So, you’re looking for a dispensary job? Something about the cannabis industry has caught your eye, and you’re interested in diving in? Before viewing cannabis retail jobs and writing applications, here’s what you should know.

The first thing you should know is that Canada-wide, 3,000 dispensaries range from privately owned retailers to government agencies that facilitate the sales of retail cannabis. No two dispensaries are entirely the same. Their variations depend on who or how the organization is formed as well as provincial laws.

Working for a government agency versus a corporate dispensary chain vs. a smaller mom-and-pop can all have different advantages. But, realistically, your career path, skills, interests, and location will guide which type of cannabis sales or budtender jobs you can have.

From a legal perspective

From province to province, the retail cannabis landscape varies. In 2018, when Canada legalized cannabis, the federal government gave the provinces the right to dictate how retail cannabis would be organized. This is why some provinces only distribute cannabis through government agencies, others only have licensed retailers, and some provinces even have both.

Even if you don’t work for a government agency, working for a private retailer means your cannabis still comes from government-owned agencies acting as wholesalers. This means that the provincial government handles all cannabis sold at a retail level for one purpose or the other before it gets into a consumer’s hands.

Each province has a different sales strategy that is intended to tailor their market. Even though we operate in a national cannabis industry, there is still fragmentation. For example, Quebec’s SQDC operates on a consignment model as opposed to The OCS’s flowthrough model.

What you need to know from a market perspective

It’s important to know who’s who in the cannabis zoo, which isn’t easy. You shouldn’t have to know everyone, but it’s recommended to know the major players and have preferences. You should also have some craft or smaller brands you like. This is a role based on recommendations and suggestions. Having a back pocket full of recommendable cannabis brands is key for serving customers.

The cannabis industry is young and expanding. There are hundreds of Licensed Producers and just as many brands in the market. It’s hard to learn about every company because there are so many of them, and they’re often changing.

This is an industry rich with mergers and acquisitions. Therefore products and brands come and go. From the inception of the industry, there have been consistent mergers and acquisitions. As a result, there are brands when I was bud tending that no longer exist anymore, and brands we know now that may not exist in the future.

What you need to know about cannabis

Although it is a sales role, selling cannabis requires some knowledge of the following:

Cannabinoids (THC, CBD, CBN, CBG, etc. ) and Terpenes (limonene, humulene, caryophyllene, etc.)

How cannabinoids and terpenes interact in the body (The Entourage Effect)

The manufacturing process for concentrates (not in detail)
Consumptions methods

How edibles work
The difference between flower and oil vapes
How to roll a joint
How to smoke from a bong or pipe
How to apply CBD creams
How to consume cannabis oils

Skills you need to sell legal weed

Selling weed kind of sounds easy, doesn’t it? But, if you know the science behind the plant and understand the brands, you have a foot in the right direction.

Some core competencies and soft skills are required in any role, and cannabis is no different. If you represent an organization and serve customers, there are some skills you will need, no matter what.

Skills you need to be a good budtender are:

Good listening skills
Problem-solving skills
Customer service skills
Conflict resolution
Computer skills
Training skills

Core traits you need to be a good budtender are:

People-focused
Compassionate and empathetic
Strong leadership and teamwork skills
Must be cool under pressure

Regardless of if you’re selling cannabis, cars, or home goods and you work with customers and co-workers, there are essential skills and traits. Being able to work with others, see their perspective and work towards a solution. You have to act as a collaborator, trainer, and student all at the same time.

Beyond that, most roles have a technology element to them—inventory software, point of sale software, etc. If you work for a smaller organization, there may be opportunities to learn cannabis social media or other software to help drive traffic into your store.

In conclusion, selling weed isn’t as easy as it seems. The first step one should take before getting into the industry is understanding the market and legal landscape for retail cannabis. I also recommend understanding your province's specific cannabis regulations.

Learn how your province’s cannabis retail is organized. Then learn who’s who in the cannabis zoo. If you’re in a province with multiple options, explore the possibilities. Finally, understand what differentiates licensed retailers and/or government agencies.

It’s harder to learn and teach soft skills, but those come over time with practice. By interacting with others in the workplace, soft skills will be developed. Every day is a new opportunity to learn and grow. And with a job in the cannabis retail space, every day is a new day to sell weed.

What to Know About the Cannabis Retail Space in Canada