’m Travis, and I’m the guest on this week’s episode of The Real Dirt.

I have been writing for The Real Dirt for over a year, and have been writing about cannabis for roughly 5 years. What started as a fantasy of working in the legal industry developed over time into me picking up and leaving Pennsylvania to move to Colorado to work full time for The Real Dirt and Cultivate Colorado.

It wasn’t easy for me to find a job in the industry, especially from the east coast. It will be hard for you too, but it’s not impossible. You don’t need to pick up and leave with no job security and hope you find something. You just have to look. Hard.

It took me at least 6 months of doing unrelated jobs on the side and looking for cannabis-related jobs before I actually found The Real Dirt. So don’t give up.

My story isn’t anything special. I saw an opportunity and went for it against odds, and succeeded. Now I’m writing this trying to help you get past the point I was stuck at too! If you want to hear more about me and how I ended up 2,500 miles away from all my family, listen to my episode of The Real Dirt!

Plus, I wrote a nice Industry Employment Guide that goes into detail about the fastest growing cannabis industries in the country, and all of the requirements for working in them. Please check that out, download it, print it, frame it, burn it, whatever you want. But it will help you understand the basics of these state’s respective industries should you decide to start looking for a job.

I hope you get something out of this episode and the industry guide, and as always you can ask me any questions at Travis@therealdirt.com, or talk to me on Instagram! I run both Cultivate Colorado’s and The Real Dirt’s Instagram accounts, and I LOVE TALKING WITH FANS!

 

Read the Full Real Dirt Industry Employment Guide Here!

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The New Taxonomy of Cannabis

The New Taxonomy of Cannabis

by | Nov 13, 2018 | cannabis culture, Cannabis science, Season 2, The Real Dirt Podcast Episodes

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The taxonomy of cannabis is changing. That is, the definition of what makes cannabis cannabis is changing.

What we know as indica and sativa is not the full truth. It’s been diluted a lot through pop culture and a lack of scientific information regarding the origins of cannabis and how it has been bred through the generations.

Indica and Sativa Aren’t So Certain

There are two main origins for cannabis. What we have come to know as sativa is originally from Europe. Specifically, sativa comes from European hemp. This makes sense when you consider the stretching qualities of “sativa” plants, similar to hemp.

Indica on the other hand originated in Asia. The Middle East, Southeast Asia and other surrounding areas hosted this “drug cultivar” of cannabis that grew shorter and developed heavier cannabinoid content through enduring more harsh weather conditions.

While indica naturally developed into its drug cultivar through its environmental conditions, sativa had to be bred over time to develop its drug cultivar.

It’s Mostly Just Indica

The reality is that most of the cannabis that people will consume in the western hemisphere will be indica. Technically, the only truly classified sativa is European hemp. But through evolution of the plant and breeding it has become very diluted.

While indica naturally produces drug-like effects, sativa contributed its strong cannabinoid contents to combine for what’s become known as the entourage effect in modern cannabis. The interaction of potentially over one hundred different cannabinoids combine to products the typical effects felt when consuming cannabis.

The bigger reality is that it goes much deeper. As Jessica Baker puts it, “there’s actually seven distinct biotypes, of three species, that came from six subspecies that are now extinct, or thought to be extinct.” If that sounds a little too complex, just let Jessica explain it!

Tune into to this week’s episode of The Real Dirt where Chip sits down with Jessica Baker to talk about the new taxonomy of cannabis and how everything we have come to know about cannabis in the dispensary is just scraping the surface.

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The Origin of Trainwreck: Tony Don’t Smoke OG Ep. 102

The Origin of Trainwreck: Tony Don’t Smoke OG Ep. 102

by | Aug 21, 2018 | cannabis culture, growing, Season 2, The Real Dirt Podcast Episodes, Tony Don't Smoke OG

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It seemingly came out of nowhere. It’s origin is shrouded in mystery. Trainwreck is a legendary, elite strain that any cannabis connoisseur will recognize when they hear the name.

