Cannabis And Career Opportunities: Top Jobs In The Cannabis Industry

The cannabis market in South Africa is estimated to garner a revenue of around R 5 712.46 million in 2024 with the potential to create more than 130 000 new job roles. With statistics like this and a continuous growth in the industry, it is definitely worth it to consider looking for a career in the cannabis industry. We will be covering different careers in the cannabis industry, what they encompass, and tell you all you need to know about getting into the industry to start your cannabis career. Join us as we get into the world of cannabis careers.

What Are The Different Careers In The Cannabis Industry?

There are many unique career paths to go into within the cannabis industry, but most of these paths fall under two major categories: plant-touching jobs and auxiliary jobs.

Plant-touching jobs involve working directly with cannabis products, like through cultivation or retail. Auxiliary jobs support the cannabis industry “from a distance”, through things like software or through marketing and consultants. Many of these careers can fall into either category, so you can choose whatever works for you.

Some of the most common jobs in the cannabis industry include:

• Budtender
• Cannabis Delivery
• Cannabis Dispensary Manager
• Cannabis Dispensary Owner
• Cannabis Inventory Manager
• Cannabis Compliance Officer
• Cannabis Cultivator
• Cannabis Lab Technician
• Quality Assurance Specialist In Cannabis
• Cannabis Chef
• Cannabis Website Builder
• Cannabis Content Writer

Budtender

Budtenders work directly with customers to make sales of cannabis and cannabis-derived products. You will need to be able to inform potential buyers about cannabis, answering any questions they might have on how certain products work, which strains to buy, how to find the right dosage, and much more depending on which products your dispensary sells.

When applying for a budtender job, make sure that you do research on the company you are looking to join. Read up on their products and make sure you learn information that will show them you have knowledge in the field.

Cannabis Delivery

A cannabis delivery job could mean delivering cannabis products directly to customers or delivering cannabis stock to different stores. This is a great entry-level position to get into the cannabis industry and learn more.

Cannabis Dispensary Manager

Cannabis Dispensary Managers make sure that the daily operations of a cannabis store are running smoothly. This position is more career-centric, and you might only be awarded this position after you have been the lead budtender for a while.

Cannabis Dispensary Owner

Although many people would like to have the position of a Cannabis Dispensary Owner, the job does not come without its own challenges. As a Cannabis Dispensary Owner, you will be responsible for the success or failure of your particular dispensary by hiring the right managers and expanding the business.

This means that you will need expertise in hiring job candidates as well as a knack for business and innovation to grow your cannabis dispensary to the best of its abilities.

Cannabis Inventory Manager

Just as the title suggests, Cannabis Inventory Managers are accountable for handling a dispensary’s inventory. More often than not, they also help to enforce company policies and do supporting operational tasks. This is a very important role as any store needs to manage its inventory and keep policies enforced.

Cannabis Compliance Officer

A Cannabis Compliance Officer ensures that a dispensary is following the right regulations and standard operating procedures (SOPs). They essentially keep a business legit, prevent the business from being fined, and keep up with all the latest laws and regulations to update company policies as necessary.

Cannabis Cultivator

Cannabis Cultivators or growers take care of cannabis plants through their planting, growing, and harvesting phases. This is a crucial role as it is the first step in actually getting cannabis products. Although these positions are typically entry-level, there is also opportunity for growth in the field. You will need to know about horticulture, eco-friendly practices, and growing cannabis, but a lot of what you need to know can also be picked up on the job if you just start out assisting.

Cannabis Lab Technician

Cannabis Lab Technicians work with the extraction side of things. Once the cannabis plant is done growing, lab technicians will get to work on getting whatever they need from the plant for other cannabis products. This job is on a higher level, and you will also need to meet all the local cleanliness and safety requirements and keep detailed records of all the materials used.

Quality Assurance Specialist In Cannabis

This career path requires some advanced knowledge and skills. You will typically need a chemistry degree to ensure that all the quality requirements are met during extraction, processing, and production. QA specialists might also need to help with product development and keeping records.

Cannabis Chef

Cannabis chefs are involved in the production of edibles, cannabis-infused foods, and all things related to cannabis consumables. Some responsibilities include making edibles, preserving cannabis food products properly, determining the correct dosage and measurements, and ensuring the highest quality of products. 

Cannabis Website Builder

Since cannabis websites need to meet different regulatory restrictions than your average website, website builders who work in the cannabis industry are often paid well for their expertise. You will also need some experience in eCommerce since most cannabis businesses make use of online ordering these days. 

Cannabis Content Writer

Cannabis content writers do extensive research to write informative pieces on cannabis or boost a business’ website. Many of these jobs are also entry-level, and you really only need some experience in writing content, with the exception of needing more knowledge if you are being sent products for reviews.

If you are interested in the cannabis industry, there are quite a few career options out there for you to consider. Some of the options require little to no experience and give you the opportunity for career growth. Whether you want to grow cannabis plants, work on cannabis extraction, craft edibles, sell products, or ensure product quality, the cannabis industry is sure to have something for you. After all, it is not work if you are doing something you love!