7 minute read
The Human Element
HIGHBABE/UNSPLASH
A new kind of job
Why workers are clamoring for a role in the legal cannabis industry
By Kimberly Kirchner
Special Sections Editor
Th ere's no arguing that the Massachusetts cannabis industry is growing like a — well, you know.
Every new dispensary that pops up on the side of the road needs its own team of people to tend to it. In Mass., this adds up to more than 27,000 jobs in the cannabis industry, according to the 2022 Jobs Report from Leafl y and Whitney Economics, up from just over 13, in February 2020. Cannabis workers now outnumber fi refi ghters, police offi cers and lawyers in Massachusetts.
Nationally, the number of cannabis jobs increased 33% in 2021, with a total of 428,059 legal cannabis jobs as of January 2022. More importantly, data suggests that the increase isn't just a freak fl uctuation in industry trends caused by the COVID-19 pandemic; Cannabis jobs have seen an annual job growth of 27% or higher for the last fi ve years. Analysis by Whitney Economics suggests that a mature cannabis market could support upwards of 1.5 million jobs nationwide. "So, where do I sign up?"
Th e good news for job seekers is that you won't need to look far for open positions. A quick search for 'cannabis' on job searching site Indeed turned up 24 jobs across 15 employers, just within 25 miles of Pittsfi eld. Even established shops have continued to bring on new employees as sales increase and companies expand into growing and manufacturing. Th e Pass, which opened in Sheffi eld in 2020, has gone from 50 to 82 employees since opening in 2020, according to Carolann Strickling, VP of Finance & Administration. Th e company will be taking on even more team members once its manufacturing facility is operational.
Th e cannabis industry’s frantic job growth is matched by the enthusiasm of job seekers, many of whom are eager to get into the business early on. "We've received thousands of applications," said Brendan McKee,CFO of Silver Th erapeutics, which opened its fi rst dispensary in Williamstown in 2019, and now has about 25 employees in the Berkshires. While many sectors have struggled to fi ll openings following the "Great Resignation" of 2021, the cannabis industry has seen no shortage of applicants, even at the entry level.
“I often fi nd that people will come to us applying for almost any position we have open, with the hope of getting their foot in the door," Strickling wrote.
For many, cannabis’ developing status means more opportunities for advancement, especially compared to established industries like retail
and hospitality. "We’re always promoting internally," McKee said. Following a recent restructuring, Silver Th erapeutics was able to bump employees across the company up the corporate ladder. “Team members in Williamstown moved up to either shift leaders or assistant management positions which is great."
In building the regulations for legal cannabis sales, the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission gave special consideration to people from communities that have been disproportionately harmed by the War on Drugs and marijuana prohibition. Th e MCCC established the Social Equity Program to provide these groups with support and clear pathways to business ownership in the cannabis industry.
Additionally, every applicant for a marijuana retail license is required to provide a detailed Diversity Plan, outlining steps for promoting equity among marginalized groups, including people of color, women, people with disabilities, veterans and members of the LGBTQ+ community.
More than an empty statement about “valuing inclusivity" or “welcoming all,” the Diversity Plan focuses on action. Applicants must provide specifi c goals for inclusion based on their host community's demographics, concrete steps for achieving those goals, and the metrics by which progress can be tracked.
“At Th e Pass, we are continuously partnering with a variety of organizations that have direct links to women, LGBTQ+, and minority communities. We also have an amazing diversity committee that is dedicated to increasing awareness on the importance of diversity and inclusivity both internally and externally ... As of this moment in time we have a 10:7 ratio of women to men in leadership roles. We are also well ahead of our diversity goals set forth in our Diversity Plan as submitted to the Cannabis Control Commission," Strickling wrote. "For us this is not just checking a box, we are dedicated to increasing opportunities across all demographics and positively impacting our community.” "We stress inclusivity and we really strive to have a diverse workforce" McKee Said. Silver Th erapeutics has also surpassed its Diversity Plan goals, and currently has a team that is about 60% female.
Silver Th erapeutics’ newest location is a combination cultivation, processing, medical and adult use facility in the Roslindale neighborhood of Boston. Under the name City Farm, the location will also serve as a cannabis educational campus, off ering training towards 150 or more of the area's diverse residents, meant to create a pathway into the cannabis industry. "Th e entire facility is dedicated to really bridging the opportunity gap that's unfortunately been in place particularly with groups that are disproportionately impacted by the prohibition of cannabis,” McKee said. "Leah, Siah [Samura, Directors of Educational Programming], and Bruce [Bickerstaff , Director of Community Relations] are amazing. Th ey've been helping us since the beginning to build a curriculum to really mindfully integrate with the community.”
Individuals who were convicted of marijuana off enses prior to the end of prohibition often fi nd themselves carrying an extra burden when it comes to employment, in the form of a criminal record that may turn off potential employers or even disqualify the applicant from some jobs altogether. In the post-legalization era, many within the industry have em-
CRYSTALWEED CANNABIS/UNSPLASH
braced those with a marijuana-related convictions, allowing these individuals to share in the success of the same trade for which they were once punished. "We actively seek applicants who have been negatively imported by these off enses, and we utilize many resources to facilitate our search," Strickling wrote, noting that the company has a number of related initiatives in the works that were halted by the pandemic but will roll out over the coming months.
Silver Th erapeutics off ers multiple expungement events throughout the year, for potential employees as well as other members of the public who carry a black mark on their record from past cannabis convictions. "In addition to actually providing an attorney on site to help individuals through that, we absolutely make it a priority to do our best to employ individuals who have some sort of cannabis-related criminal history," McKee said. "We take strides to work with those individuals for sure, whether they work for us or not."
As the cannabis industry grows into its new-found legitimacy, colleges and universities across the state — and the entire country — have rolled out a variety of degrees, concentrations and certifi cate programs for those interested in pursuing a serious career in marijuana.
Berkshire Community College in Pittsfi eld now offers a one-year Cannabis Industry Certifi cate program; Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams has partnered with Online Cannabis Education to provide an online-only selfpaced course for students at BCC, MCLA and Westfi eld State University. (It is worth noting that all these programs are only open to students aged 21 or older, regardless of where one is in their academic journey.
“I love that more and more colleges are coming online with cannabis specifi c programs, and I fi nd a lot of value in these certifi cations," Strickling said. Th ere are plenty of non-cannabis fi elds of study with direct applications in the industry, as well. "I do see a need in the scientifi c sector of the industry such as chemistry, extraction, and of course the culinary arts are of benefi t, as well," she wrote.
McKee noted that he's seen quite a bit of interest from individuals coming out of wellness-oriented jobs, such as nursing, personal training and physical therapy, as well as plenty of transplants from the hospitality sector. For the numerically minded, McKee pointed to the industry's strong reliance on data to make decisions across the company. “We strive to make data-driven decisions," he said. "Our Director of Operations really lives in our data.”
But what ultimately matters, as both he and Strickling were quick to attest, is the right attitude and a willingness to learn in an industry that is still defi ning itself. "Honestly, we just look for nice people, "McKee said, "People that are willing to learn and be compassionate, be mindful." "Willingness to learn the industry and solid commitment to working hard and being team players are huge factors that we look for in a candidate," Strickling wrote.
Ultimately, the cannabis industry is just beginning to fl ower. Whether you're coming from retail, healthcare or even fresh from university, there's a good chance that your perfect job is waiting for you in the very near future. •
BRENDAN MCKEE, CFO, SILVER THERAPEUTICS
CRYSTALWEED CANNABIS/UNSPLASH
