How to Get into the Marijuana Industry

How to Get into the Marijuana Industry


The Growing Marijuana Industry

The marijuana industry is highly regulated and starting a new business can, therefore, require a lot of time and money to become approved as a state-approved medical marijuana business. Read on to learn about how to get into the weed business and the different types of business roles available within the marijuana industry.

To get into the cannabis business in any state, you must first work with either the State Department of Health, Department of Commerce, and/or Department of Taxation to become a licensed medical marijuana business. This process is easier in some states with more lenient marijuana laws, such as California, where recreational use of marijuana is also legal. In other states, it may be difficult to get involved in the industry. For example, if your state only operates state-owned dispensaries, it can be more difficult to get into the weed business. If your state has legalized recreational marijuana use, there would be many more opportunities for you to open a business selling marijuana-containing products.

In a few states where medical marijuana is not legal, it is still possible to open a business selling derivatives of marijuana and hemp, such as cannabidiol (CBD) oil. However, this may be a bit of a gamble, as the Drug Enforcement Administration views CBD oil, and virtually all other marijuana-based products, as illegal.

In states with legal medical marijuana, individuals wishing to get into the marijuana business can apply with their state to establish cultivation centers, dispensaries, and in some states, sell marijuana-based products. For those who have the proper credentials, such as medical professionals, a host of medical opportunities are available as well. The availability of these types of business opportunities varies by state; for example, if you live in a state where recreational marijuana is illegal, it would therefore also be illegal for you to open a marijuana-infused baked goods company.

There are several facets of the medical marijuana business that, depending on your state, it may be possible to operate within. Marijuana businesses are largely limited to operating within one state, due to the complex laws regulating marijuana possession and use that could prohibit the trafficking and transport of marijuana across state lines, even if the states in question have legalized medical and/or recreational marijuana.

How to get into the Marijuana Industry as Marijuana Growers?

To become a marijuana grower, it would be helpful to have several years of experience running a commercial-scale garden. You must also familiarize yourself with the basics of cannabis horticulture, such as the different phases of plant growth, plant watering and ventilation, plant nutrition, and plant harvesting; you should also familiarize yourself with how to identify pests and how to properly use (or avoid the use of) pesticides. You should know that most marijuana growers are on call around-the-clock, so if something goes wrong at the cultivation center, you will be required to travel to the center to fix it at any time of the day.

If you do not think that you are ready to work in or operate a cultivation center, you may consider applying to be a trimmer. A skilled trimmer is required to remove the unwanted materials of the marijuana plant during harvest.

It may or may not be possible to open your own cultivation center in your state. Consult your local state’s medical marijuana laws to determine what is and is not possible. Some states operate entirely state-owned cultivation centers, while other states that have legalized recreational use of marijuana have a less strict process for opening a cultivation center.

How to get into the Marijuana Industry as a Marijuana Dispensaries?

Like marijuana cultivation, the operation of marijuana dispensaries varies by state – some states’ dispensaries are highly state-controlled, while other states allow private citizens to open cultivation centers and dispensaries. Running a marijuana dispensary can bring a salary of $100,000 or more, according to Robert Calkin, CEO of the Cannabis Career Institute. States have different laws about how much marijuana citizens can possess for medical use – some states allow 1 ounce of marijuana at any time, while other states allow the possession of up to 24 ounces of weed.   If you decide to open your own dispensary

Some states also allow individual citizens to grow marijuana plants in their home – consult your state laws to find out exactly what is and is not legal in your state. However, in most states, it remains illegal to sell any marijuana, including home-cultivated marijuana, to another person.

Selling Marijuana-based products

In general, unless a state has legalized recreational marijuana, it is not possible to sell marijuana-based products. One exception is CBD oil, which has been legalized in some states that have not legalized medical marijuana. To open a marijuana-based business, you may need to register with the medical marijuana registry of a given state and follow the laws relating to marijuana set forth by the state’s Department of Commerce and Taxation.

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