Getting into the cannabis extraction industry

So I have been giving up on using my degree in civil engineering as I just can't get the stable work that I need and to top it off it is not a cannabis friendly industry at all! So here is my dilemma, I have a good understanding of the chemistry of extracts as well as organic chemistry and botony in general. I even some practice making them but I am currently stuck in North Carolina. I can't afford to move but I want to get to Denver ASAP. I've been sending out custom tailored resumes and cover letters to various extraction labs in the Denver area for the past week or so but I have also had to make it clear of my intentions to move to the area as well as my necessity for a job to be available in order to do so.

I guess what I'm getting at here is I just need advice from people in the industry or even some good contacts who are already working in the legal cannabis extraction industry and can help me get in. I've been a member here for years now and I rarely post threads but I am just desperate to get out of North Carolina and start doing what I love. It really sucks because I know that not living in Denver is killing my chances and I can't live there right now as I can't make enough money living here so that I can move there and sustain myself until I find employment.

 

I'm definitely trying to do my research and avoid any shady connections if at all possible and I'm only applying to well established and larger companies. I've basically been sending out cover letters, resumes, applications, etc to any reasonable looking extraction lab I can find. Since I have an engineering degree and whatnot I definitely have the chemistry knowledge to get in the door at a higher quality lab and I wouldn't even be opposed to getting in to designing extraction equipment although that is less appealing than making the product itself.

Denver is my first choice as they have the longest running fully recreational industry and I really want to live near the Rockies. Frigid mountains are a must since I can't write good black metal in hot places lol. I think you of all people on here will understand that haha. Oregon is my second choice but also 20+ hours away from here making it even harder to make connections.

Making the move is just very difficult at the moment since my current job at an environmental engineering firm is very on and off at the moment and despite being paid well I have to plan ahead for dry spells where they don't have work for me. I'm trying to secure a second job but I'm on a year of no luck with that plus my band takes up a lot of time and being on the road for extended periods drains cash and doesn't look good to employers. I'm willing to leave it behind to make the move but it will be the one thing I will miss. Fuck, if I can make it work I'll fly back and forth to keep the band but only if that actually becomes a reality.

I'll look into the possibility of a land surveying job in Denver just to get out there. I wish I could hone in my craft out here on making extracts but I don't want to risk it as extracts are treated as a felony and NC treats them as if they were just as bad as other much harder drugs. Cannabis itself is decriminalized and a misdemeanor but producing extracts is still a felony.

 

I just applied to two land surveying jobs for good measure as it seems like getting into the state first is a good idea. Hopefully I can land in a situation where a company is willing to cover or at least help pay for my moving expenses.

I'm not going to go into the NC laws too much but I doubt legalization is anywhere close to becoming a reality. The closest we have ever gotten was a medical bill that was pushed out of the house because of "overwhelming public opinion" making it too difficult for politicians to come to a decision. The south sucks!

I really do need to have consistant access to cannabis concentrates as they are the only thing that works on my migraines which I have been getting since I was a kid and have essentially ruined my life. When I take a dab it is like the pressure in my head melts away and I can think clearly and function at a much higher capacity. Regular weed works, but not as well and if I smoke it the whole act of combustion actually gives me a headache so I have to vape which is fine but concentrates are still far more effective.

Something needs to work out soon. I can't stay here in hillbilly hell much longer! A grower that I grew up with that lives near me just got busted and is facing over a decade for just one pound of bud. If I stay here that will be me eventually.

 

Wish I could help with specific strains but here in NC I just get what is available and rarely do I actually know the strain names which is yet another reason I want to move to Colorado. I will say that I find a good high CBD content helps a lot but the THC does wonders for preventing them so a good indica works for pain relief and a sativa for prevention. I would say that extracts and edibles work much better than regular flowers as the smoke tends to trigger headaches. Not to say that smoking the buds doesn't help but in larger quantities it can trigger headaches. Vaping buds works but I find the most instant and effective relief comes from vaporizing potent extracts.

 

That is what I was afraid of and it is pretty tough to make the move at this time or even visit for a few days. Luckily I just scored a pretty good job so I can actually save up to move. I didn't realize there was a special state requirement but that is good to know and probably explains why my resume spamming didn't even merit a return email.

I'm also considering getting in on the ground floor in one of the more recently legalized states like Maine or Massachusetts when they implement recreational sales. Boston is probably my second choice to Denver but the cost of living there is whack and idk how long I would last.