With recreational marijuana now legal in 18 states across the country, many people are finding jobs in the cannabis industry. Marijuana cultivation and production of cannabis products has created a number of jobs that have never existed before. With the pandemic displacing many employees, the cannabis market has been providing work for thousands.
In 2021 alone, legal cannabis supported 321,000 full-time or full-time equivalent jobs across the U.S. Cannabis employment exceeded that of many mainstream industries such as nurses, engineers, and web developers. It is expected that in the next five years the legal marijuana industry will employ up to 600,000 full-time workers in the U.S.
The reason for so many jobs opening is that more states are beginning to legalize cannabis and cannabis related products. 1 in 3 Americans now live in states with legalized cannabis and the support for legalization across the country continues to grow. In 2020 alone there were 5 more states that legalized recreational marijuana and more states are planning to legalize in the next few years. The push for recreational marijuana being nationally legalized is something that should contribute to the growing cannabis industry as well.
The rapidly growing cannabis market doesn’t just mean more entry level positions. With the growing market more and more jobs are being created and for higher salaries. This means that employees that enter the cannabis industry have many opportunities for advancement to a higher position.
The cannabis industry is not just for enthusiasts either. There are many professionals in the market who are very well versed in the history, social impacts, and medical benefits of marijuana. The amount of knowledge and history behind marijuana products allows for a more professional atmosphere and aids in workers resumes if they chose to follow a different career path later in their lives.
With the rapidly expanding cannabis market, new jobs are being created every year. This new industry has the potential to employ thousands of Americans who are struggling to find work after the pandemic. With the economic consequences the country felt in the wake of COVID-19 finding new jobs should be one of our highest priorities. Learn more about jobs in the cannabis industry in the infographic below.