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How to Get a Cannabis Job in Washington DC

January 19, 2017 by Maishah Leave a Comment

Want to Land a Dispensary Job? Here’s What You Need to Know

As marijuana legalization continues to flourish across the country, dispensary employment opportunities have steadily increased.

Since medical marijuana was legalized in the District of Columbia 3 years ago, dispensary operators have been flooded with inquiries for jobs, specifically as dispensary technicians. Since the Medical Marijuana Program is operated by the District’s Department of Health, dispensaries shy away from the term “budtender.” Some dispensaries also advertise the position as “sales associate.”

Criteria

Washington, D.C. has specific criteria one must have before being able to apply for a dispensary job.

 

  1. Applicant can not have been convicted of any felony before filing the application.
  2. The applicant can not have been convicted of a misdemeanor for a drug-related offense before filing the application.
  3. The applicant may not be someone whose authority to participate in the Medical Marijuana Program has been previously revoked by the Department.
  4. The applicant must certify that he/she does not owe more than $100.00 to the District of Columbia government.

 

This application does require notarization of a signed statement confirming that you meet these criteria.

Following an official offer, pending employees are required to undergo a background check and fingerprinting that the hiring dispensary will pay for and is required before an employee may begin working at the dispensary site. This process is completed at the Department of Health and takes just a few minutes. This step is crucial for most dispensaries since they pay the applicant’s fee; and also why those hiring whittle the selection down to the best cover letters and resume.

This wait process generally takes about 30 days, so applicants should plan accordingly. Once hired, some dispensaries will pay for the new employee to undergo certification training, which can include updated information on laws, dispensary rules and procedures and basic knowledge of cannabis science.

Tips

As with any search for employment, there are some things applicants should know, particularly in this newly growing industry. Here are a few tips that can help in successfully landing a gig with a dispensary in the District of Columbia:

  1. Your first step is a brief but well-written industry resume. It’s a good idea to mention why you are interested in the field and point out any background you have (if any in the industry).
  2. Because dispensaries are retail environments, customer service skills are a must since dispensary technicians deal directly with patients.
  3. Brush up on your knowledge of a few strains. This gives interviewers a first-hand example of how you will handle questions patients might ask.

 

Filed Under: How-To's and FAQ's Tagged With: Budtenders, Cannabis Industry, Cannabis Jobs, dispensary, Dispensary Jobs, Marijuana Jobs, Marijuana Retail, Medical Marijuana, Washington DC

How to Select Fine Cannabis for Smoking

October 11, 2016 by Zoe Wilder Leave a Comment

New to buying legal weed? Let us guide you.

Considering cannabis prohibition is just now slowly fading away, frequenting a dispensary is a unique and remarkable experience. It’s pretty amazing to browse among varied display cases filled with generous selections of cannabis flower, topicals, concentrates and edibles to purchase. Welcome to the wonderful world of legal cannabis. The following tips will help you make the most of your dispensary visit.

Plan Ahead

Some dispensaries focus on flower. Other shops spend more energy curating concentrates or edibles. Each one is unique. Unless you want to spend the day bouncing from one place to the next (which you could most certainly do), it’s best to call ahead and ask questions: What’s in stock? Is there a wait? How much am I allowed to purchase during my visit? Also, sites like Yelp, Merry Jane, Leafly and Weedmaps are great resources. They list dispensaries nearby, hours of operation, menu items and customer reviews.

Don’t Assume the Product is the Same at Each Dispensary

Cannabis is a dynamic plant. Every harvest is different depending on growing conditions such as techniques used, the environment or soil it was grown in, and the weather of the region. Rather than simply focusing on the strain name, also look at the grower, harvest date, terpene profile, and cannabinoid ratios. It’s all of these variables working together in conjunction with your own physiology that determine cannabis’ effect. Ask your budtender for recommendations based on these factors and your desired results.

Ask “How Was it Grown?”

