Essential Guide to Thriving in the Michigan Cannabis Industry: Budtending 101
The economy is extremely tough right now. It's one of the many reasons why the Michigan cannabis industry is experiencing hardships recently. From businesses selling, liquidating, or simply focusing or moving to other states, there's no doubt that there are other aspects of the cannabis industry workers are feeling it too.
In the budtending world, tips are truly what made the stress of the job so worth it. With people tipping less, and people spending less, you can guarantee that budtenders are also noticing a change in the industry that may not have been there before. After our 10 years of budtending and managing experience, we understand and see first hand the hardships of the cannabis industry as it begins to level itself out with the overabundance of competition. There are too many dispensaries, too many brands, and not enough market share to go around.
Cities have failed their communities by charging dispensaries open fee's...thousands and thousands of dollars just to earn a spot on the city map to open your doors. Each city does earn cash for each dispensary they allow to open. Saying "yes" to 35 dispensaries in a town like Kalamazoo also during a time of economic tragedy, the only people winning in this industry are the cities in which these stores are born in. Knowing not all of the dispensaries would make it...the cities said yes and stayed away from moratoriums...aka caps on how many are allowed in the city (which would ensure them seeing success through and. through with controlled competition.)
With that being said, we are all feeling the downfall of the Michigan market as survival of the fittest kicks in. Enough to balance out the dispensaries who will survive over those who will not. Lots of jobs will be lost and lots of souls will feel defeated. It will create a competative space for spots in the industry which is what brings me to remind you budtenders just this...
I promise you- the perseverance is worth it. What some people forget is budtending is for yourself.
Budtending is SO hard. Extroverting, giving 100% of yourself to a ton of people who are rude, and awful (aside from the wonderful ppl that make it fun). Regardless it’s exhausting.
But there are steps to it.
1) First excitement. It’s new it’s fun you’re selling weed- and then the realization happens.
2) You realize it’s not easy- it’s not always fun- and the stress is not worth the pay.
3) Third, you tend to want more than what’s in front of you. The expectations seep in, the grass begins to look greener, and the thoughts become louder.
>>>> This is when people quit. They repeat this cycle dispensary after dispensary. Little do people know there are three more stages after that.
4) Cycle four is mental toughness. You understand that your needs are stronger than your wants. And you want to be in management and you’ll do anything to do it. Stay in while others go out. Save money while others spend. You keep quiet when you have nothing nice to say. You keep your head down and your chin up and you work yourself to the bone while you’re still moody about 1-3…but at least you’re not quitting or giving up.
5) Step five, you realize that there are a lot of people who think like you and there are a lot of people who don’t think like you. You learn to separate people you love and people you keep at a distance. It allows you to learn how to OBSERVE and not ABSORB. A very powerful characteristic you have to have in dispensary managing. It allows you to help more people without getting burnt out emotionally.
6) Step six, you have at least twelve mental breakdowns about the industry but you still wake up and come to work. You fall out of your people pleasing phase to realize people pleasing creates distance in human relationships. It’s actively hurting you and the people around you- oh the irony. You learn to be yourself and love yourself which in return you’ve reached your final destination. You’ve learned how to fill others cups while simultaneously allowing the love you give to fill your own cup…very different from number one (pouring and feeling drained). And THAT why you budtend. Do it for years until you make it. It’s worth it and has changed my life and the love and friendships in my life and I wish that for everyone in this industry. Find people who think like you and go to war with them.
Sorry for the novel! Don’t give up. You change the earths frequency when you stick with it and let life teach you lessons. DO IT FOR YOURSELF. This is the time to get in and stay in no matter what the struggles may be. Tough environments build tough people so long as you are practicing the art of mental and emotional awareness within yourself. Once these shops start closing down, you and or may not regret the feeling of ever having giving up on the cannabis industry during a time where everyone now wants a spot and a chance to be apart of history. If managing a dispensary is your dream, it will only be more difficult to work your way to the top when only few shops are standing! Get in where you fit in!
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