Hey GC. First, just wanted to say congrats to Washington and Colorado for legalizing. You guys are the bomb. You guys changed the future!! Now for my question. I live in Canada (alberta to be specific) and I was wondering if it were possible for me to work in the american recreational marijuana field. I would apply for a green card through a company (hopefully marijuana companies will do this) so I could work in USA. I know Colorado and Washington are going to be hiring people for an assortment of jobs, and I want to be one of those people hired!! They are going to need thousands and thousands of people to test/review/grow/educate people on this magnificent plant, and working in this field would make me extremely content. I am very knowledgeable about cannabis and its different varieties/effects, so I believe I could be a very big part of the recreational marijuana field. Any information on what will happen in the next year or 2 in the legalized states?
Chiquita - it is doubtful you are going to get a green card, nevermind a work visa to come down and be a pot expert. For a Canadian to get a work visa, you need to be in an area where you are very specialized and not taking a job away from an American. In today's economy, drug prohibition and high unemployment, I am guessing there are a number of Americans out there who have similar skills to you that will be lining up for those jobs. So, unless you marry an American soon, I can't see this happening. Sorry to deflate your ambitions. Go get Harper to smarten up and legalize in Canada and then fill your boots while still going to Flames games.
haha thanks green herb. The more realistic I get with my goals the better i can prepare. Thanks for the info!
what about people already in the US and weed related jobs? My endless wtf am i gonna do in life quest may be over.
Plex1: You should be fine, and even should get a job in the industry quite easily. They are going to need so many people to get the industry going.. Man this is the first time I wish I was an american!
This may be an actual useful thread if we can start posting things on how to get started on a career in cannabis. Im sure tons of people would love to be surrounded by cannabis for 8+ hours a day.
It's not all just going to be directly cannabis, but also any related items -like glass pipes, rolling papers, new ideas for different ways to ingest, places to smoke (bars, shops, etc.). The people who can think ahead and see what someone is going to need/want are the ones who will stand to make a fortune. It's probably going to be pretty obvious who does know and who doesn't know about cannabis when it comes right down to it. Lots of people think they know a lot about cannabis because they smoke a large amount everyday or because they have dreadlocks and wear t-shirts that have pot logos on them. But.....ya know?
Id love to just grow the shit care free. Its so theraputic growing it, trying to get a gnarlier and gnarlier setup. I guess its only 6 plants 3 in flower out of that 6 per person but still.....co2 1000w + 3 plants = a good amount of dense ass nug. But I gotta get money up first. Im 19 living at home while going to community college. 12 classes left till i get a associates and i HATE gonig to school! badly!
I would actually love to create a cannabis lounge in one of those states. Couldn't have a better, more chill environment than a lounge with a bong at every table and the best stoner foods on the menu.
Hmm.. cafés sounds interesting. I wonder if the legislation will have similar rules like a Liqour Bar license but for a Herbal smoke bar amazing idea
There will be countless new industries to make your mark in the marijuana field in Washington and Colorado soon enough. Why work for someone else when you could for yourself. The psychoactive properties of the plant are just one side of the coin. How about all the potential uses for hemp?
This is an interesting concept. By this time next year, the retail facilities will be open. Someone will have to work the processing and retail locations...
Its always been my pothead dream to work with weed all day every day.... I kinda already do but I wanna do it legally, without fearing incarceration. Also dont want the stigma, and hate how people would think so ill of a person like me, only out of ignorance. How awesome it would be, to have a RESPECTABLE career in the marijuana industry. Taking care of you and yours.....being around the herb all the time. I love cultivating it and im still a giant noob!
There's alot of people I think who dream of working in a legal cannabis industry. I am one of those people. How could you not be happy going to your job everyday if you got the aroma of sweet sticky ganja in your nose all day long? Alot of dreams will be coming true very soon.
I'm in Canada and I feel marijuana will be legal very soon, it's strange that every province has been having conferences and discussions about how they are pro marijuana legilization, but we never will get to until Steven Harper is out of office is what it seems oh well maybe in a few more years we will have are election and a new prime minister gets voted in
I don't mean to rain on the parade in here....and I don't know about Washington, but Colorado has the most strict regulation system in the country when it comes to marijuana. I know for a FACT, it is very hard to get a mmj employee license if you are not an American Citizen. I've seen people turned away for that, or unpaid child support, even student loans. One of the MAIN background checks you have to pass is the IRS...if you have no records with the IRS, they will not give you an employee license because you will not pass the Federal background check that is required for a license. You have to provide everything they ask for, or they will quickly deny you, without a second thought and there's no fighting it. Essentially, you are being investigated by the US government from the moment you apply, to the moment that license expires. They take this extremely seriously, basically they will not risk a fuck up if they suspect it in this industry. It doesn't end there, you go through even more scrutiny if you want to own a store, or grow for a store. The owners of all CO dispensaries had to sign away their rights to attorneys until July 2013. So before then, if the Feds want to come in, bend them over, and fuck them with every charge they can come up with...they will...and they can legally. How fucked up is that? Most people have NO idea how deep regulation goes. And that's just to get started. But...I'm afraid I might have too said too much already. I think talking about the industry and how it works...is not allowed @ GC. I might be right about that, but I only want to help educate people on what they're really getting themselves into. (don't hate me mods! if I need to delete this let me know.)
Start working on your resume to highlight your experience with Marijuana, and if you have grow journals start putting together a portfolio. Worst that happens is you get told no, and then you're no worse off than when you started.