How to Become a Budtender in Arizona

How to become a budtender in Arizona

With the growing legalization of recreational and medical cannabis across the country, there is a greater demand for well-trained individuals to work in the highly regulated, complex cannabis industry.

The legal cannabis industry already employs over 321,000 full-time workers nationwide, and it is growing much faster than other industries. In 2021, total annual cannabis sales in Arizona are expected to exceed $1 billion.

It's simpler than you might think to become a budtender in the cannabis market, and there is a huge demand for this position. Finances Online estimates that between 2020 and 2024, the cannabis business will add 250,000 new full-time jobs.

Due to the industry's rapid expansion, there is an increased demand for skilled budtenders, often known as dispensary personnel. A fantastic place to start if you want to work in the industry is by earning your certification as a budtender but more on that later.

What does a Budtender do?

An employee who assists customers with sales at a cannabis store or dispensary is known as a budtender; this is also the typical entry point for a profession in the cannabis industry.

However, a budtender's duties go much beyond just processing payments. They get to know their clients and learn about their individual demands. They assist customers in selecting the best cannabis products and address any queries.

The main responsibility of a budtender is to inform consumers about the numerous cannabis products available at the dispensary or shop. This can contain details about the various cannabis products and strains, their possible advantages, and the general experience a buyer can anticipate.

Budtenders always try to be courteous and competent, giving a good impression of the dispensary.

Licencing requirements in Arizona

In order to participate, you must be an adult (at least 21 years old) with a valid medical marijuana license as well as a Dispensary Agent Registration Card. 

Every employee of a dispensary is required to have the above Arizona dispensary agent card and must submit to fingerprinting. The proprietor of the dispensary must ask for the card; you cannot simply obtain a card and then start seeking for dispensaries to recruit you.

Education requirements

The minimum educational need for a budtender is a high school diploma, while state and dispensary standards vary. For this customer-facing position, prior cashier or customer service experience may be beneficial. 

Some job seekers may decide to enroll in budtender school through a budtender certification program offered online by various educational institutions in order to learn how to operate a dispensary. 

If you want more details on how you break into the cannabis industry we highly recommend that you go through our Budtender Study Guide (Everything You Should Know) 2022.

Additional requirements

Different dispensaries have varying requirements but below are what most of them look for in their budtenders.

• Superior understanding of the marijuana industry, including current regulations on marijuana use for medical or recreational purposes, is one of the most important requirements for budtenders. 
• Budtenders should not have any criminal histories because they work in a tightly regulated field that is frequently investigated by law authorities. 
• Additionally, according to the job description, budtenders must be knowledgeable on everything from the methods used to produce the plants to the equipment used to make oil and smoke, as well as how various strains of marijuana affect users. 
• Budtenders need to have excellent listening skills in addition to customer service abilities. 
• They must be able to comprehend the needs and preferences of customers and turn those into the ideal product. 
• Budtenders should be well-organized and make sure that every product sold is tracked by the tracking system of their dispensary.

What if I don't have cannabis industry experience?

Past work experience in the cannabis industry is one of the best ways to land an interview and make a strong first impression. But because of high demand, you are still likely to get an entry-level position.

Even if you have no previous experience in the industry, be sure to highlight any past jobs or transferrable skills that would make you a top-performing budtender.

In job interviews and on your resume, show that you have:

1. knowledge of the cannabis industry
2. zeal for the business
3. product knowledge of cannabis
4. knowledge of customers
5. talents in communication
6. understanding of cannabis regulations and laws

Be sure to include any relevant employment experience as well, such as:

1. experience in the service sector
2. experience with customer service
3. retail knowledge
4. experience in sales
5. experience using a cash register

Think of inventive ways to demonstrate how your qualifications for the role of budtender are supported by your experience and skill set.

Be passionate about cannabis

It goes without saying that you must have a passion for cannabis and the variety of goods that dispensaries sell if you want to work as a budtender. 

