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How to Get a Cannabis Job in Colorado

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If you want to work in marijuana retail sales in the first state to legalize recreational pot, it’s easy. But there’s an application process, complete with various forms and fees. And you must follow and obey all Colorado marijuana laws.

Ask yourself, “Do I really want a cannabis job?”

Before entering the cannabis industry, understand it’s highly, highly regulated. The state and city governments are pretty serious about these regulations and rules – and trust me, there’s a lot of them, and they change all the time. As a badged employee, you must memorize and understand these rules. Failure to comply with the rules can lead to an audit or MED investigation. These investigations can cost a business anywhere from thousands to millions of dollars, so be prepared to operate under a tight ship.

Second, consider the social ramifications. There’s still a lot of stigma around cannabis, and your previous or current job selling marijuana could affect your ability to find work elsewhere. This isn’t a guarantee, but it is something to consider.

Types of Cannabis Jobs in Colorado

budtender weighing out cannabis

If you are 100% positive you want a job in the cannabis industry, here is a list of some jobs you could apply for after you get your MED license.

– Cannabis Trimmer
– Cannabis Harvest and Cultivation Assistant
– Dispensary Budtender
– Cannabis Packager
– Horticulturist
– Sales Representative
– Dispensary Manager / Assistant Manager

If you’re actively looking for a cannabis job be sure to check out local cannabis job listings on ZipRecruiter and Indeed.

Colorado Cannabis Job Qualifications

Because this industry is so carefully watched, only a handful of people qualify to work in the industry. To quality, you must:

– You must be 21+
– You are a Colorado resident and have a drivers license or ID
– Have a relatively clean criminal record, which means no felony convictions in the past five years.
– Owe no outstanding differences to the IRS or to the Colorado Department of Revenue.
– Not be affiliated with organized crime. You’ll be required to provide photos of any tattoos on your body.
– Not be a licensed physician.
– Not be a member of law enforcement.
– You must have your fingerprints taken prior to submitting your application

Apply for MED License

man filling out application

As with any other application process, the first step to getting a cannabis job in Colorado is filling out the application.

There used to be two different types of licenses to apply for; one for “Key Employees” and one for “Support Employees”. This rule changed on January 1, 2020. Anyone who seeks to become an employer of a cannabis enterprise, such as a budtender or dispensary employee, needs to fill out this Employee License Application. The fee is $100 for first-timers and $75 for renewals.

You’ll need to prove that you’re a Colorado resident (which requires a Colorado driver’s license). You can apply without a Social Security Number, but if you don’t have one, you’ll need to fill out a sworn affidavit stating you don’t have a Social Security Number.

The Colorado Department of Revenue provides numerous resources to help you through the application process. For MED Licensing Information click here and for MED Applications and Forms click here. You’ll find a number of different forms and applications depending on what you’d like to apply for, i.e., delivery permit, employee license or hospitality marijuana business just to name a few.

Important note about getting your fingerprints for the MED license.

The Colorado Government says:
“Applicants may have fingerprints taken using a third-party vendor. When submitting your application, please include a copy of your receipt showing you completed your fingerprints by visiting one of the following providers.

– IdentoGo (Service Code: 25YGBJ)
– Colorado Fingerprinting (CBI Unique ID: 9500MAJI)​
– Please see the MED Third-Party Fingerprint Providers page for more information.”

Here are some rules to follow when filling out your application:

1. Stick to black or blue ink, and your writing should be one color from start to finish. In other words, don’t do half of it in blue ink then switch to black ink for the last half.

2. Do not cross out any information you’ve written. You cannot white-out anything, either. If you mess up, you need to start over from scratch.

3. The form must be notarized by a state-licensed notary. Wait until you’ve met with the notary before signing the forms.

4. Whatever you do, tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth on your application. Leaving out required information may result in an automatic and permanent disqualification. It’s better to provide all information upfront compared to facing denial and having to go through an appeal process.

Important Note: If you are renewing your license, you must fill out the renewal application before it expires or you’ll have to go through the entire employee license application from the beginning.

Visit a MED Office to Apply

government building

You’ll need to set aside a day to make a trip to one of the state’s MED offices. It is recommended that you email or call them to make sure they are accepting walk-ins, only doing drop-offs or if you should just mail your application in.

Lakewood Office
1707 Cole Blvd., Suite 300
Lakewood, CO 80401
Email: [email protected]

Colorado Springs Office
PO Box 15128
Colorado Springs, CO 80935
Email: [email protected]

Grand Junction Office
632 Market Street, Suite G3
Grand Junction, CO 81505
Email: [email protected]

Longmont Office
275 South Main Street, Suite 101
Longmont, CO 80501
Email: [email protected]

If they are accepting walk-ins, it is usually on a  first-come, first-served, so try to show up early. Bring all relevant forms, including your Colorado-issued driver’s license, proof of residency (a utility bill usually works), a Social Security Card, and any other documents related to your arrest history, criminal records, etc.

You must also make your application payment upon your office visit. The offices will only take cash, money orders, and personal checks.

And that’s pretty much it! If you qualify, you should find out that day. Your badge is good for two (2) years, and once you have it, you can apply to work at any licensed dispensary, retail store, MIP, or grow operation in Colorado.

Have fun, and best of luck!