The heavy-hitting sativa-dominant hybrid blew up when it came around, with growers and consumers alike loving its energetic effects that came from it’s Mexican and Thai sativa heritage. The Afghan cross adds a little indica to the mix, making Trainwreck an ideal strain for the active consumer.

But where did it come from?

The mystery remains. But there are theories. And boy, do Chip and Tony have a few.

Listen to this week’s Real Dirt segment of Tony Don’t Smoke OG. Chip and Tony are joined from Dan of Humboldt Integrated Cannabis as they puff on some Trainwreck, talk about some hilarious stoner stories, and ponder the origins of the legendary strain.

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Humboldt Cannabis in a Crunch

Humboldt Cannabis in a Crunch

by | Aug 14, 2018 | cannabis culture, Cannabis Law & Compliance, Season 2, The Real Dirt Podcast Episodes

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Humboldt is known for pumping out some of the best cannabis, feminized seeds and other cannabis products in the world, and has been known in that way since cannabis first started spreading across the country. The fertile lands, the perfect climate, and the farmers who are committed to the plant make Humboldt a unique place in and of itself.

New laws and regulations from the legal industry now may bring a hinderance to this mass-production area. From to licensing limits to outrageous fines for those who don’t comply, the state is not taking it easy on Humboldt county and the rest of the Emerald Triangle.

Humboldt cannabis farms in trouble

There a currently thousands of private market farms in the Emerald Triangle trying to figure out their next move. With barely more than 600 licenses up for grabs, it’s become a competition of luck and money to see who can get regulated in the legal market in time. As all the new legal regulations for California took effect in July, those who are not on top of this are already in trouble.

Those who haven’t gotten licenses or shut down their operations after 30 days of notice can be fined heavily — upwards of $30,000 — just for the initial fine. Those who continue to avoid regulations will be fined additionally for each day after the original 30 days that they do not comply. Suffice to say, a lot of people are going to lose a lot of money.

Humboldt cannabis growers have a long battle ahead of them. Those that do not agree with the new laws can fight it as long as they can, most likely going broke in the process. Those who got a head start already have their licenses, and these farmers are poised to flood the legal market with legal Humboldt cannabis soon enough.

Get on board or get out?

A lot of private Humboldt cannabis farmers will be forced out of the legal market simply due to the high costs. Local, craft farmers won’t be able to front the massive fees to get regulated before getting hit with more fines. This has some worried that only those with the most money will move on, making the legal industry in California pay-to-play.

This is already opening the door for larger companies to come in and buy up land and licenses before smaller businesses get the chance. This power-grab from big players could have negative consequences, most notably a commercialized market with a focus on profit instead of producing a healthful and safe product for the consumer.

Chip lived in Humboldt for years, and has steadily watched and studied the evolving industry in the state of California. Hear what Chip thinks about the current state of things in Humboldt and California on this week’s episode of The Real Dirt!

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The European Hemp Exchange

The European Hemp Exchange

by | Jun 22, 2018 | cannabis culture, growing, Guest, Season 1, Season 2, The Real Dirt Podcast Episodes

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Returning for a second impromptu, sea-side episode in Croatia, Mike Leago joins The Real Dirt once again to discuss the growing European hemp market.

As a member of the International Hemp Exchange, Mike connects hemp farmers and producers with buyers all over the world. Whether its getting hemp seeds to the UK or finding a specific hemp product anywhere in the world. As the exchange grows, so does the reach of the hemp industry.

The European hemp industry

The European hemp industry grew over 30% just in 2016 and is showing no signs of slowing down. Hemp has a much less negative stigma surrounding it, making European countries more likely to push legislation that moves the European hemp industry forward much more quickly than its psychotropic counterpart.

In fact, in the European Union, it is legal to cultivate and supply cannabis plants for hemp fiber if they have low levels of THC. This is now starting to expand to other uses beside fibers, including CBD isolates and high CBD flower.

 

Listen to this week’s episode of The Real Dirt with Chip Baker where Chip and Mike hang out in Croatia and talk about the booming European hemp industry and what the future holds.

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