As more states adopt medical marijuana programs and others legalize recreational cannabis come November, look for a slew of new job openings in the fastest-growing industry in the United States: weed!

Chefs, Bakers and Edibles Creators

The edibles sector is one of the fastest-growing in the industry after cultivation. If you have culinary skills, why not try them out in a kitchen creating recipes that incorporate cannabis? The demand for new products and innovative food ideas is strong, since a large percentage of people using cannabis these days, especially for medicinal purposes, prefer to eat their weed—which makes it a smooth way to help the medicine go down.

Extraction ArtistsCareer paths in concentrates include operators, technicians and managers. These specialists often require a background in chemistry or engineering, not just an expertise in dabbing. But these days, thanks to the increasing popularity of concentrates, training and certificate classes such as those offered by Havelick & Associates are available to help you on your way.

Recruiters

Before pot-legal states came into the picture, it would’ve been impossible to imagine a day when recruitment offices would specialize in hiring professionals for the marijuana industry. Today, there are firms hiring for full-time positions in Colorado, Oregon and Washington State—but since a recruiting business doesn’t work with the plant itself, you could potentially operate one in any state. And as new medical states continue to come online, businesses will turn to recruiters like CannaMed Talent Solutions, JointheGreenRush.org and WeedHire.com to help staff dispensaries, cultivation facilities and offices with the most qualified candidates.

Web Developers and Programmers

Most new cannabis ventures will need a website to attract and inform the public about their services or wares. Web developers and programmers can easily and seamlessly transition their computer skills to any new start-up looking to create online presence.

Compliance Officers

Historically, marijuana’s popularity spread thanks to a freewheeling counterculture that existed to break the rules, not follow them. These days, however, the road to legalization is being paved by cannabusinesses that scrupulously adhere to the rules and regulations that guide the emerging industry. Welcome to the brave new world of taxed and regulated cannabis, with each state creating legal standards for these new businesses—as well as jobs making sure that these standards are being followed. If you have a penchant for dotting your I’s and crossing your T’s and want to help state programs succeed while getting paid to do so, research the compliance-officer jobs posted on industry and government websites, especially on the state level.