How to Get a Cannabis Job in Oregon

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What it Takes to Work in Cannabis in Oregon

Recreational Cannabis Workers must now obtain a “Marijuana Worker Permit”

Currently, Oregon has two legal cannabis markets; recreational and medical. While the recreational market is quickly becoming vastly larger there, working in a recreationally licensed business requires a “Marijuana Worker Permit” issued by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC). To obtain a permit, workers must study, take an exam, pass a background check and once passed, pay a $100.00 fee. Working at a medical business, those regulated by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), existing under Oregon’s nearly 20 year old medical marijuana program (OMMP) doesn’t require a permit, but some employers may complete a background check, and some may insist on hiring permit-holding workers only. In Oregon, state law prohibits employers from checking an applicant’s credit history.

Criteria

To apply for an OLCC marijuana worker permit, applicants must be 21 years of age or older and head to the Marijuana Worker Permit page on the OLCC’s website to register, verify identity, study for the exam, take the online exam, pass the application process, hear from the OLCC, then pay, print the permit, and look for work. An OLCC marijuana worker permit is valid for five years before it needs to be renewed. Applicants may be disqualified for any number of reasons. These are listed under the “Marijuana Worker Permit Denial Criteria” section (page 62) among the 89 pages of rules outlined in the OLCC’s General Requirements Applicable To All Marijuana Licensees. Various prior felony convictions are typically cause for denial, although some marijuana offences are accepted. Other prerequisites and intricacies are listed in the rules.

Employees of marijuana producers (growers, etc.), processors (extract makers, edible makers, etc.), wholesalers (distributors), or retailers (dispensaries, etc.) must obtain a permit to work. This includes the coveted position of budtender among Oregon’s growing number of recreational dispensaries. Lab employees and research certificate employees are exempt from the permit process.

Employees may lose their permits for misconduct. The online exam and study guide trains permit holders on the various rules regarding work conduct, like recognizing visibly intoxicated customers and denying them service, not being intoxicated on the job, learning to correctly use the state’s Cannabis Tracking System (CTS), and more. Conduct infractions could cause penalties and fines for both the employer and employee, including revocation of their worker permit. More information on this can be found in the study guide.

In Oregon, the OLCC also oversees regulated alcohol sales and a similar permitting process applies to workers serving alcohol in bars, restaurants and event venues with liquor licenses. Currently, under Oregon law, licensed businesses can not sell or serve alcohol and cannabis under the same business license. While recreational cannabis is open to consumers 21 or older, public consumption of cannabis remains illegal in Oregon.

People age 21 or older looking to obtain a Marijuana Worker Permit in Oregon may head to the OLCC website to register and apply.

How to Get a Cannabis Job in Washington State

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What it takes to work in Cannabis in Washington State

Recreational Cannabis Workers should come prepared with retail sales experience and a knowledge of cannabis

Currently, Washington has two legal cannabis markets; recreational and medical. The medical market in Washington State is slowly phasing out and the recreational market is actually expanding at the moment. The state sets the number of retail cannabis business licenses issued, that number has recently increased from 334 retail dispensaries to 556 across the state.

Criteria

To work as a budtender in Washington, workers must be 21 years or older and apply for the job directly to the hiring business. At this time, no permit is required. Individual hiring processes depend on the hiring business. Some employers may require a criminal background check, however prior marijuana convictions are typically exempted by employers. Retail dispensaries may favor candidates possessing a knowledge of Washington’s medical marijuana program processes. The medical program is overseen by the Washington State Department of Health and requires medical facility customer liaisons to obtain a Medical Marijuana Certified Consultant certification.

In Washington state, it is against the rules to speak of cannabis’ therapeutic benefits at a dispensary, so other knowledge like growing practices and a deep understanding of the shops various vendors is an excellent start. Recreational shops see a lot of “newcomer” customers looking for knowledge to guide their first time buying legal weed, and the Medical Marijuana Certified Consultant certification process includes a 20 hour training program that teaches workers what they can and cannot do when selling retail marijuana.

This certification is not a prerequisite for working in recreational cannabis in the state, only at medical shops, but the certificate can be very helpful in getting hired at a retail dispensary.

Positions at retail pot shops in Washington State include: budtenders, shop key holders, shift managers, greeters, and more. Applicants must be at least 21 years old. Washington State recreational cannabis retailers see a lot of business and these jobs are coveted, so applicants should be prompt and professional and never show up to work intoxicated.

Retailers typically prohibit consumption during the shift, and the law prohibits smoking cannabis on premises or in any public place or space. Expect to handle lots of cash and be good at counting and making change. Budtending shifts can be high paced, so anticipate lots of time on your feet, and repetition explaining various methods of consumption and the differences between various forms of cannabis…to customer after customer, for hours on end.

Tips

A knowledge of computers and POS systems is helpful. Bringing upbeat vibes and a good spirit to the interview and your daily job is certain to help get a foot in the door. High volume customer service, with a smile, is the name of the game.

Currently, under Washington law, licensed businesses can not sell or serve alcohol and cannabis under the same business license. While recreational cannabis is open to consumers 21 or older, public consumption of cannabis remains illegal in Washington.

People age 21 or older looking to work in Washington should check out Craigslist and search the job listings for “cannabis” to explore a number of opportunities in their desired city or town: https://seattle.craigslist.org/search

How to Get a Cannabis Job in Washington DC

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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.

 

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