4 Things to Expect When Working in the Cannabis Industry
By Jesse Cheetham, Fire & Flower & Graydon Welbourn, White Ash Group
Here are 4 things to expect when working in the Cannabis industry:
1. Pivot, Pivot, Pivot - Change is Reality
When candidates ask me what it’s like working in the industry, I often use the phrase, “driving the car while paving the road.” I have heard industry friends from LPs mention it’s more like, “changing the engine while piloting the plane in midair.” Whatever the metaphor you prefer, the Cannabis industry is constantly in flux.
Between the constant changes that happen within companies, such as new processes, new hires, new goals and strategic objectives, coupled with regulatory changes, change is reality!
How comfortably you can change gears and continue to deliver results will drive your success in the Cannabis industry. If you are looking for predictability and routine, the industry isn’t for you. At the same time, if you are great at staying the course in the eye of the storm, you will have tremendous experiences to grow your resume and stretch your capabilities.
2. Ambiguity – Be Comfortable Being Uncomfortable
Being able to work with ambiguity is a must-have skill if you’re looking to work in the Cannabis industry. Most hiring managers I speak to in the industry, regardless of the vertical or the position, are looking to hire people that are not just okay with ambiguity but thrive in ambiguity.
Although it may seem counterintuitive, working with ambiguity is actually a skill that can be honed and is one that is necessary for success in the industry. Not only are a lot of laws and regulations ambiguous and require creative interpretation, but no one really knows how the industry is going to unfold and that creates an overarching environment of ambiguity. There is no proven playbook or historical data stretching back for decades to provide insight into how to steer the ship.
A key to success for individuals and companies in cannabis is being able to move quickly, without all the information, make mistakes, and evolve quickly from the mistakes. The more quickly you and your team can learn, iterate, and improve, the clearer the picture gets and the ambiguity begins to fade.
3. Wearing Multiple Hats – Play in All Areas of the Business
Despite the mammoth size of some cannabis companies, and despite the fact that many are publicly traded, each and every cannabis company is effectively still a “startup.” We all know when you’re in startup mode, it’s all hands on deck and that means wearing multiple hats.
I have heard stories of CEOs driving forklifts, marketing managers packaging up vapes, territory sales managers helping out with policies, the list goes on. In order to be seen as valuable and completely onboard, a successful candidate in the industry will have to willingly embrace the concept of wearing multiple hats. There’s no room for a “sorry that’s not my job” attitude in this industry.
This is where true growth comes in. You truly take on projects and work you never would have the opportunity to in other industries. In many ways, wearing many hats gives a dynamic view of business and can dramatically shorten the learning curve of business acumen.
4. Bringing it Together
If you are looking for structure and pensions – the cannabis industry is not for you and that is totally fine. On the flip side, if you are ambitious, comfortable being uncomfortable, willing to take on diverse work, and can leave your ego at the door, the cannabis industry can be your springboard to success.