Nevada Cannabis Jobs and Marijuana Careers

Nevada cannabis jobs and marijuana careers are ripe for the picking. If you have the right connections and know your weed, you can get hired by one of the state's many pot companies. The state employs thousands of full-time pot workers and the job numbers keep growing. Now’s your time to get started on your career in the Silver State’s pot industry.

Industry Snapshot: Nevada

Nevada’s weed market has shown to be one of the most robust in the nation. In 2019, the state sold $639 million of weed. The state employed 14,305 full-time pot jobs according to a Leafly Jobs Report for 2020. A big part of its sales come from tourists visiting the state’s pot hot spots. The COVID-19 pandemic has made a dent in sales, as well as in many more states.

A report commissioned by the Nevada Dispensary Association (NDA) titled “2020 Marijuana Economic & Fiscal Benefits Analysis: Nevada” shows large sales growth for the state. However, the report predates COVID-19. The study found that the state will reach $956 million in sales by 2024. The state is poised for success, despite the current state of affairs.

Requirements to Work in the Industry

If you plan on working for a weed business in the state, you must be 21 years or older. All pot workers need to get a weed establishment agent card. Agent cards are available in dispensary, cultivation, distributor, production, and laboratory categories. Some companies may require you to get up to two cards at once.

You'll need to fill out an agent card application and pay a $75 fee. You need to include if you’ll be working for a medical, adult-use, or hybrid shop. The application includes a criminal background check and fingerprinting. An agent card is valid for one year from the date of issue.

You must not have been convicted of an excluded felony offense within the last 10 years. You will not be able to get an agent card if you have been convicted of a violent or drug-related felony. People who have been convicted of two felonies of any kind in any state are not able to obtain a license.

Most entry-level pot jobs may require a high school diploma or general education degree (GED). Some entry-level jobs may only need a few months of related experience or training. Keep in mind, some stores may require an additional work card from the city for an additional fee.

Pre-Employment Drug Tests

Nevada became the first state in which employers are banned from using pre-employment drug tests for pot. Once you get the job, however, they can still do random drug testing. The policy change makes some exceptions for safety-sensitive jobs. These jobs include firefighters, EMTs, and people who operate vehicles.

Dispensary Jobs

Dispensaries are the lifeblood of the retail market. They provide shoppers with a wide range of whole-flower and infused products. Some stores may be a simple brick-and-mortar shop with display cases full of weed products. Others, like Planet 13 in Las Vegas, are a mega warehouse of interactive experiences. They require tons of staff.

Budtender

Budtenders are in charge of educating customers and selling weed. They're in charge of answering customer questions. They will need to upsell products to meet monthly quotas. Budtenders must comply with all cash handling policies. They'll need to maintain an organized work area. They'll record cash intake at the end of the shift. Budtenders make between $10-$15 an hour.

Inventory Control

As an inventory agent, you're in charge of ensuring that the inventory is accurate and accounted for at all times. Daily activities include inventory audits. You'll be stocking the showroom in a way that will drive sales. You may need to submit work orders for buying more products. Inventory assistants can earn between $14 and $15 an hour.

Security Guard

Security guards protect the facility, inventory, and staff. As a security officer, you'll need to look for suspicious activity. You may need to apprehend people if needed. You'll be patrolling the building and its perimeter regularly. You'll be monitoring video cameras and alarm systems.

First aid and CPR training may be required. Security officers can make about $14 an hour.

Cultivation Jobs

Licensed pot shops are able to grow their own supply. There aren't any hard limits unless stated by county or city. A growing number of growers are choosing to use greenhouses to lower production costs. Greenhouses help overcome the harsh desert climate in areas such as Southern Nevada.

Trimmer

Weed trimmers are in charge of cutting flowers from the plant. They can work a full 8-hour shift. They may be in charge of weighing and packaging the final product. Trimmers need to know how to sanitize their workplace to keep products fresh. Bud trimmers can make between $9-$14 an hour in the state.

Cultivation Technician

A growing assistant takes on a few more duties compared to trimmers. Growing activities include defoliation, trimming, watering, packaging, transplanting clones, and more.  You are in charge of feeding the plants. You'll monitor plants throughout their life cycle. Growing assistants can earn between $12 and $14 an hour.

Production Jobs

Weed edibles, topicals, tinctures, and extracts provide a variety of choices to users. Users rely on a supply chain of pot chefs, quality assurance supervisors, kitchen assistants, and packaging assistants. They are in charge of producing a safe and compliant product.

Production Assistant

Production assistants help throughout the infused weed production process. You'll have to perform basic kitchen duties such as measuring ingredients. You’ll ensure all ingredients are fully stocked. You'll assist in cleaning and organizing the food preparation areas and equipment. You can earn between $12-$14 an hour.

Extraction Jobs

Extraction technicians operate closed-loop extractors and refining equipment. They handle dangerous chemicals and solvents. Technicians need between one to three years of extraction laboratory experience. They need to be familiar with solvent extraction, distillation, winterization, and more. An extraction technician can earn between $18 and $22 per hour.

Ancillary

Weed companies are not an island. They rely on a host of ancillary businesses for many services. These include accounting, marketing, IT, banking, sales, and more. You don't have to work directly with weed to be a part of this industry. Your prior job experience and skills can be applied to many of the pot and ancillary jobs available.

Nevada Cannabis College

Learn everything you can about your state’s weed laws with weed education. CTU provides the most thorough and affordable online marijuana classes. Our courses take you through every part of the industry. We cover the medicinal power of weed all the way to the business side of things. Take a leap toward your rewarding career in weed with CTU.