The legal cannabis space supports more than 440,000 full-time equivalent jobs, per an April 2024 report from marijuana staffing company Vangst and analytics firm Whitney Economics. Industry observers interviewed by Scene remain bullish about Ohio's potential, despite legislative interference with the state's adult-use marijuana initiative that could hinder the creation of quality jobs.
Based on Indeed data, dispensary consultant positions in Ohio typically pay $17 per hour, while general managers earn up to $26 per hour. In Cleveland, cannabis cultivators bring in $39,000-$70,000 each year, with lab managers grossing about $60,000 annually.
With the sector still in its infancy, a strong job market has room to emerge, notes Lenny Berry, founder and CEO of the Ohio Cannabis Health & Business Summit, which brings vendors, speakers and industry leaders to the International Exposition Center every October. Even with high entry-level turnover, the anticipated introduction of pre-rolls and other combustible products could open up more job opportunities, Berry said.
"The (Ohio) Division of Cannabis Control can give guidance to operations on how and what can be manufactured," said Berry. "You'll have processing jobs, so there will be opportunities to work with machinery around pre-rolls. You'll need technicians to make those products, and people to infuse them."
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