Like the idea of being a budtender but not sure where to start? Here’s where. Let me share with you how to go about getting that retail job selling legal cannabis. It’s not hard to navigate, and each store will look for something slightly geared to their own style, but the basics will always apply.
What you’ll need:
Knowledge
Passion
CannSell Certificate
Police Background Check
Budtending isn’t dealing. I love to joke that I’m a legal dealer (and wish I had the T-shirt), but I’m not a dealer. Budtending is out in the open.
Budtenders have a wide variety of products and need to carry knowledge on the effects and consumption process of each one. Smaller stores might have a hundred products (SKU’s) and larger stores may have 2000, all shops get new products coming in regularly so you’re always learning.
Customers are coming for an experience, and, with the constant influx of new products, most of them need to be educated – or at least informed about what’s available. But they’re also coming for community, culture and connection.
I happen to love the social part of the job.
Knowledge
Cannabis has a significant amount of science to it. If you want to budtend, this is the knowledge base you need:
- The legal rules and regs
- Flower and how lineage works
- Terpenes – what they are and the effects they have
- Vaping – the different carts and disposables
- Brands and licensed producers (LPs, get to know the lingo!)
- Edibles and the various cannabinoid combinations like THC, CBD, CBN, CBG
- The difference between full spectrum products vs distillates
- Concentrates – how they’re made and how they’re consumed
- The variety of rolling papers and what differentiates them
- Accessories
Accessories – this is a huge category. You need to know what each does and how to use them. Some of them are inexpensive, others are pricey pieces of technology. Glassware is very popular and ranges from cheap and cheerful to precious and collectible with a lot of handmade and artisan pieces out there.
Some accessories are necessary, others are gimicky, but they all have a function, whether it’s a vapourizer, a rolling machine, an intricate dab rig, a straight up silicone bong, a roach clip, trays or grinders. People want to know how to clean them. People want to know how to refill a torch. Customers have A LOT of questions. You need to have the answers.
Passion
Do you need to be a heavy cannabis consumer to work in a shop? No, that’s not necessary. In fact, this idea that cannabis shops are just for stoners misses the mark.
There are consumers in every age group and every demographic. Each of us has a unique relationship with cannabis that brings us to this industry. Cannabis is personal; your relationship with it will guide your perspective as a budtender. The more passionate you are about the product you sell seems to correlate with how well you sell it – and how much you enjoy your job.
Fashionistas work in fashion retail, foodies tend to work in epicurian shops and animal enthusiasts work in pet stores. Stoners do have a niche here – but I’ve employed budtenders who prefer the wellness aspect and only use CBD. I’ve employed budtenders who stopped consuming but still appreciate what cannabis can do. That said, you need to understand why cannabis retail is calling you. Those who appreciate the plant will relate better to customers and understand how to serve their needs.
Certification
Budtenders have a certification to comply with in order to work in a licensed cannabis shop. Very much like SmartServe for waiters and bar staff, budtenders have CannSell Certification.
This online course is an intro to serving the licensed cannabis market. The course includes info on federal and provincial regulations, a little on products, on methods of consumption and insight into how the industry works. Certification is required before your first shift. This online certification takes a couple of hours to review the materials and take the test. It’s multiple choice and you need at least 80% to pass.
Police Background Check
Don’t let this deter you. It costs $20 and takes 3 to 6 weeks to get when you order it online. It’s a legal requirement for every budtender to have a background check on file – but nothing in the regulations preclude an applicant. You can have minor charges, cannabis charges, serious charges – the law doesn’t stipulate that any specific crime makes you ineligible to work in a licensed cannabis shop. I’ve never come across anything myself that would make me say no to a prospective budtender, and if you have a record working in cannabis I’d hope that would work in your favour. I’ve employed some amazing budtenders who worked in the legacy market and appreciate their contribution to legalization. Each store sets their tolerance is for past criminal activity.
I’ve never met a budtender that knows it all, there’s a lot of learning on the job, and being immersed in it is the best way to learn. Some shops want experienced budtenders, but many are willing to train the right candidates because, much like bartending, butdtending tends to involve a lot of conversation and personal insight.
I always say I can teach you about cannabis, but I can’t teach you how to be awesome – and I think all of the budtenders who’ve come through the shop have been awesome.
Budtending is also a great stepping stone into the industry. With cannabis being a young and growing industry, it’s a great time to get involved and grow with it. I’ve had many budtenders move on to roles in various areas of the industry that interest them.
The last thing to know about becoming a budtender is finding the right shop. Some are meant for quick in-and-out visitors, others are community shops with clientele that like to stop, shop and talk. Some shops are corporate, others are independent. Some have uniforms, others don’t. Each has a sort of niche, find one that suits you – because you’re going to be there a lot!
And don’t forget, it’s still retail. With customer service comes all the foils and responsibilities like handling cash and credit, doing inventory, store cleaning and upkeep, operating the sales system and other essential duties. We don’t sit around getting high all day selling weed (in fact Ontario has serious regulations about working under the influence), but we do have a lot of fun doing what we do.
If you’re ever in the east end and want to find out more, I’m always happy to chat. Come by K’s Pot Shop and we can talk!