Budtender

Origin and Terminology:

• The term ‘budtender’ combines bartender and bud, referring to serving customers cannabis in licensed establishments.
• Originated around 1997 after cannabis legalization in California.
• Budtenders deal with the dried flower tops of Cannabis, known as bud, reflecting their role in serving cannabis products.

Qualifications and Training:

• Early budtenders learned from cannabis experts without formal schooling requirements initially.
• No license or certification was needed as of 2017 due to the lack of national licensing standards resulting from federal illegality.
• Varied backgrounds of early budtenders contributed to their knowledge.

Career Requirements:

• Budtenders must possess extensive cannabis knowledge, including understanding strains, products, and medical use.
• Keeping updated on cannabis trends through social media and industry sources is crucial.
• Providing personalized recommendations based on customer needs and demonstrating a passion for cannabis products to engage customers are essential aspects of the job.

Legality and Compliance:

• In the United States, 24 states have legalized recreational marijuana, and 38 allow it for medical use.
• Budtenders must adhere to state legislation and comply with state laws, as there are no national licensing standards due to federal prohibition.
• State laws dictate the requirements for budtenders in legal states.

Legality and Wages in Canada:

• Canada legalized recreational marijuana in 2018, making budtending a popular career choice.
• Regulations are set by the federal government and individual provinces.
• The average wage for budtenders in Canada is $16.00/hr, with a high turnover rate observed in the industry.

Budtender Data Sources