what’s the benefit and pay of being employed as a marijuana grower?

vilify

vilify

Well-Known Member
You can easily make a living. Even if you're not getting rich, isn't working in the industry making a living better than working your life away doing something you hate?
 
xtsho

xtsho

Well-Known Member
Daveindiego said:
Thanks.

I’m in a legal state, and my expenses are incredibly low. I’m considering entry level into a legit licensed dispensary that I can supplement a tiny income with a tiny grow.
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If you want to work in a dispensary then go for it. If you think you're going to have a small grow and sell it through a dispensary it's not going to happen.
 
Dr. Who

Dr. Who

Well-Known Member
vilify said:
I work a smaller operation. Wont give exacts but base salary +5% of each harvest.
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That is the most fairly common rate.... Once you get up to 1K and bigger plant counts. You do tend to get a little bit more. This also depends on the final yield and quality. Bringing it in on "time" is also a part. - Basically you already know the "run times" of the strain and get a week or so window of variation. Generally, if the facility is well built and everything controlled tightly, and consistently. You make that week of variation and you get the larger % rate. 1-2.5% is about it.

Stiickygreen said:
A lot will depend on the laws in the State you are targeting/growing in. Here in CO you need to be badged/OK'd by the State to work in any facility (a.k.a. no Felonies). Wages would be set by the owner...but Dr. Who is on basically track with what is being paid to >most< employees ($10-13 per hour for trimming/budtending/entry level positions, no benefits) There aren't many "Master" grower jobs out there....and I'd love to see someone's pay stub who is making 250K doing it.....uhhhumm. More out-of-state myth, IMO. The money in this game stays at the top.

Every state will differ.....but here in CO a grower grows....they have nothing to do with, nor are they licensed to....make cannabutter/edibles....concentrates...or any other offshoot of cannabis. Here you get licensed (or did...before all of the licenses available were snatched up years ago) to grow....licensed to be a dispensary....licensed to make edibles/etc. It isn't an all-in-one thing. Dispensaries usually grow their own pot....but all of the other products in the store are middleman'd from other manufacturers just like any other retail shop in any other industry. They do not make their own products other than the buds....and buds are the least draw/smallest sales in the store. It's a margins game...plain and simple. (20-40% mark up/etc).

And here in CO...it is doubtful you will receive weed as compensation. CO tracks the weed "seed to sale" supposedly...so while i'm sure there's room to fudge...it's more likely you will receive the standard "25% off" any purchases of pot you might make from your employer. nobody gives tthis shit away...it's a BUSINESS now....and bottom line IS the focus...not your high.

best of luck finding a way in..........
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MI is going down the road you have had set for you in CO. Sort of. Some things being tighter controlled and some not so much. For instance. You have to have the lic. (and armored cars) to transport material between the grow, the processor (concentrates) and the point of sale. Now owners of the differing operations can't even have a misdemeanor "illegal" drug conviction. That would include drunk driving - so says a LARA official...... Now as for workers in the operations. No problem on any charge or convictions!

newguy123 said:
Can you give an average % of the gross
5%?
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See the above.
 
Dr. Who

Dr. Who

Well-Known Member
xtsho said:
It's possible but get in line with the all the others dreaming of a career in the marijuana industry. This is now a business run by business savvy individuals with money. If you want to work for them expect to get paid as little as they can get away with and still find employees.

Typical jobs won't pay much more than minimum wage. If you have a significant amount of capital and wish to risk it then you can apply for all the permit and licensing fee's, rent a warehouse, buy the equipment and other supplies and try to become a grower. But then you could end up with a bunch of marijuana and nowhere to get rid of it.

There are hundreds if not thousands of licensed legal growers trying to get their product on the shelves of dispensaries. You could go the route of opening a dispensary but that takes MONEY as well.

My advice is to keep your day job if you have one. Grow your weed on the side and enjoy your life.

I've looked into this extensively at all aspects of the industry. I have plenty of money thanks to being an early adopter of bitcoin but there is no way I'm risking my money in this industry.

Here are some things that you need to think about.

If you want to be a commercial grower you need a place to grow. Land costs money and growing outdoors can be boom or bust. Growing indoors requires a location and rent. You most likely would have to sign at the minimum a year long lease. Then add the cost of equipment, electricity, etc... and you're talking tens of thousands of dollars to get started with no guarantee that you'll be able to have an outlet for your product.

Opening a dispensary also has significant upfront costs. You'll need a location and have to sign a lease, remodeling that location, cases, employee's, etc... Once you hire employee's you are now an employer and subject to a variety of regulations and requirements. Plus you get to join the hundreds of other dispensaries that have opened in legal states recently.

I decided that entering the industry wasn't for me. I'm not willing to risk the capital it would require with no guarantee on a return. I figure I could make more by investing in a mobile food truck and hiring someone to run it for me.
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So well put! +rep!

Stay in school and be an engineer.....or what ever...
 
Stiickygreen

Stiickygreen

Well-Known Member
It's not at all what the folks in non-legal states think it is....ANY of it. The pipe dream talk here of "creating and marketing my own strain" or "250K per year and I'm high all day, brah" is just that.

It's a MINIMUM wage industry for most players...no benefits/insurance/etc. (you may get 25% off weed/concentrates...but that's it for "benefits"). Most everyone seeking these jobs knows as much or more as you do about growing...and all of them are also standing in line for THEIR slice of the pie. SOME folks get in...as evidenced above...but most just don't. (you first have to apply/qualify via the State)

Sadly for most...the truth is...the more you know...the less they want your "expert" ass around. Most places have set ways they operate...and your input likely isn't what they are hiring you for. Just sell that product and don't try to steal from em is all they want from you....and remember...you are on camera and being watched to ensure you play the game their way...by your employer...and by the State/FEDS if they request the video... All for $11 an hour!

But yer ballin'.........boy are you ballin'. If you stand out from your peers....they may even let you hold and spin the sign out front on the curb that says "Pre-rolls $5".....especially if yer a chick with big boobs.

Other states have different laws. In CA you can still sell to the dispensaries direct from what I understand. Not so in CO...that all went bye bye in 2010 when they legitimized the already present and unregulated MMJ dispensaries. Here the little guy is completely out when it comes to legal sales....both med and rec.....and the prices have dropped so much it's definitely not the money game it once was for many who are still playing outside the laws.

Yup...stay in school...or knock the fuck out of it in an illegal state WHILE YOU CAN. Taking the EASY ROAD and moving to a State with legal weed (legal for the Gov't to sell..but not you) just won't pay this time around because someone ALWAYS has more cash than you and cash is what makes this game run. BIG cash. Sorry.
 
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