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“Budtender” is a play on the word “bartender,” but their role is more akin to someone who works in a high-end wine shop. They help customers find the right cannabis products for them, answer their questions, and complete sales in compliance with state law.
They’re also responsible for the types of tasks that must be handled in any retail business – opening, closing, inventory management, customer service, and more.
AGE REQUIREMENTS FOR BUDTENDERS
Budtender age requirements vary from state to state and sometimes vary based on whether you’re selling recreational or medical marijuana.
A good rule of thumb is that you can’t be a budtender if you’re younger than the youngest legal customer. In many jurisdictions, the age limits for purchasing line up with the age limits for employment.
In most jurisdictions, budtenders need to be at least 21. Some states, like Oklahoma, set a minimum age of 18.
HOW TO BECOME A BUDTENDER
The steps for becoming a budtender might vary slightly depending on where you’re located, but below are some of the more general steps to starting your career.
STEP 1: GET RETAIL EXPERIENCE
If you’re below the legal limit for budtending in your state, you can still begin preparing for your career by gaining retail and customer service experience. Take the job seriously, using it as an opportunity to build the skills for successful budtending.
STEP 2: BE ABLE TO PASS A BACKGROUND CHECK
Many dispensaries require you to pass a fingerprint-based background check as a term of employment. Often, it’s a legal requirement. However, even in states where it isn’t, dispensary owners want to make sure they’re hiring people who follow the law. It reduces their liability, as well as the chance that you’ll steal from them.
STEP 3: GET YOUR BUDTENDING LICENSE
Every state requires budtenders to complete some kind of budtender certification or licensing process. In some cases, your employer is responsible for providing it after you’re hired, but it can sometimes be a good way to make your resume stand out as you try to get hired.
These courses help you understand the legal considerations for budtenders, as well as the physiological effects and safety concerns associated with the drug. They will usually also address the special challenges in budtending, like identifying underage customers and safely transporting products.
SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE FOR SUCCESSFUL BUDTENDING
Skills for successful budtending include everything that’s helpful in any retail job, including customer service, point of sale (POS) experience, and inventory management.
Many of the soft skills that contribute to professionalism are also important to a successful career – timeliness, responsibility, a good attitude, and (especially important for an industry so tied up in legal red tape) attention to detail.
Finally, there is the cannabis-specific knowledge you’ll need. You’ll need to understand the regulations and legal restrictions of the industry in order to avoid getting your dispensary in trouble. To advise customers properly, you’ll need to know the difference between cannabis types, the products on the market, and cannabis industry trends. A good first step is to start reading industry publications.
BENEFITS OF LEARN2SERVE’S CANNABIS HANDLER TRAINING
Whether you're already working in a dispensary or considering a career change, staying informed about state regulations and industry best practices is key to success. If you're ready to take the next step towards becoming a knowledgeable and responsible budtender, consider enrolling in our ANAB-accredited online cannabis handler training course. Your journey to becoming a confident and effective budtender starts here!
Get your ANAB-Accredited Responsible Cannabis Vendor Training for anyone working as a budtender at a dispensary!
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