How to Become a Budtender in Ohio

Our job guide will show you how to become a budtender in Ohio. The Buckeye State’s medical weed program launched in January 2019. While the state’s program has been slow to roll out, entry-level retail jobs have been opening up. Keep reading to find out how to stand out in this small and growing market.

Ohio’s Weed Market

In 2016, the state passed medical weed legislation which allows qualifying patients to use weed, but not grow it or buy smokable products. The state didn’t have any active dispensaries until January 2019. Since then, the state’s market has reached more than 94,000 patients (as of July 2020). In 2019, it made $56 million in sales and supported 4,275 weed jobs.

As more dispensaries continue to open in 2020, you can expect its sales and budtender jobs to grow. BDS Analytics estimates that the state’s medical weed market can bring in close to $300 million in annual sales by 2022 and hire more than 6,000 workers. Budtending is one of the most attractive entry-level jobs for aspiring pot workers.

Ohio Budtender: Job Description & Requirements

Ohio has 53 active dispensaries who hire budtenders to help medical weed patients find the right strains and products to treat their qualifying medical condition. Also known as a patient care representative, budtenders must be able to educate customers about the properties of each strain and help patients find the right product and delivery method.

Budtenders must have a friendly and positive attitude. As a budtender, you’ll be working closely with patients from the moment they walk in the door to the moment they check out. Throughout the process, you must remain compliant with state and store rules and regulations.

Responsibilities:

• Help patients choose products and delivery methods
• Provide dosage suggestions for new patients
• Accurately use the point-of-sale (POS) system
• Cash handling
• Verify patient documentation and IDs
• Maintain a clean and organized work area

Requirements:

• Must be 21 years or older
• Must pass any and all background checks
•  Excellent computer and teamwork skills
• Must have a high school diploma or equivalent
• Must be familiar with the state’s program and regulations
• 1-5 years in customer service or retail

How to Get Hired as a Budtender in Ohio

Most entry-level weed jobs don’t usually require formal education or training. However, some stores may require a high school diploma or equivalent. If you don’t have the required industry and job experience, cannabis education can help you land the job. Enrolling and becoming certified in a training program is a great way to make your mark on hiring managers.

Once you have the right experience and education, you can start working on your resume and cover letter to send out with every application. Look on job boards such as Indeed, ZipRecruiter, and Glassdoor. Cannabis-specific job sites like Vangsters can feature jobs not found anywhere else. It’s important to scour multiple job sites to cover your ground.

Ohio is a relatively new weed market. Because of this, not many people may have industry experience. In-person networking can help put a name to a face and gives you a competitive edge over applicants who just send out applications. Getting hired as a budtender can be a great starting point for a career in retail or any other segment of the industry.

How Much Do Budtenders Make in Ohio?

Budtenders can start with a pay rate between $12 and $15 per hour depending on the location and your experience. Budtenders can make $15.06 on average in Ohio. That’s 16 percent higher than the national average. Budtending can be a great first step toward becoming a dispensary manager who can make $51,001 per year on average in Ohio.

Where to Find Budtender Jobs in Ohio?

State regulators split the state into regions. They issued a number of stores to operate in each depending on the population. The state’s six biggest counties received between three to five licenses each. The remaining 88 counties were grouped with at least a couple of other counties to form a district. Some districts include up to four counties and are allowed one store.

Urban regions such as Cuyahoga and Franklin counties each have five dispensaries. Columbus has the highest store number at five. Cincinnati has three stores. For more information, check out the state’s map of medical pot stores. The number of stores can increase over time as regulators see which regions need them most.

Budtender Training in Ohio

Ready to start your dream career in the weed industry? Let CTU’s online budtender certification program show you everything you need to know to get hired. From crafting your resume to acing the interview, our program covers it all. Get started from anywhere in the world with reliable internet access. Sign up here today!