dispensary Archives - Cannabis Career

7 Ways to Use Cannabis Without Smoking

Smoking cannabis is by far the most common consumption method, but it’s not always for everyone. Some people might live a more active lifestyle and want to keep their lungs clear. Some guests might have children or roommates and don’t want their house to smell. Then others might have health issues where smoking should be avoided. Whatever the reason might be, we’re here to let you know there are plenty of different ways to use cannabis without smoking that can still provide similar effects.

For example, there are seltzers and cookies that can be consumed to relax and unwind. Topicals that can be rubbed all over your body for muscle aches. Plus, patches that can help you fall asleep at night! If you’re looking for a healthier alternative to smoking; get ready to learn about 7 other ways to enjoy your favorite plant without the blunt, bong, or pipe.

Edibles

Cannabis-infused edibles are a fun and easy way to enjoy marijuana without the smoke or smell. They’ve become more mainstream in recent years, with gummies, cookies, crackers, and chocolates taking over dispensaries across America!

However, users should consume with caution as the effects from edibles can come on slower and feel more potent. With edibles, THC is metabolizes in the liver converting THC into a more potent compound called 11-hydroxy-THC. This process can take up to 90 minutes for the effects to kick in. It’s best to start slow by eating a small portion of the edible (typically ~2.5mg). Wait about 69-90 minutes then see how your body reacts before consuming more in one sitting.

State law requires all cannabis products sold in a licensed dispensary to be labeled with THC content levels. This helps consumers know the number of cannabinoids in each piece of the edible.

Drinkables

Like edibles, cannabis-infused beverages or “drinkables” are another fun, easy, and discreet way to consume cannabis. Drinkables have gained popularity over the last few years as the onset time tends to be much quicker than edibles. When you drink cannabis as a water-soluble liquid, THC absorbs into your bloodstream through the tissue of your mouth, esophagus, and stomach. So you can begin to feel the effects shortly after the drink touches your tongue.

Tinctures

Tinctures are a great way to incorporate cannabis into your daily wellness routine for quick and effective relief. Unlike edibles, tinctures enter the bloodstream immediately so you can control the dose more efficiently; they come in a variety of ratios and flavors for all types of preferences! To use a tincture, just drop a few drops under the tongue, hold it for 15-30 seconds and then swallow.

Topicals

Topicals are cannabis-infused lotions, salves, oils, and balms that are applied to and absorbed by the skin. They help deliver targeted relief without any psychoactive effects. Topicals are best known for alleviating symptoms like pain, soreness, or inflammation and can be great for athletic recovery.

Capsules

For those that prefer a more traditional route of administration, cannabis capsules might be for you. Capsules are another discreet and effective way to get your daily dose of cannabis. They can easily be incorporated into your morning or nighttime wellness routine.

Bath Bombs

The perfect way to end a stressful day is with an infused soak in a warm bath. Like topicals, bath bombs are absorbed through the skin, so they usually don’t provide any intoxicating effects. Instead, they help provide relief from sore muscles, cramps, and spasms, while also promoting relaxation.

Transdermal Patches

Transdermal patches are applied to the skin then cannabinoids are absorbed through the bloodstream, which can sometimes cause intoxicating effects. Patches are great for those wanting to target specific areas of the body or who need higher doses of cannabinoids. We also recommend patches for those people that are always on the go. They are individually packaged so they are easy to pack in your bag, won’t melt, or spill, and don’t smell.

So there you have it, seven healthier ways to use cannabis without smoking. The versatility of this plant is truly limitless!

Ready to learn more? Check out some of our other articles here.

Using Cannabis as Medicine

For centuries people have been using cannabis as medicine. Recent studies have shown that it has an even greater potential in treating more medical conditions than we initially thought possible. So whether you are a student looking for information on cannabis research or someone curious about how cannabis can be used to treat their condition, read on–this guide is for you. We will cover everything you need to know about using cannabis as medicine, including the legality of cannabis, how to purchase cannabis for medicinal purposes, and the benefits and differences in each strain.

The Beginning of the Legal Medical Cannabis Journey

The history of medical cannabis dates back as early as 2737 B.C. when it was cited as medicine in the world’s first book on pharmacopeia. Shen Nung, a mythical emperor and famous Chinese herbalist cited the benefits of cannabis in his book “Pen Ts’ao Ching – The Classic of Herbal Medicine”.

However, as time went on and politics came into play, cannabis became outlawed around the world–despite its medicinal benefits. In the U.S., prohibition lasted over 80 years throughout the 1900’s which led to mass incarcerations targeted towards the Black and Mexican communities. In 1996 California passed Proposition 215, also known as the Compassionate Use Act of 1996, a law that allowed patients with a valid doctor’s recommendation or a designated Primary Caregiver to purchase, possess, and grow marijuana for medical use. Once the California state government passed the first medical marijuana legislation with Proposition 215. It started a snowball effect that has led to similar measures being approved in over 36 other states across the nation.

