Our cannabis career guide teaches you how to become a budtender in Michigan. Learn the type of budtender training needed to excel in the retail cannabis field, budtender job descriptions and requirements, budtender salary, and which cities are hiring the most.

What Are the Cannabis Laws in Michigan?

Michigan legalized recreational cannabis use on December 6, 2018, to widespread fanfare. Under the new laws, any adult 21 or older can possess or use cannabis. If you’re 21 and over, you can travel with up to 2.5 ounces of flower or 15 grams of concentrate (with few exceptions).

You can have up to 10 ounces at home, but anything over 2.5 ounces should be locked away. Adults can grow up to 12 cannabis plants per household. If you grow your own weed, you can hold an unlimited amount of marijuana at home.

For most people, however, a cannabis dispensary is their one-stop-shop for cannabis flower, infused products, and accessories. Michigan issued a number of recreational dispensary licenses to open up the market with more shops set to open in the coming years.

Patients can still obtain a medical marijuana card with a doctor’s recommendation. Patients must have a qualifying condition to be eligible for medical marijuana use. People can visit medical and recreational cannabis dispensaries (and some with both types of cannabis).

Michigan Cannabis Industry Size

Michigan has one of the most robust cannabis markets in the United States. Since recreational use became legal in 2019 the industry has grown year over year. With nearly 1,000 dispensaries, Michigan offers numerous job opportunities in the cannabis sector.

Michigan Budtender: Job Description & Requirements

As Michigan continues the success of its new recreational market, cannabis dispensaries in the state are in search of fun, outgoing, friendly, and knowledgeable budtenders who can answer any and all of a customer’s questions about the available products.

While budtenders work in a traditional retail setting, the job entails more than just completing a cash transaction. Budtenders are tasked with recommending cannabis products such as edibles, concentrates, and topicals to customers to elicit their desired effects.

A Michigan budtender’s job responsibilities include:

• Greet customers when they enter the dispensary showroom
• Provide exceptional customer service
• Develop and maintain a positive relationship with patients, vendors, and staff
• Payment/cash handling
• Communicate the effects of different strains and products to customers
• Manage POS and state Metrc database entries
• Assist in inventory activities
• Maintain a clean and organized work environment
• Must comply with HIPAA guidelines

The requirements to become a Michigan budtender include:

• Minimum 21 years of age
• Must be a Michigan resident
• Must pass a criminal and background check
• High school diploma or GED
• Customer service and retail experience (preferred)
• Proficient computing skills
• Excellent oral, problem-solving, communication, multi-tasking, and teamwork skills
• Knowledge of cannabis
• Reliable transportation
• Flexible schedule

How To Become a Budtender in Michigan

If you’re interested in becoming a budtender in Michigan, there are a few things to consider to improve your chances of getting hired. First of all, you must be 21 years or older and have a clean record to pass a background check.

Most dispensaries prefer budtenders to have at least one to three years of previous retail, customer service, and cash handling experience. More importantly, budtenders must be knowledgeable about the cannabis industry.

Budtending training is available in a variety of learning environments including online classes that catch you up to speed with the medicinal, legal, and commercial landscape of the industry. Cannabis certification could be the difference needed to stand out from the competition.

Create a resume with all of your transferable skills including prior customer service and cannabis experience. Don’t hesitate to include any cannabis training you’ve completed to show your passion for the plant and the community.

A short cover letter explaining why you want the job and why you’re the best person for it can also shine on your positive qualifications and skills. With a resume and cover letter completed, you can start sending out applications to any dispensaries hiring in your area. Search for budtender, dispensary agent, herbologist, and wellness/cannabis consultant positions on online job boards.

If your skills match the dispensary’s requirements, you’ll get a call or email from the hiring manager to schedule an in-person interview. Research common budtender interview questions. Make sure you know the basics of cannabis terminology, strain types, effects, and consumption methods. Dress to impress. A cannabis dispensary interview is anything but casual.

Even if you don’t get hired on your first try, Michigan’s burgeoning cannabis market is always looking for new budtenders to meet the surging demand. Keep applying to different dispensaries, reading up on cannabis topics, and learning from your mistakes.

If budtending isn’t your thing, there’s a wide range of cannabis careers you can aim for. From cultivation to cooking to extraction and more, the cannabis industry and its ancillary businesses offer exciting job opportunities for passionate individuals.