Select fine cannabis

There’s a common misconception that outdoor is inferior to indoor-grown cannabis. Yet, for some, there’s little substitute for cannabis cultivated in nature, underneath the powerful rays of the sun and the glow of the moon, surrounded by various forms of plant life, insects, worms and birds. This is still a rare practice as many municipalities require growing operations to be out of sight from the public. Cannabis requires a lot of light, so it’s also advantageous in some climate regions to use man-made techniques to reproduce environment and skirt the seasons in order to yield more crops per year. Because of this, just like common fruit and vegetable farming, cannabis is grown a variety of ways. From greenhouses to warehouses, artificial lighting to sun-grown, varying methods yield differing calibers of cannabis. Some growers use synthetic fertilizers and chemical pesticides while others use nothing but nature. While most legal states have pesticide-use limits in place, both the standards and enforcement vary from state to state. Since Organic Certification is a product of the U.S. federal government, it isn’t available to any cannabis producers under the law. Even if you see it advertised, true organic certification doesn’t actually exist in the industry, yet. Instead, look for grassroots certifications like Clean Green and Patient Focused, these are meant to assist farmers in using sustainable, biodynamic and overall, “organic-style” processes. Knowledgeable budtenders will be able to tell you how each product was grown and produced.

Don’t Touch the Flower

Once the budtender pops the lid off a delicious batch of cannabis, the temptation to grab a bud may be strong. Resist the urge. Instead, use your eyes to examine the offering before you. If you’d like to take a closer look, ask for assistance. Most dispensaries are equipped with magnifying glasses and tongs so you can examine the flower without placing your hands on it. Remember, this is people’s medicine and should be kept contaminate-free. Not to mention, you’ll want to take great care when handling cannabis or you’ll knock the glittery, tasty and potent trichomes off, diminishing both its efficacy and all the hard work of the harvester.

Examine the Smell

It’s ok to take a very large whiff of a sample. Just don’t pick it up or put it in your nose. Cannabis should smell potent from, at least, a few inches away without having to break a bud open. If you’re having difficulty detecting it’s odor, it’s most likely getting stale. Your budtender should be able to guide you toward the various odors of the strain. The essential oils that produce them are largely responsible for its effects. Like aromatherapy oils, the essential oils or “terpenes”  in cannabis produce unique effects. When vaporized or smoked, orange and lemony citrus smells can contribute to relaxation and focus, while sweet lavender and peppery smells can contribute to sedation. Strong pine and eucalyptus smells can induce energy and help you breath more deeply. Of all the plants in the kingdom, cannabis has the unique ability to express huge amounts of varying terpenes. This is largely why we’re able to use cannabis for such a wide range of effects. Avoid musty or moldy smelling batches, and nugs that smells like dirt. Cannabis that smells like freshly cut grass may look interesting but is indicative of an overabundance of chlorophyll from improper curing and makes for a harsh smoke. Smells like funk, skunk and fuel are often praiseworthy and desirable.

Study How it Looks

Cannabis should look fresh. The colors should be vibrant; green, orange, pink, red, purple, blue, and black are all totally acceptable and often highly desired, but the buds should be void of brown and burnt yellow spots caused by chemicals and overexposure to light. Every grower has their preference for how they trim away cannabis leaves from the bud of the plant. Trim greatly affects cannabis’ appearance, and oftentimes its price. Rounded nugs that look uniformly like tiny Christmas trees can be an indication of automated machine trimming, used in large-scale cannabis harvests. Hand-trimmed cannabis typically has well defined pistils, also known as hairs, extending outward, and an abundance of glistening, frosty trichomes. Neither should contain seeds or stems. Their presence typically means the harvest was rushed to market. Smoking stems and seeds isn’t very tasty and you’ll want to avoid combusting them completely. If you see mold or insects, choose something else.

Make Your Selection

As you narrow down your top picks, consider mixing it up. Many dispensaries allow you to purchase grams, even half-grams. This enables you to try a number of different strains from a number of different producers. It can be fun to experiment with them and find your favorites. Some dispensaries even offer prepackaged tasting flights. Many of them also sell specialized journals for keeping track of the various nuance of your favorites so you know for next time.

Don’t Smoke Right Outside the Dispensary

Dispensaries are not places to consume, yet. It’s possible that one day we’ll see legal cannabis smoking lounges and cafes, but as it stands now, none exist. Most cities have some form of clean air ordinance which keeps people from smoking indoors, including vaping. Cannabis dispensaries, especially, are under scrutiny and must obey state and local laws. This usually means no consumption on the premises, including the sidewalk and parking lots. Doing so may earn you a ticket as well as one for the dispensary. It’s best to consume where you absolutely know it’s allowed.

