How many jobs does the cannabis industry generate in the United States?

One of the consequences of cannabis legalization is job creation in its industry. Some of these jobs didn't exist before, while others partially replace illegal jobs that existed previously. The site Marijuana Business Daily estimates that cannabis represents 150,000 jobs in the United States. That's as many jobs as in tourism in the PACA region.

The media analyzed the economic data of cannabis in the United States and added up the jobs created in the 25 States Where Medical Cannabis Is Legal. As a reminder, 4 of them have also legalized recreational cannabis.

Direct jobs related to the cannabis industry now represent 79,000 people. by direct jobs, we mean everything that concerns the plant. Budtender In dispensaries, those who serve weed, as well as growers and trimmers (those who manually clean cannabis buds), are the main jobs that directly result from legalization.

The multiplication of companies in this sector also attracts a host of other opportunities. We had made you a list of new jobs emerging in the United States. From weed designers to community managers to «pot» delivery drivers, 66,000 people orbit the cannabis industry. We can also add seasonal jobs not taken into account in the calculation.

A market still in its early stages

And this job sector will not dry up anytime soon. In November, California, Arizona, Nevada, Maine, and Massachusetts will submit a referendum on recreational cannabis to their citizens. Hopes are primarily pinned on California, which already has a medical network. Recreational cannabis created over 10,000 jobs in Colorado for 5.3 million inhabitants. In comparison, California has 38.8 million inhabitants.

Let's add to that four states where medical cannabis could be established: Florida, Arkansas, South Dakota, and Missouri.

The figure would then already exceed NORML's estimates, which estimated the number of jobs from a nationwide legalization at 100,000.

In Europe, the arrival of medical cannabis could create fewer jobs. In countries like Germany, Who will legalize medical cannabis in 2017, or Italy, Who is seriously thinking about it, it is not known whether pharmacists or dispensaries will distribute cannabis. However, everything remains to be done, including jurisdiction, production, and distribution to the consumer.