A new report from Leafly reveals that the legal cannabis industry has crossed a significant milestone, employing more than 500,000 full-time workers across the United States.
Rapid Growth
Cannabis employment grew by 12% over the past year, outpacing most other industries. The sector has added over 280,000 jobs in the past five years alone.
Types of Jobs
The industry spans diverse roles including cultivation technicians, extraction specialists, budtenders, compliance officers, marketing professionals, and executives. Average wages exceed $20 per hour for entry-level positions.
Economic Impact
Beyond direct employment, the cannabis industry supports hundreds of thousands of additional jobs in ancillary services including security, construction, legal, and technology sectors.