How To Get Hired As A Budtender

Before quitting your current job, be aware that many budtender jobs require a basic understanding of cannabis, and many require a certification that demonstrates your understanding of cannabis basics and the laws regulating it.

Several supplementary courses have been developed to help educate on cannabis. They will provide you with everything you need to know about this fascinating plant.

What Is Cannabis?

Cannabis is a plant species in the family Cannabaceae. It includes three primary subspecies: Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. Cannabis has been used for a variety of purposes, including for its medicinal and recreational effects. It is also known for its psychoactive compounds, such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).

What Is THC?

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is a psychoactive compound found in the cannabis plant. It is responsible for the “high” commonly associated with cannabis use. THC acts on the cannabinoid receptors in the brain, which are involved in the regulation of mood, appetite, and other cognitive functions. The amount of THC in cannabis varies depending on the strain, with some strains having higher levels of THC than others.

What Is CBD?

CBD stands for cannabidiol, which is a naturally occurring compound found in the cannabis plant. CBD is one of many compounds, known as cannabinoids, that are found in the cannabis plant. Unlike the more well-known compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD is non-psychoactive, meaning it does not produce the “high” commonly associated with cannabis use.

CBD has become increasingly popular in recent years as a natural remedy for a variety of health conditions, including anxiety, pain, and insomnia. It is also used to manage symptoms of conditions such as multiple sclerosis and help with epilepsy. CBD is available in a variety of forms, including oils, capsules, and topical creams.

Get your province or territory certification

CannSell provides comprehensive certification for cannabis users, covering federal and provincial guidelines, common compliance issues, and the potential risks and harms associated with cannabis use. Their expert-level course provides a deep understanding of cannabis history, genetics, growing, packaging, and how cannabinoids work in the human body.

According to co-CEOs Jonathan Carley and Andy Deonarine, the number of students who have taken Ontario’s required course CannSell has tripled in the last year.

Since they acquired the course from Lift & Co. about two years ago, they’ve been working to smooth out bugs and payment processes on the online delivery platform, and to keep up with evolving regulations.

We work hard to provide the best possible user experience for our education services, ensuring that they are up-to-date and fit well with brands and dispensary personnel.

Budtenders are trained on cannabis products, regulations and responsible consumption. (Adobe Stock)

The AGCO is the only company with a sole mandate to provide training to agricultural workers. This ensures the highest quality training for agricultural workers.

Each province has its own requirements for training budtenders, but all of them use CanSell’s training program. Alberta’s SellSafe program is great, and Saskatchewan uses the CannaSell SK Responsible Cannabis Sales Training program. In BC, Responsible Service BC offers Selling It Right courses.

The Manitoba Liquor, Gaming, & Cannabis Authority requires a Smart Choices Cannabis Retail Certification prior to starting work. Quebec has the Société Québécoise du Cannabis training program. The Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corporation takes care of training through SkillsPass.

If you’re looking for a budtender job in the North West Territories, we have our own internal employee training program. In Yukon, the Be A Responsible Server- Cannabis (BARS-C) program offers training to help you be a responsible cannabis retailer. In Nunavut, our own Cannabis Retail Employee Training Program provides the necessary training to help you be a successful cannabis retailer.

Educational add-ons will set you apart

Budtenders who choose to continue their education can benefit from more specialized knowledge, beyond what is required by provincial regulations. Tabitha Fritz, who launched her online course, LevelUp, after developing in-store budtender training programs, knows that this knowledge can help staff better understand cannabis.

“You can present facts to someone and say, here are all the facts about cannabis, cannabinoids, terpenes, your endocannabinoid system and concentrates,” she explained.

“But it doesn’t necessarily mean someone is going to internalize that and internalize that. [This course] takes the learner on a journey through cannabis, how it works with our bodies, and why it is so unique to each consumer.”

Fritz, the delivery guy for LevelUp, is in Goderich today, and he’s here to help some of the local budtenders get started with our service. Thanks, Fritz!

There are numerous online courses available that don’t require traditional schooling, like educational modules from Canna Reps, Cannabis Training Canada, the Cannabis Institute of Canada, and others. Many universities and colleges across Canada offer degrees, courses, and certifications in all aspects of the cannabis industry, from science to engineering to hospitality.

We understand that you may be hesitant to invest in formal training before you’re ready to enter the workforce, but we would like to point out that many of our courses have a price tag and may not be worth it if you’re not planning to use them in your current job. Instead, we encourage you to consider taking our courses after you’ve already secured a position, and speak to others who have taken our courses and found them to be beneficial.

Once you’re hired, we can help get you the education and training you need to grow in your career. Or, we can find yougroup rates for professional development programs.

Don’t forget customer service and soft skills

Krista Raymer, co-founder of Vetrina Group, says that the training and education of budtenders will continue to evolve in the coming years. While cannabis concepts and products are one set of skills, she says that the focus should be on training them in soft skills, such as customer service.

Rather than pushing to make a sale, Raymer says a more effective approach is to explore the needs of the customer more deeply, looking for common ground. This way, both parties can come away with what they need.

Our budtenders can help elevate your cannabis experience. There is a big gap in the industry right now, and it’s because it’s hard to execute and takes a lot of time and training. But since we’ve seen a high turnover rate with budtenders, it’s hard to make that kind of investment.

Talk to your local budtender

Alex Pollard, one of the founders of union organizers United Weed Workers, says that the most valuable budtender education comes from hands-on product workshops with brand reps and trying products for themselves.

Some stores offer employees discounts on products, but it can be expensive for budtenders, who, on average, make $16.03 an hour.

The best stores get the most out of their brand reps and territory managers by encouraging close interactions with their budtenders.

Before signing up for a course, consider speaking with current budtenders to learn what they wish they knew before starting out in the industry and whether or not a course is worth the investment.

Remember, employers should always invest in their workforce by coordinating training on your behalf.

Conclusion

If you are interested in cannabis and THC products, check out Ganja West online dispensary at ganjawest.co!