Job as a Budtender Essay Example
Marijuana has been stigmatized for so many years. Until now, you could have gone to jail just for being in possession of it. Researchers have taken their time and energy to show just how beneficial cannabis actually is. Which is why it is now widely accepted and decriminalized. The reason budtending sparked my interest is because of how wide the range is on what it can do for you. Instead of having to take 3-5 medications for different things you can have 3-5 strains of cannabis and suffer no side effects.
Although working with cannabis may seem like a laid back job it is quite the opposite. The environment is very fast paced, and consumers don’t always care about what they are getting just how much it will cost. Also, people may look at you funny when you tell them what job you have. The marijuana industry is brand new to most areas in the United States, and was illegal not too long ago. Which means there are a lot of people still against it and will try to make it illegal again. Budtending does have its pros too. One benefit is some dispensaries allow their workers to medicate on the job. Another pro is getting great discounts on the product. These benefits depend on where you are located. Pennsylvania law only allows medical marijuana and not recreational. So you can only enjoy these pros if you have your card, or relocate to a state that allows recreational cannabis.
If you want to become a budtender you have to be willing to work hard and become very educated in the field. While having extensive knowledge in different strains of cannabis is a big portion of your job, there is more to it than that. You will be assisting customers in what strains will work best for them or their condition. Also, you will have to weigh the product then package it accordingly. Once you’re done with that you will be cashing the customer out. When you aren’t working with a customer some other duties may include, stocking, pre-rolling, and cleaning up. This is just the basics of what most budtenders do. Each dispensary has different responsibilities and duties you will perform according to their needs and standards.
To be a budtender you need training, knowledge, and customer service experience. You do not need to go to college in order to be a budtender legally, however most dispensaries have a long list of requirements in order for you to qualify and having a degree definitely helps. Some of these requirements include, having 2 years customer service experience, having extensive knowledge in cannabis and it’s strains, formulations, and other products. Also, in Pennsylvania you have to be 21 or older and pass a fingerprint background check in order to work at a dispensary. Just like with any consumer based business there are ways to work up the ladder and manage your own dispensary but that requires having a degree in business.
If you don’t like working with people then this is not the job for you. You definitely have to be a people person and love to help others. This job isn’t just about selling the strongest strain of weed. It’s about figuring out what strain will help that person the most with whatever issue they may be having.
Everything I wrote here today I generally already knew, however I did learn there is a lot of networking that goes on within the cannabis industry. People try to come up with new and innovative ideas and pitch them to other bus tenders at events. Many people think it’s a get rich quick type of job but it’s not. Most budtenders starting out will make 30,000 a year. Even after doing this essay about my chosen career path I am still very interested in pursuing this path. I enjoy helping people medically, and I believe cannabis has so many benefits to it.
A budtender is more than just a pothead that sells marijuana to other potheads. It’s a genuine business wanting to help people in need. It can be stressful but all jobs can bring stress. It has so many advantages to it, especially if you also smoke cannabis. You don’t even need a college degree in order to be one. You just need to be willing to put forth time and energy into learning everything you can and have customer service experience.
