how to become a grower for a dispensary

To become a grower in the legal cannabis industry – either as a business license holder or as a career – you need to have a combination of knowledge, skills, and experience. You also need to be highly focused on compliance and adaptable to change because the legal marijuana industry is constantly evolving.

The good news is the industry is growing quickly across the United States, and there are many opportunities to join as a grower employee or entrepreneur.

How to Start a Business as a Grower

There are five key steps to starting a business as a grower in the legal cannabis industry: planning, licensing, production and supply chain, business operations, and opening your cultivation site for business. Let's take a closer look at each step.

1. Planning

Passion for the industry and experience growing at home are not enough to start a successful marijuana grow operation. You need a team of experienced experts, local support from your community, strong financial models, and more.

Importantly, you need a solid business plan to help secure investors, win a cultivation license from your state, and obtain the necessary permits and permissions from the local municipality where your business will operate.

2. License Application

It's essential that you get help from cannabis business consultants and attorneys to complete your cultivation license application so your responses provide all of the information that is required as well as information that makes your application stand out from the rest.

It's an extremely competitive process, and you only get one chance to get it right. Invest wisely.

3. Production and Supply Chain

How will your cultivation facility operate at each stage of production and across the supply chain? What systems will you use? What technology and equipment do you need?

You need to create process requirements for breeding, cloning, trimming, drying, curing, packaging, distribution, and much more.

4. Business Operations

How will your business operate on a daily basis? What budget is needed and what procedures do employees need to follow?

In order to run your cultivation site, you need to prepare in advance by setting up lighting and other environmental equipment, installing security, purchasing equipment and supplies, selecting a payment processor, setting up compliance processes, and more.

If you don't have the essential elements of successful commercial cannabis cultivation in place, your business could fail.

5. Opening

Once your business is licensed and set up, it's time to prepare for opening. You'll need to stock your inventory, building your vendor and supplier relationships, hire and train employees, and start promoting your business.

READY TO START YOUR GROW BUSINESS?
⇨ CLICK HERE TO GET CERTIFIED IN CANNABIS CULTIVATION

How to Get a Job as a Grower

If you want to become a grower in the legal cannabis industry but don't want to own a grow facility, there are many types of grower jobs to choose from. Salaries typically range from $12 per hour for entry-level trimmers to $150,000 or more for master growers who have cannabis experience and PhDs.

A master grower typically holds a master's degree or PhD in horticulture, botany, or a physical science and is responsible for genetics, designing grow systems, maximizing harvests, managing the grow facility, and managing and training the grow team of workers. This is not a job for home growers. Master growers are responsible for large commercial grow sites and must be able to scale those grow sites even more if the opportunity arises.

Assistant growers typically have a bachelor's degree in horticulture, botany, or a physical science. They must have knowledge of strains, lighting, irrigation, fertilizer, growing technologies, and more. Assistant growers typically earn $30,000 or more.

Trimmers are usually hourly employees who are responsible for cutting marijuana plants by hand during harvests. A college degree is usually not required, which makes it a great way for people who are interested in cannabis growing to break into the industry.

WANT TO GET A JOB AS A CANNABIS GROWER?
⇨ CLICK HERE TO GET CERTIFIED IN CANNABIS CULTIVATION

Key Takeaways to Become a Grower in the Legal Cannabis Industry

The legal cannabis industry is young, and there are many opportunities for motivated workers and entrepreneurs to become growers. Be sure to register for Leafy Green Agency's Cannabis Cultivation Certification Seminar, so you have the knowledge to win a license or land a job as a grower.

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Leafy Green Agency was founded by Dr. Vanessa Niles, M.D. Dr. Niles is recognized as one of the leading authorities on the delivery of quality medical care in her specialty and is an enthusiastic, dedicated, passionate, and compassionate cannabis advocate.

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