Hartford Business Journal

18 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | DECEMBER 5, 2022 Staff at Fine Fettle's recently opened Stamford medical marijuana dispensary serve a customer. The facility has been granted state approval to also serve recreational customers when the market opens early next year. PHOTO | CONTRIBUTED Now Hiring Cannabis companies ramp up recruitment efforts as recreational industry prepares launch By Skyler Frazer sfrazer@hartfordbusiness.com C onnecticut's cannabis industry could account for more than 10,000 jobs just a few years after the recreational market launches, according to a recent study, and companies are already ramping up hiring efforts ahead of the first adult-use sales in the state. Cannabis employment recruitment firm CannabizTeam recently released its 2022 Tri-State Cannabis Salary Guide, outlining what new adult-use markets in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey could expect in regards to employment potential. The company said it expects 10,500 cannabis jobs in Connecticut by 2025, according to an algorithm factoring in existing jobs, popula- tion and estimated retail licenses and sales. According to cannabis information site Leafly's 2022 jobs report, the United States as a whole has about 428,059 marijuana-related jobs, a 33% increase from the beginning of 2021. There were 149,300 cannabis jobs in the country in 2018. Connecticut Cannabis Chamber of Commerce Presi- dent Adam Wood said the recent employment projections mirror the results of a University of Connecticut study, and he expects a hiring boom as companies continue to outfit facilities in prepa- ration for adult-use sales, which are expected to commence within the next few months. "It's clear that the industry is already contributing a lot to Connecti- cut's economy through engineers, attorneys and architects, and now these businesses are beginning to ramp up and hire for themselves," Wood said. "It's an exciting time for the industry." 'Palpable excitement' Verano Holdings Corp., which purchased Rocky Hill medical cannabis cultivator CTPharma late last year, hosted a jobs fair in June to begin the process of filling out its workforce. According to Verano's Vice Presi- dent of Talent Acquisition Michael Smith, the company hired at least 28 people from that event, bringing its total number of Connecticut employees to 125. He said the event was high energy and a good example of the current "palpable excitement" surrounding the cannabis industry that isn't usually seen in entry-level jobs. "When you look at the type of talent we attract and bring in, you would have seen a very motley crew of people from all walks of life," Smith said. "There are people who are very experienced and just looking to make a complete change, and people who have really been on the fringes of the workforce and haven't been able to find that 'it' kind of job they're passionate about." Most of the company's employees are in cultivation, production and growth operations, he said, which is where much of Verano's local efforts have been focused so far. The company's Rocky Hill grow facility was recently approved to serve the recreational market, which means production will increase. "Our production needs will go up, so I definitely see the need to add more people," Smith said. "We have good space, good parking and the capacity to expand in Rocky Hill." While the Rocky Hill cultivation facility makes up about three-quar- ters of the company's employees currently, more retail-related hires can be expected. Verano Holdings Corp. also oper- ates Willow Brook Wellness medical dispensary in Meriden, which was just approved for a hybrid license. That means it can sell to both medical and recreational marijuana users. Verano is hoping for a similar hybrid license for its Waterbury medical dispensary, Caring Nature. Earlier this year, Verano applied for a special permit to open a hybrid adult-use cannabis dispensary in Newington at 2903 Berlin Turnpike, in the vacant former home of Bonefish Grill restaurant. Verano officials said retail employees begin at $15 per hour and cultivation and processing workers make between $15 and $17 per hour in addition to benefits. Smith said the Adam Wood

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