How Much Do Budtenders Make in Michigan?

Budtenders in Michigan can expect to earn between $14 and $16 an hour depending on experience level. According to data from Indeed, the average base salary for a marijuana budtender in Michigan is $15.28 per hour, five percent higher than the national average.

Budtenders can also expect certain job perks such as store discounts, employee discounts, paid sick time, flexible schedules, health insurance, vision insurance, dental insurance, paid time off, professional development assistance, and retirement plans.

Where to Find Budtender Jobs in Michigan

Michigan’s thriving medical and recreational cannabis market has plenty of entry-level and advanced job opportunities for the candidate with the right skills. If you’re hoping to get a budtending position in Michigan, here are the top cities you should look into:

• Ann Arbor
• Detroit
• Lansing
• Traverse City
• Negaunee
• Hazel Park
• Battle Creek
• Owosso
• White Cloud
• Kalamazoo
• Buchanan
• Flint
• Center Line
• Grand Rapids
• Adrian

Budtender Training in Michigan

Budtender training can help you learn the tricks of the trade so you can land a dispensary job. CTU’s online cannabis training goes over the role and responsibilities of a budtender, customer service techniques, and the essential knowledge needed to become a marijuana expert.

For the best budtender certification enroll today at the leading cannabis college.

Fred Hernandez

Fred Hernandez is a highly accomplished and versatile writer, boasting an extensive background in the cannabis industry. With an in-depth understanding of various sectors including cultivators, processors, retailers, and brands, Fred’s expertise spans across the entire cannabis landscape. As a prominent contributor to CTU, he consistently delivers insightful articles exploring the latest developments, news, and regulations shaping the cannabis industry. Whether it’s delving into the intricacies of cannabis products, cannabis strain reviews, or providing comprehensive analyses of cannabis laws, or sharing expert insights on cannabis cultivation techniques, Fred’s wealth of knowledge positions him as an invaluable writer and educator for all cannabis-related subjects.

Our Puerto Rico marijuana jobs guide takes you through the burgeoning medical cannabis industry in the Island of Enchantment.

We cover Puerto Rico marijuana laws, cannabis job availability, and the requirements for getting hired in the industry.

Puerto Rico Cannabis Laws

Currently, only medical marijuana use is allowed in Puerto Rico. Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla signed an executive order in 2015 allowing the use of medical cannabis for the following qualifying conditions.

• Alzheimer’s disease
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
• Anorexia
• Anxiety
• Autism
• Depression
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Insomnia
• Cancer or other conditions that cause severe nausea
• Crohn’s disease
• Epilepsy
• Fibromyalgia
• Hepatitis C
• HIV/AIDS or other conditions that cause cachexia
• Migraines
• Multiple Sclerosis or other conditions that cause severe spasms
• Parkinson’s disease
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Spinal cord injury or other conditions that cause severe pain

Smoking cannabis is illegal, however, cannabis flower is available for vaping. Edibles, concentrates, pills, topicals, oral drops, and patches are also available.

Several months after the passing of the medical cannabis laws, the local Department of Agriculture issued its first hemp licenses. The state must now get their general plan for industrial hemp approved by the US Department of Agriculture.

Recreational cannabis use is prohibited. Puerto Rico’s reciprocity law allows those with a medical cannabis card from another state to purchase cannabis in Puerto Rico.

Cannabis Employment Opportunities in Puerto Rico

As of July 2024, Puerto Rico has 340 dispensaries. The cannabis market in Puerto Rico is projected to generate US$278.90 million in revenue in 2024.

Most dispensaries are located in the Northeast region of the island.

Puerto Rico’s cannabis market is experiencing rapid growth, marked by an increasing number of dispensaries and a strong emphasis on delivering high-quality products.

Puerto Rico’s growing influence in the market has prompted many US-based companies to expand their operations to the island, including some vertically-integrated ones. All the buzz in the island is setting the stage for a bright future for cannabis employment.

Dispensary Jobs in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico’s medical cannabis dispensaries typically hire for positions such as budtender, security guard, receptionist, assistant manager, and dispensary manager.

Budtenders are one of the most popular and accessible jobs on the market. Budtenders are responsible for helping medical patients find the right product and checking them out. In Puerto Rico, part-time budtenders make about $10.73 per hour.