How to Purchase Medical Marijuana

Once you have established that your condition or illness qualifies you to join your state’s medical marijuana program, the next step is to locate a doctor or clinic that can give you a recommendation. Each state has its own unique medical marijuana card or certification, so be sure to research your state’s requirements. Many states, including California, require that you have your medical marijuana recommendation renewed on a yearly or bi-annual basis. Additionally, most dispensaries will need you to bring in your valid recommendation every time you visit.

What is the Difference Between Cannabis Strains?

While some claim that indica-dominant strains offer a more body-weighted effect and Sativa-dominant strains provide more of an invigorating cerebral experience, this is not always the case. It’s actually the combination of cannabinoids and terpenes that are responsible for how a strain makes you feel.

How did indica-dominant strains acquire the stigma of causing users to feel “couch-locked”? The most probable reason is that, in general, indica-dominant strains have greater amounts of terpenes like myrcene or linalool. Whereas Sativa-dominant strains get the reputation for being invigorating thanks to high amounts of terpenes like alpha-pinene, limonene, and beta-caryophyllene.

Indica-Dominant Effects

The strong body high we all know and love is produced by the indica strain. For some, indica’s tend to provide “couch lock,” or a degree of drowsiness. Indicas are also well-known for causing hunger and reducing bodily discomfort and pains. Many people like to smoke indica-dominant strains before going to sleep to help relax and fall asleep quicker.

Sativa-Dominant Effects

Sativa’s, on the other hand, are popular for producing a “head high.” They are designed to help boost your mood, focus on tasks, and spark creativity. Sativas are most well-known for delivering an overall sense of well-being and happiness.

Hybrid Effects

Hybrids are strains that combine indica and sativa genetics, producing a combination of effects. Consumers generally consider hybrids pleasurable as they may either energize or calm you down, depending on the strain’s family history. Connoisseurs choose hybrids for their various therapeutic effects, ranging from lowering anxiety and stress to treating chemotherapy or radiation-induced problems.

What is THC?

delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is one of the most common therapeutic compounds found in the cannabis Sativa plant. THC has become the most popular for its intoxicating, psychoactive effects.

What is CBD?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-intoxicating, highly therapeutic compound found in the cannabis Sativa plant.

The key difference between THC and CBD is that CBD will not make you feel high. In fact, some studies have shown CBD can actually help mitigate negative side effects like anxiety, hunger, and sedation if you miscalculate your dose and consume too much THC. Since these two cannabinoids have an almost identical chemical makeup they tend to work together to compound their benefits.

A cannabis sativa plant can be classified according to its CBD and THC production potentials:

Type I cannabis sativa contains more than 0.3% THC and less than 0.5% CBD.
Type II cannabis sativa contains more than 0.3% THC and 0.5% CBD.
Type III cannabis sativa contains less than 0.3% THC and more than 0.5% CBD.

Type I and type II cannabis sativa are considered marijuana while type III is classified as hemp.

CBD can be derived from any type of cannabis sativa plant, but it’s legal throughout the U.S. only when it comes from hemp specifically

The Medical Benefits of Cannabis

It’s important to note that medical research on cannabis is very limited as the plant is still considered a Schedule 1 drug. Therefore, budtenders are not legally allowed to provide you with medical advice, but rather recommendations for products that could potentially help with things like:

Epilepsy and seizure disorders
Pain and inflammation
PTSD
Anxiety and stress
Opioid withdrawal
Migraines
Insomnia
Minimizing side effects from cancer treatments

With so much to learn about cannabis, it can be hard to know where to start. We hope this guide helped give some insight into using cannabis as medicine. Be sure to check out our other articles to learn more or click here to enroll in our free demo: Effectively Communicating as a Dispensary Tech

Job Interview Tips: What Not to Say to a Hiring Manager

As we head into the new year, we wanted to share some of our best interview tips. In an interview, your primary aim is to show the hiring manager why you -above all other candidates- are the ideal hire for the position. Your goal is to show you have the correct set of talents, a good personality, and enough drive to execute in your new job. However, while you’re working on your interview responses, it’s critical to understand what the hiring manager considers a red flag. After all, a few missteps, and it won’t matter how successful your sales numbers were at your prior position.

Job interviews can be nerve-wracking. If you want to make a good impression, it’s essential to avoid saying the wrong thing. You don’t want anything to damage your chances of getting the job.

We put together some responses you should avoid using to assist you in your interview process. You’ll ensure that your unique talents and accomplishments—not a massive blunder—are what your interviewer remembers.

Here are our top three job interview tips for “What NOT to say” to a hiring manager.

1. “I don’t have any experience doing this kind of work.”

The fact is, many successful job applicants didn’t have much experience in the position they were hired for. But, that doesn’t matter. Don’t go out of your way to emphasize your lack of expertise in the specific industry. Try to describe your abilities and transferrable skills from previous jobs that would be useful in the position you’re interviewing for.

