In response to some readers asking for more interviews from cannabis employers, I've been fortunate enough to track down Molly, who is the assistant manager at Sea Change Cannabis. Judging by the Leafly and Yelp reviews there's a reason why this dispensary from Port Townsend, WA is so popular.
Molly was nice enough to answer some of my (and your) questions regarding employment in the cannabis industry.
How long have you worked in the industry?
I started when my work began at Sea Change Cannabis in June 2014
I started when my work began at Sea Change Cannabis in June 2014
I've been reading online that there is a lot of turn over on the retail side of the cannabis industry. Does Sea Change Cannabis experience this?
Our store is unique due to its size (about 12x15) and as a result the staff is literally close, like a galley kitchen on a boat. We have grown together and each have our strengths, everyone finds their place (like stocking, cleaning, organizing, etc) and owns the task. When one of us has to leave the job it will be sad for all of us.
Our store is unique due to its size (about 12x15) and as a result the staff is literally close, like a galley kitchen on a boat. We have grown together and each have our strengths, everyone finds their place (like stocking, cleaning, organizing, etc) and owns the task. When one of us has to leave the job it will be sad for all of us.
I remember reading a comment on Reddit that said customer service expertise is lacking in the industry. With your experience in the industry what would be your opinion on that?
The few rec stores I have visited felt very chilly, I wasn't even acknowledged in most of them. I also felt the budtenders' knowledge of the items lacking, no passion about any of it made me wonder if they even smoke at all. We hear from customers daily that they appreciate our candor and personal reports on products effectiveness.
“I would want to see people with significant retail experience with at least a minor amount of cannabis knowledge”
What are your views on employment training for the cannabis industry? is it needed? what type of training (for employees and employers) would be the most important at this point in the industry's evolution?
If medical is bundling in with recreational here in WA I feel retail staff should pass some kind of bar as far as basic info about cannabis, its effects, how it is grown, state laws, spotting fake IDs, and basic medical info so we can speak/advise meaningfully on medical use.
“current staff all came through friends of friends at most, there wasn’t an open call”
What do you expect to see on the resume's of people who apply to a position at Sea Change Cannabis if there was a position open?
I would want to see people with significant retail experience with at least a minor amount of cannabis knowledge. The weed knowledge is easy enough to pick up, we always staff at least 2 people per shift so on the job training is guaranteed. It's the dealing with customers part that can't be so easily absorbed, staff attitude will turn some people off so you need to find someone that gets on well with your crowd.
I would want to see people with significant retail experience with at least a minor amount of cannabis knowledge. The weed knowledge is easy enough to pick up, we always staff at least 2 people per shift so on the job training is guaranteed. It's the dealing with customers part that can't be so easily absorbed, staff attitude will turn some people off so you need to find someone that gets on well with your crowd.
Hypothetically, what is your hiring process if one is interested in applying to Sea Change Cannabis?
The current staff all came through friends of friends at most, there wasn't an open call. We were asked to submit a resume, followed by an interview with management. I presume that will be the procedure in the future but I hope the candidate would also meet the staff so we could all get a read on this person's potential to fit the space.
“ I like the idea of growing and encouraging jobs in the industry because it feels like such an overwhelmingly positive movement and if it can keep improving it will change everything.”
Do you use any outside services to hire people? i.e. 420 careers or THC jobs etc.
No
You typically hear "you need to know some one to get a job in the cannabis industry" who exactly do people need to meet in order to get these jobs? Where would you meet them outside of their work place?
Our "biggest little weed cabin" is a sterling example of knowing the right people. I met my boss, his wife and child when I ran a youth summer program in their town. I became friends with them and a year later after they won the lottery I obnoxiously and shamelessly let them know I was willing to fill out a job application whenever they had them available. Then I was asked for my resume. One of my coworkers met the previous assistant manager through a CraigsList ad to rehome a pitbull. Another was a grower for one of our suppliers and friend to a coworker. And one is in a band with the boss. So it's pretty tidy for us. I don't think there's a bar where all the processor delivery drivers hang out? As luck would have it we will very soon have a taproom on the property where the store staff will hang out, haha
“If medical is bundling in with recreational here in WA I feel retail staff should pass some kind of bar as far as basic info about cannabis”
What are you thoughts on unpaid internships in the cannabis industry? good idea/bad idea? why?
Unpaid internships in general are easy to abuse and I'm not a fan of free labor, unless the intern feels they're getting valuable information for their time. There are a lot of unique lessons to be learned that one could pick up by shadowing someone for a few hours per day. I like the idea of growing and encouraging jobs in the industry because it feels like such an overwhelmingly positive movement and if it can keep improving it will change everything.
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