Let’s talk training 

Although the medical cannabis market is new and young here in Missouri, at the national level the industry has been growing and flourishing for over a decade in other states like Colorado and California. As you travel to different states, where it is either only medical or both rec and medical, you will notice a trend when it comes to budtender education and training. Most companies will send their newly hired budtenders to a 3-day class and then have them report to work for their first day. Some facilities even provide training in-house but it is very basic, Cannabis 101 and/or SOP’s. 

I ask our industry to reconsider this method, in-store shoulder-to-shoulder training with a trainer is the most effective way to build a culture of education and compliance. As we put our focus on building sales and larger ticket size, we forget that proper education and having knowledgeable staff will build sales for you! In a medical market, we have to operate with a large focus on budgeting and trying every way we know to save money while growing our business. It cost roughly $1,400 to onboard and train a new budtender. The number one reason people leave a job in the retail industry is because of a “lack of training or tools”. They do not feel confident in their abilities to execute their position successfully. So having even 7 budtenders leave your organization means you have already lost $10,000! 

Building an effective in-house training program is very inexpensive and can save time, money, and cultural qualms. There are a few companies offering this tailored training program build-out in Missouri already.

Now, let’s look at the bigger picture. We have moved past the stage of “new hire” training, what’s next? For some, nothing, unfortunately. In order to remain in compliance with DHSS regulations, there are a few monthly trainings required but consider including monthly “continued education” courses in your organization. The cannabi industry changes and grows every day and to truly build your business and sales, your staff needs to be current with the changes and growth. How many of your budtenders are aware of the changes with cannabis research at the Federal level currently? They need to know the difference between Delta-8, 9, and 10 or what big events are coming up for the industry. 

Training also hugely contributes to the support of destigmatizing cannabis as medicine. When your budtenders are highly educated on the facts, they are reaching patients and users every day who want to learn more or even trust more in the plant’s benefits. There is nothing more frustrating or disappointing than walking into some of our Missouri facilities as a patient and asking for recommendations for lower back pain and having a budtender respond with, “Well we have these Indicas for pain”. 

As we continue to make Missouri a top-of-the-line medical cannabis industry, we have to put a lot more attention into truly “educating,” not just training our employees, at every level within the organization.

Suzanne Morrison serves as Compliance Manager Director for Heya Wellness. Morrison is a Committee Chair at JAINE, a cannabis industry training expert, and the founder of STL Cannabis Services. With over 20 years experience in the hospitality industry, and a track record of success and innovative training, Morrison brings a unique perspective and skillset to the cannabis industry. Morrison’s work is a result of her passion and commitment to educate on the medicinal benefits of cannabis and destigmatize the plant.