How to Become a Budtender in Massachusetts

Read our comprehensive guide on Massachusetts laws, budtender responsibilities and requirements, and how to get picked over hundreds of job applicants.

What are the Marijuana Laws in Massachusetts?

Learning about the laws that regulate cannabis use in Massachusetts can help you get hired as a budtender.

Medical marijuana use was approved in November 2012. Adult-use regulations were passed by voters in November 2016.

Medical patients are allowed to possess a 60-day supply of cannabis (10 ounces of dry flower or 1.5 ounces of cannabis concentrates). Adult-use consumers can have up to one ounce on them or up to 10 ounces at home.

Adults over 21 years of age are allowed to grow up to six plants or 12 plants per household. Medical cannabis patients are also allowed to grow up to six plants for personal use.

Budtender is one of the most popular cannabis jobs in Massachusetts.

Budtender Responsibilities and Requirements

Budtenders are responsible for helping patients through their purchasing decision and answering all of their questions about the selection of medicine and methods of consumption. Also known as a dispensing agent, a budtender ensures the dispensary remains compliant with state rules.

Budtender Responsibilities:

• Warmly greet customers
• Educate patients about different strains and products
• Ensure customer flow is efficient without sacrificing patient needs
• Check inventory at the beginning and end of shift
• Maintain a clean and organized workspace

Budtender Requirements:

• 21 years of age or older
• Massachusetts resident
• Communication and organization skills
• Attention to detail
• Ability to multi-task and work in a team atmosphere
• Customer service skills
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds
• High school or college degree

Dispensaries may ask you to pass a background (CORI) check to identify crimes that automatically disqualify you from working in the cannabis industry including felony convictions, failure to register as a sex offender, or a conviction for distributing drugs to minors.

Under state law, however, some prior drug-related convictions don’t automatically disqualify you from working as a budtender. The state’s Cannabis Control Commission is working toward prioritizing “economic empowerment” applicants and building up a social equity program.

How to Get Hired as a Budtender in Massachusetts

Massachusetts’ cannabis industry is rapidly expanding. In order to excel in the industry, you must have a passion for it. Read up on as many blogs, books, and other educational sources to understand the latest trends across the country and in the state.

Once you have a background in your state’s laws, where cannabis dispensaries are located, and what requirements are needed to work as a budtender, you can search online job boards, local publications, and more to find dispensary job openings.

Send in an updated resume along with a short and informative cover letter along with your application to highlight your skills and why you deserve to be hired over anyone else. Make sure to highlight any prior retail and customer service experience, as well as any cannabis education.

If you’ve done everything right, you’ll at least get an interview. Prepare yourself for any question you may be asked and get there early to make a good first impression. With the cannabis job growth in the state, you have plenty of possibilities to enter the industry.

How Much Does a Budtender Make in Massachusetts?

Budtender salaries in Massachusetts will vary based on the dispensary location. On average, budtenders in Massachusetts earn between $15 to $16 an hour or about $31,200 per year in salary, similar to the average budtender salary across the country.

On top of a salary, dispensaries in Massachusetts may also offer budtenders various job benefits including health insurance, vision insurance, paid time off, and parental leave. Store discounts are also a common job perk.

Where to Find Budtender Jobs in Massachusetts

Massachusetts’ burgeoning adult-use retail market signals tremendous job growth in the state. Massachusetts brought in $255 million in tax revenue from cannabis alone in 2023.

Massachusetts set a new annual gross sales record in 2023 of $1.56 billion. That is an increase of over 5% compared to 2022.

In 2023, over 97,000 certified medical patients in Massachusetts contributed to an additional $225 million in sales from the 103 operational Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers. The combined total of $1.79 billion for adult-use and medical cannabis sales in Massachusetts set a new record for a calendar year.

There are a total of 338 cannabis retail licenses and 21 delivery businesses.

Job applicants can find budtending positions in medical and recreational pot shops. Budtender jobs can be found in cities like Ayer, Boston, Worcester, Sheffield, Westfield, and Shrewsbury, Massachusetts.

If you want the best possible job experience, check out these great Massachusetts dispensaries:

• NETA
• Cultivate
• Northeast Alternatives
• INSA
• Sanctuary
• Theory Wellness
• Patriot Care
• Berkshire Roots

Budtender Training Massachusetts

If you’re interested in becoming a budtender in one of the world’s most exciting cannabis markets, enroll in CTU’s world-class cannabis training program where you’ll learn basic and advanced concepts about cannabis cultivations, cannabis laws, cannabis medicine, and more.

Enroll in Massachusetts cannabis college to get your foot in the door of a rewarding industry. Budtender certification gives you a leg-up over job candidates with similar experience but without cannabis training.

Sign up today and start your cannabis training for your new cannabis career. 

Fred Hernandez

Fred Hernandez is a highly accomplished and versatile writer, boasting an extensive background in the cannabis industry. With an in-depth understanding of various sectors including cultivators, processors, retailers, and brands, Fred's expertise spans across the entire cannabis landscape. As a prominent contributor to CTU, he consistently delivers insightful articles exploring the latest developments, news, and regulations shaping the cannabis industry. Whether it's delving into the intricacies of cannabis products, cannabis strain reviews, or providing comprehensive analyses of cannabis laws, or sharing expert insights on cannabis cultivation techniques, Fred's wealth of knowledge positions him as an invaluable writer and educator for all cannabis-related subjects.