MEDFORD, Ore.– A new report by USA Today says that more and more marijuana companies are hiring, especially in states that allow legal or medicinal use.
Jobs like budtenders, flavor scientists and extraction technicians are all new jobs that cannabis companies are looking to hire. However, many businesses are looking for people beyond the “stoner” stereotype.
In Medford, companies say there has been an increase in jobs but the type of people companies are looking to hire has become much stricter. Marijuana businesses are looking for employees who will treat their job as a profession and retain a certain skill set beyond using the drug.
Locally, one company says it’s difficult to find employees that have the necessary skills.
“Doing an admin job in the marijuana sector is work,” said Robert Weinger, owner of Cannabiz Experience. “It’s not playing with marijuana, it’s not getting high all day. It’s using your brain cognitively from eight in the morning till 10 at night.”
While each company has it’s own approach to hiring, many production and processing jobs require a college-level education. Several other companies NBC5 spoke with over the phone say the job opportunity in southern Oregon is huge but until more people can reach the skill level needed, it’s difficult to retain employees.
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