Job Creation in the Time of Medical Cannabis

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The intersection of health and economics during the COVID-19 pandemic has been a fraught place indeed. With private businesses gouging the public with expensive rapid tests and other healthcare requirements, the pandemic’s immediate health needs have clashed repeatedly against the profit motive.

However, at least one sector of healthcare has helped create much-needed jobs: medical cannabis. Let’s take a closer look at how medical cannabis and job creation have gone hand in hand lately by examining some of the positions that need filling.

Patient Inbound Team

Cannabis companies are hiring for positions like a patient inbound team, which deals with compassionately and informatively assisting patients respectfully and professionally. Responsibilities may include answering and making phone calls, booking patient appointments, data entry, troubleshooting patient concerns, and more.

It often helps to have experience in the medical marijuana industry and a relevant university degree. If you’re unsure whether you have the requisite qualifications, there’s no harm in applying anyway! The worst they can tell you is “no.”

Cannabis-Trained Pharmacist

There are medical cannabis dispensaries looking to hire cannabis-trained pharmacists, but you’ll need a very specific skill set. Stores that sell recreational cannabis can’t legally issue medical advice in Canada, as they’re prohibited by the Cannabis Act.  

Meanwhile, medical cannabis purchased online from licensed suppliers must be purchased in consultation with an expert who understands the human body and cannabis. Cannabis-trained pharmacists will help patients find the most suitable product, cultivar, and dosage level based on the patient’s specific needs and symptoms. 

Cannabis Clinic Educator

When patients need to deepen their understanding of cannabis cultivars or Canadian medical cannabis laws and regulations, they speak to a Cannabis Clinic Educator. They also tend to have a range of other responsibilities and tasks, including:

• Vetting medical documents and referrals
• Maintain patient files and records
• Prep registration packages for Health Canada authorized Licensed Cultivators
• Provide information to patients about cannabis consumption methods

Usually, this position requires living near the regional territory, though it also requires having a valid driver’s license and personal vehicle. Any applicant with this specialized knowledge which possesses excellent administrative and communication skills should look for such a job.

Do you have strong document management skills, proficiency in computer word processing, spreadsheets, and Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems? Do you work well independently and solve challenging problems, all while being team-oriented? 

There’s a lot of information and misinformation about cannabis online and even in the traditional worlds of print media. Patients need reliable info about their medication, so if you think you can give it to them, this is the job for you.

Medical cannabis has been a revelation for thousands of Canadians who take it to treat a wide variety of symptoms, from depression to managing the side effects of cancer treatments and more. If you’d like to work in this industry, be on the lookout for some of the jobs described above or find a different niche in the medical cannabis job market.