Cultivation Jobs in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico’s cultivation scene is also growing due to increased demand. As the island continues to add registered patients by the thousands every month, cultivators must keep dispensaries stocked with a range of flower-based products.

One of the most popular cultivation entry-level jobs is cannabis trimmer. Trimmers are in charge of manicuring cannabis flowers, pruning excess foliage, removing waste, and identifying disease in these buds.

Trimmers are responsible for hand trimming anywhere from one to two pounds of finished flower per day with bonuses for those who can do more. Trimming can be a physically demanding job but is an excellent entry point into the agricultural side of the business.

Cultivators prefer applicants with degrees in horticulture and cannabis industry experience, as well as experience working in a greenhouse or in a large-scale agricultural setting.

Marijuana Ancillary Jobs in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico’s ancillary market is set to expand as the medical program becomes more streamlined and the hemp program takes off.

The industry is supported by many ancillary sectors that promote business activities such as marketing, law, accounting, IT, security, banking, real estate, packaging, and more.

Where to Find Cannabis Jobs in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico’s cannabis market is largely concentrated in the Northeast section of the island. San Juan and the surrounding cities have the most job opportunities in the territory. If you’re looking for more places to find cannabis work, check out Ponce, Manatí, and Mayagüez.

How to Get a Marijuana Job in Puerto Rico

If you’re interested in getting a marijuana job in Puerto Rico, there are few things you should know before applying. You must be at least 21 years old to work in the cannabis industry. All employees must pass a background check.

Anyone who works in the cannabis industry must obtain an occupational license. Budtenders, in particular, must also obtain a dispensary technician license. Puerto Rico’s occupational license course must be passed with at least a 70 percent score.

Courses are about $150 for employees and about $500 for managerial positions. Licenses must be renewed every couple of years. A cannabis employee must complete three hours of education a year during this period.

Aspiring cannabis workers must select the appropriate occupational license type including dispensary, cultivation, manufacturing, or laboratory.

Enroll in Puerto Rico Cannabis College

Puerto Rico’s cannabis industry is full of exciting opportunities in a variety of job sectors. No matter what skills you have, you can work in the cannabis industry. CTU’s Puerto Rico cannabis college prepares you for a fulfilling career in any marijuana industry job.

CTU’s online marijuana college is a great supplementary education to Puerto Rico’s required occupational courses/seminars. CTU covers a wider spectrum of the industry.

Learn all about medical cannabis use, the effects of various cannabis products, cannabis cultivation, cannabis extraction, cannabis cooking, and cannabis laws across the country. Our cannabis certification course prepares you for an entry-level job and the start of your journey.

Fred Hernandez

Fred Hernandez is a highly accomplished and versatile writer, boasting an extensive background in the cannabis industry. With an in-depth understanding of various sectors including cultivators, processors, retailers, and brands, Fred’s expertise spans across the entire cannabis landscape. As a prominent contributor to CTU, he consistently delivers insightful articles exploring the latest developments, news, and regulations shaping the cannabis industry. Whether it’s delving into the intricacies of cannabis products, cannabis strain reviews, or providing comprehensive analyses of cannabis laws, or sharing expert insights on cannabis cultivation techniques, Fred’s wealth of knowledge positions him as an invaluable writer and educator for all cannabis-related subjects.

Are you interested in learning how to become a budtender in Pennsylvania? If so, our career guide covers everything you need to know about working in a dispensary. We’ll teach you the cannabis laws of your state and the requirements needed to work in the industry.

What Are the Cannabis Laws in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania legalized medical marijuana use, but not recreational use. Possession of 30 grams or less of marijuana is a misdemeanor punishable with up to 30 days in jail and a $500 fine.

Some cities have decriminalized possession of small amounts of cannabis. The following cities have decriminalized up to 30 grams:

• Philadelphia
• Pittsburgh
• Harrisburg
• State College
• York
• Erie
• Allentown
• Bethlehem
• Lancaster
• Steelton

In April 2016, Governor Tom Wolf signed a bill legalizing the medical use of marijuana. Patients must have one of the 23 qualifying conditions to be eligible.

Pennsylvania’s medical cannabis program prohibits smoking cannabis flower and edibles. Patients can buy cannabis flower for vaping purposes only. Additionally, medical patients are not allowed to grow weed at home.

Interested in becoming a patient in the state? Check out our blog post on how to apply for a medical cannabis card in Pennsylvania.