Store Your Buds Properly

Once you’ve completed your dispensary visits, you’ll probably have at least a few grams to keep at home. Store your bud in airtight containers. Countless hours of work went into obtaining, planting, nurturing, harvesting, trimming and displaying your cannabis; it’s a good look to keep it pristine. Too much dry air will make your bud brittle and weaken the volatile terpenes responsible for making your cannabis smell and taste so great. Use a container with a kief-catcher to accumulate trichomes that shake off into dry-sift hash. Cannabis humidors with relative humidity control like the Cannador are great for budding connoisseurs.

Filed Under: How-To's and FAQ's Tagged With: budtender, dispensary, Fine Cannabis, flower, guide, Retail Experience, Selection

Contrast and Compare – Dispensary Process in Legalized States

September 20, 2016 by Brittany Driver Leave a Comment

Editor’s note: Have you ever wondered how the states differ in dispensary visits? This blog is a “how to” that describes the dispensary process in legalized states. We will update this list as more states legalize recreational marijuana.

COLORADO

Inspection

Every dispensary has its own company policy regarding workers or customers handling the product. Some dispensaries allow you to inspect the buds you’re shopping with tongs and/or under a magnifier. Other dispensaries have a jar on the counter but only sell pre-packed nugs of that strain, rather than straight out of the jar. And while you can’t exactly TOUCH the buds yourself in any scenario, you can get pretty up close and personal with the marijuana before you purchase it.

Is On-Site Consumption Allowed

Consumption while on site at a dispensary is NOT allowed in Colorado. Consumption in any public place is illegal. Colorado cannabis users are lucky though because while “public” use is out the door at the moment, the laws aren’t super clear – which leaves room for a lot of grey area. Cannabis events can advertise as private, sell tickets in advance thereby limiting entry so it isn’t open to the public. This method has been working for everyone so far and barring any raucous or violent incidents taking place at such an event (which hasn’t happened yet) it will continue to work for the foreseeable future.

Is On-Site Food, Drink or Alcohol Allowed

Don’t even try it. Maybe you can drink water from a water bottle while you’re in the waiting room, but don’t think of chowing down or popping a brewsky.

Location Restrictions

Generally, cannabis facilities are going to need to be 1,000 ft from any K-12 school. Not that anyone K-12 could get INTO one of these facilities, because to be allowed inside a person is carded and must be 21 or older… Education media outlet, Chalkbeat, covered the zoning requirements and discovered an interesting bit,

“State law recommends a 1,000-foot buffer between medical marijuana facilities and schools, drug rehabilitation centers and child care centers. But the law allowed local authorities to set their own rules.

So Colorado Springs, for example, allows marijuana facilities within 400 feet of schools while Denver has several closer than 1,000 feet. Those facilities have been allowed to continue operating because they opened before the state law was enacted.”

Worth Mentioning

Denver is getting its chance to legalize social use once and for all. Take a long hard look at Initiative 300 (also known as The Neighborhood-Supported Cannabis Consumption Pilot Program Initiative) and vote YES on 300 in November if you are a Denver resident!

WASHINGTON

Inspection

The inspection process in Washington is a fairly limited one. At Main Street Marijuana in Vancouver, Washington, customers are presented with a list of available strains and products that day. There is absolutely no green on the sales floor to look at or smell before purchase. The customer selects their strain and amount desired and a Main Street Marijuana employee retrieves your pre-packed order from a secured area and you’ve got your stash.

ALL cannabis in Washington is pre-packaged, right after it has been tested and approved for consumption by a lab. Testing helps prevent product containing mold, pesticides or other hazardous contaminants from circulating into the community. Only the best for Washingtonians!

Is On-Site Consumption Allowed

Initiative 502, the measure the legalized recreational cannabis in Washington, did not however, legalize on-site consumption. No dispensary can allow a client, patient or otherwise, to consume cannabis on their property. The laws regarding actual consumption are similar to Colorado’s – you can only smoke it if you are not in “view of the general public.”