When submitting an application to dispensaries, be sure to highlight the unique impact cannabis has had on your life. 

Whether you are a medical user who has discovered the ideal strain to treat migraines, a home cook who incorporates cannabis into recipes, or you simply enjoy smoking a bowl with your friends, you must have a passion for wanting to work in the cannabis sector.

The best cannabis dispensaries can connect with customers on a personal level by sharing their personal experiences with cannabis and how it has improved their way of life.

The strongest client relationships result from genuine enthusiasm and admiration for cannabis and its applications. Make it clear to potential employers that you are passionate about cannabis and want to spread that passion to others.

Know your cannabis products

By no means do you have to enter this position as an expert. In fact, a large portion of the work entails learning as you go. Having said that, it's crucial to brush up on lingo and consumption conventions in general and to have a firm grasp of how the plant is developed.

Make sure you educate yourself on the following important aspects of cannabis:

• Various marijuana effects (sleepy, relaxed, energetic, focused, uplifting)
• Cannabis varieties (sativa, indica, hybrid)
• Concentrate compositions and techniques of extraction (shatter vs. wax, butane vs. ethanol)
• What are the more popular terpenes (myrcene, limonene, caryophyllene)
• Edible dosing
• Kinds of vape oil (distillate vs. full-spectrum)

Personal product experimentation is a fun method to learn about things firsthand, but for more technical information, online resources are your greatest friend. You can explore thousands of strains as well as learn about Cannabis and its categories.

You can also go to the websites of individual brands to learn more about certain products and manufacturing processes.

In order to give consumers the finest recommendations, it's also critical to keep up with brand-new trends and products in the cannabis market, which are always evolving. Monitoring social media and sector blogs is one of the finest methods to stay current.

Unmudl Tip: Before an interview, familiarize yourself with a dispensary's menu, paying particular attention to its best-selling items. Ask the present budtenders at the dispensary or look up the menu online at Leafly to find out which items consumers are praising specifically. The reviews area is particularly useful for this.

Be flexible in a sector that is evolving quickly.

Even in more established, stable markets like Colorado and California, adaptability is essential to being a successful budtender. Cannabis regulation is still being developed in Arizona, thus policies and procedures in dispensaries may change frequently.

Your budtending responsibilities may change as a result of new laws, and the ADHS’s frequently conduct inspections of marijuana dispensaries to ensure that all rules and guidelines are being followed.

Budtenders must be adaptable and willing to take on a variety of tasks because many small cannabis businesses have a start-up mentality. Upper management and entry-level staff frequently collaborate.

Top Budtender interview questions to be prepared for

So you are ready for that job interview? Go through the typical questions you will be asked for in any Budtender interview to check how ready you are:

1. Are you acquainted with the products we offer? What are your thoughts about them?
2. Tell me everything you know about this business.
3. Please describe how you might benefit this company.
4. Do you know what a budtender is mostly responsible for?
5. What do you consider to be the most challenging aspect of working as a budtender?
6. How could you tell if your efforts at this work were successful?
7. What background do you have in this area?
8. Have you ever held a position in the cannabis industry?
9. What draws you to the marijuana sector?
10. What interesting information about the cannabis industry have you recently learned?
11. What is your personal cannabis experience?
12. Tell me a story about your favorite strain.
13. What effects has marijuana had on your life?
14. What distinguishes indica from sativa marijuana?
15. What do you think of the goods sold by our rivals?
16. Are you familiar with terpenes?
17. What do you know about cannabis as a medicine?

How much does an Arizona budtender make?

As of July 26, 2022, the average budtender salary in Arizona is $36,484, however, the range is often between $32,504 and $40,702. 

Salary ranges might vary significantly based on the city and a number of other crucial aspects, such as schooling, certifications, supplementary talents, and the length of time you've worked in a given field.

In certain cases, like with front-end sales, there is a lot of money you can make in tips as well. Our guide on “How much do budtenders make in tips?” is a good place to get more details on tips.