Despite patient restrictions, the state’s medical cannabis market has tremendous success. In 2023, cannabis sales in Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana market saw significant growth. The state recorded a total of $4.9 billion generated by dispensaries.

One poll reveals that almost two-thirds of Pennsylvania residents approve marijuana legalization. Recreational cannabis legalization will create a boom in dispensary and budtender positions.

Pennsylvania Budtender: Job Description & Requirements

Pennsylvania’s budtenders help patients find products that can provide them with relief. Budtenders must be knowledgeable about the plant, how it’s used, and how it can ease a wide range of conditions.

Budtender Responsibilities:

• Greet all patients in a warm and friendly manner
• Provide an excellent customer experience
• Answer patients’ questions
• Suggest cannabis products for patients
• Manage cash register and POS system
• Maintain the work area clean and organized
• Manage customer phone calls
• Work well in a team atmosphere
• Adhere to medical cannabis laws

Budtender Requirements:

• Must be at least 21 years of age
• High school degree required; college degree preferred
• Prior customer service and retail experience
• Cannabis experience preferred
• Must pass a background check and get fingerprinted
• Must have a flexible schedule

How to Become a Budtender in Pennsylvania

Budtending applicants in the state must be 21 years or older to apply for the job. Once applied, they must also pass a criminal background check and get fingerprinted. Medical dispensaries look for applicants with previous retail or cannabis experience.

Don’t have any retail or customer service experience? Apply for a non-cannabis related position to become more hireable. Even just six months on the job can give you a good idea of what to expect in a dispensary. Dispensaries, of course, are a different ballgame.

A resume should include transferable skills from your previous employment. Don’t forget to add any cannabis training you’ve gone through. Also, include a short and informative cover letter to show off your personality.

You can find open budtender positions in online job boards. Input a variety of job titles into the search bar including:

• Patient Care Specialist/Associate
• Sales/Dispensary Associate
• Wellness Advisor/Guide
• Herbologist
• Cannabis Sales/Patient Consultant

For those who want to make their resume stand out, cannabis dispensary training can help. Cannabis training can help you understand the intricacies of working in the industry.

Cannabis training can give you the knowledge needed to help customers on the sales floor. You also get the confidence needed to ace the interview. Budtender training also prepares you for any other job in the industry.

How Much Do Budtenders Make in Pennsylvania?

Budtending positions are available on a part- or full-time status. The average salary for a budtender in Pennsylvania is about $15 per hour. Generally, budtenders in Pennsylvania get paid between $14 and $16 per hour.

Budtenders may also receive job perks such as health, vision, and dental insurance. Budtenders may receive store discounts, overpay, paid sick time, flexible schedules, and paid time off.

Where to Find Budtender Jobs in Pennsylvania

As of 2024, Pennsylvania has 177 licensed cannabis dispensaries. This number reflects the state’s robust medical marijuana program, which continues to grow and expand. Each dispensary is permitted to operate up to three separate locations, further increasing accessibility for patients across the state​

You can find budtenders jobs all across the state. Some cities have more dispensaries than others. If you’re looking to find cannabis work, check out the following cities:

• Chambersburg
• Philadelphia
• Danville
• Harrisburg
• King of Prussia
• Montgomeryville
• Brookville
• Cranberry Township
• New Castle
• Steelton
• Duncansville
• Shamokin
• York
• Clinton
• Pittsburgh

Budtender Training in Pennsylvania

Becoming a budtender in Pennsylvania has never been easier. Don’t have previous cannabis experience? Enroll in CTU’s online marijuana college to learn everything about the plant. Learn how it’s grown, processed, sold, and everything in between.

Fred Hernandez

Fred Hernandez is a highly accomplished and versatile writer, boasting an extensive background in the cannabis industry. With an in-depth understanding of various sectors including cultivators, processors, retailers, and brands, Fred’s expertise spans across the entire cannabis landscape. As a prominent contributor to CTU, he consistently delivers insightful articles exploring the latest developments, news, and regulations shaping the cannabis industry. Whether it’s delving into the intricacies of cannabis products, cannabis strain reviews, or providing comprehensive analyses of cannabis laws, or sharing expert insights on cannabis cultivation techniques, Fred’s wealth of knowledge positions him as an invaluable writer and educator for all cannabis-related subjects.