Is On-Site Food, Drink or Alcohol Allowed

Licensed marijuana shops can only sell marijuana and marijuana infused products, as far as consumables go. And no other type of business, like a head shop or convenience store, will be able to apply for a license to sell pot within their current business.

Location Restrictions

“Retail cannabis shops must not be within 1000 feet of any K-12 school, playground, recreation center or facility, child care center, public park, public transit center, library, or game arcade that allows minors to enter.”

It is also an option for cities, town and/or counties in the State of Washington to relegate marijuana businesses to a specified area or zone or ban them altogether!

Worth Mentioning

If you are a data nerd (I am! I am!) check out this informative, weekly report  the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board puts out. It’s got info on licensing, locations, production, sales and compliance for cannabis businesses within the state.

OREGON

Check – In

The Cannabist reported on the unique, not so uptight way recreational dispensaries in Oregon handle check-in,

“Oregon dispensaries won’t be taking names as they do with registered medical marijuana patients, but they must record the customer’s birthdate and information about products purchased.”

Is On-Site Consumption Allowed

Measure 91 legalized cannabis for recreational use but,

“Public consumption is still prohibited under law.  Licensure for a cannabis café allowing public use would require a statutory change.  Also, cannabis falls under the regulation of Oregon’s Clean Air Act in 2016.”

Just like Washington and Colorado, Oregon does not allow in dispensary consumption – or any type of public consumption for that matter. Anyone surprised? All use of cannabis or cannabis products must take place out of view of the public.

There is one exception though! If you are an employee of the dispensary and a registered medical patient you CAN consume on property. However,

“it is important to note that as of March 1, 2016, an employee may not smoke or use a system that includes combusting, inhaling, vaporizing, or aerosolizing.”

So I guess that leaves…drinking cannabis, sublinguals (under the tongue method) or edibles, patches and topicals. It isn’t a joint on your lunch break, but it is some kind of bone thrown at the medical patients working in the cannabis industry.

Is On-Site Food, Drink or Alcohol Allowed

Nope. If someone has the ability to sell marijuana, they will not simultaneously have the ability to sell alcohol. If a business with a liquor license allows marijuana consumption, they could lose said license.

Location Restrictions

According to the Oregon Health Authority, dispensaries in Oregon follow the 1,000 foot rule when it comes to K-12 schools (or another dispensary). If a dispensary is opened within 1000 feet of a primary or secondary school, or within that proximity to another licensed dispensary the police are going to shut that down as soon as they catch wind of it.

Worth Mentioning

Very recently a dispensary in Portland was robbed. No one was hurt, because no one was there, but at least four of the robbers were reportedly wielding handguns. Read more over at The Oregonian (Live).

Filed Under: Cannabis Travel Tagged With: Colorado, dispensary, Marijuana Policy, oregon, Recreational Marijuana, Retail Experience, Washington

Cannabis Urban Legends: The Drive Thru Recreational Dispensary

May 5, 2016 by Brittany Driver Leave a Comment

Prior to 4/20 we were checking out what big things were happening in cannabis around the country.  One thing we saw was a video from Now This Marijuana, in which recreational users in Oregon were given a glimpse of a 4/20 miracle.

now-this-marijuana

Check out the Now This video for yourself.

It sounded too good to be true – but the reports were pretty clear. Time and USA Today even covered it.  For the first time, a dispensary would offer a drive-thru option for recreational users!  And originally we wanted to do a story on how it worked out for everyone out in Oregon on 4/20 at the drive-thru. Were there any problems or did it go smoothly? And when can WE drive-thru?

Sadly, upon further investigation, we have not been able to find anything confirming that this mythical Recreational Cannabis Dispensary Drive Thru was ever open?

No pictures means it didn’t happen, right?

Was this all just a huge public relations stunt to get more business? Is it okay with you if that is all it was? What other cannabis urban legends do you know?Do you have PROOF that a dispensary did this on 4/20 or any other day?

Comment below to fill us in or email us at [email protected] and use subject Urban Legends Blog.

 

Filed Under: News and Events Tagged With: Cannabis, Concentrates, dispensary, drive-thru, Marijuana, oregon

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