2. Criticize Your Previous Employer

Don’t criticize your previous employer or talk negatively about your last employment. This demonstrates your ability to remain calm and professional in any scenario. If you are openly critical, the interviewer could think, “What is this person going to say about our company to others?” Always be polite and upbeat! – Kevin Kan, Break Out Consulting Asia

3. “I didn’t have time to do any research on your company.”

This is the one thing that will immediately scare off any potential employer. Make time to study the company, the role, and the individual interviewing you in advance. This shows how serious you are about the prospective job and that you are diligent. Additionally, when researching a company and an interviewer, you build a connection to the position while gaining a deeper understanding of what tasks may lay ahead in your future employment.

If you are looking for a new job, it’s essential to believe in yourself and your abilities. To increase your odds of landing any job opportunity, be confident about what you have done so far in life and think outside the box when answering questions during an interview. You may not be able to predict every question they’re going to ask, but there are specific themes throughout most interviews that can help guide your responses. With this in mind, we hope these job interview tips will give you some pointers on how to land your next dream position!

To learn more about the different career opportunities in cannabis click here.

Understanding the Laws Regulating Medical Marijuana

What is Medical Marijuana?

Medical marijuana refers to any part of the cannabis plant that can be used to alleviate a variety of health conditions. When people use medical marijuana, they are seeking relief from pain and medical symptoms, not to get high.

The cannabis that is legally sold in dispensaries for medicinal purposes is typically the same as the kind used for pleasure. However, as research continues to identify how the chemicals in the cannabis plant react in the human body, new strains of medical marijuana are being developed with a focus on health benefits and fewer chemicals that cause mind altering effects.

CBD vs. THC

Cannabidiol, or CBD, is one of the most commonly used cannabinoids extracted from the cannabis plant. After CBD is removed from the plant, it is mixed with a carrier oil such as hemp seed or coconut oil. It is known to have therapeutic effects to alleviate conditions such as nerve issues, PTSD, physical pain, epilepsy, and autism.

THC is the psychoactive compound that is responsible for the psychological effects of cannabis. THC causes cells in the brain to release dopamine, which is what creates its feelings of euphoria.

CBD affects the body very differently than THC. Compared to THC, it would take almost 100 times more CBD to have any impact on the body’s cannabinoid receptors. Unlike THC, CBD does not cause any feelings of euphoria or intoxication, which makes it an acceptable medical treatment that is safer than the addiction and overdose issues associated with opioids that are traditionally prescribed to manage pain.

Federal vs. State Marijuana Laws

Cannabis is a prohibited substance according to the Controlled Substances Act that was passed in 1970. Under this act, the Drug Enforcement Administration considers marijuana a Schedule I drug. This means that it is prohibited because of its potential for abuse, and there are not believed to be any medically acceptable uses.

Many more laws regarding the use of cannabis have been added, amended, repealed, and reinstated since the 70s. Today, there are over 30 states that have legalized the possession of medical marijuana. One of the main concerns with legalizing marijuana in individual states is that it is still considered illegal by the federal government. Federal laws take precedence over state laws, which means that you can be arrested and prosecuted for having and using medical marijuana, even if it is legal in your state.

Most of the state medical marijuana laws protect not only the users of medical marijuana, but they also protect their caregivers who may supply their medical marijuana. Many of the state laws include lists of specific conditions that qualify for the use of medical marijuana.

FDA Approval

Currently, the Food and Drug Administration has not approved cannabis for the treatment of any specific diseases or conditions. However, the FDA has approved some drugs that do contain cannabis. These include Epidiolex, Marinol, Syndros, and Cesamet. These cannabis-derived drugs can only be purchased with a prescription from a licensed healthcare practitioner.

Learn More About Medical Marijuana

The legalization of medical cannabis is advancing worldwide, and there is much more that you can learn about medical marijuana and its use in the healthcare industry. cannabiscareer.com, a leader in education with nationally accredited colleges, offers courses to help educate the growing global community of healthcare professionals, caregivers, and patients who want to learn about the science and clinical data behind medical cannabis.

How Cannabis Is Changing the Healthcare Industry

Legality of Marijuana

In the United States, marijuana has been legalized in over 30 states. However, it still has not been legalized by the federal government. With at least several million Americans using medical marijuana, a majority of the country is in favor of complete legalization.

Uses of Medical Marijuana

One of the most popular uses of medical marijuana is to help control pain. While marijuana may not be strong enough to reduce severe pain, it has proven to minimize many types of chronic pain effectively. Part of the appeal in using marijuana to alleviate pain is a reduced risk of overdoses and addiction which are associated with opiates. It is also a safe alternative for people who cannot take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Aleve and Advil.

Marijuana is frequently used to lessen nerve pain, especially that associated with multiple sclerosis. Currently, there are few other options that have proven as effective. Patients suffering from multiple sclerosis report that medical marijuana has helped them to resume their normal activities without feeling the side effects associated with more traditional medical treatments.

Other uses for medical marijuana include the management of nausea, weight loss, and glaucoma. Marijuana is said to work well as a muscle relaxant and can help to reduce the severity of tremors experienced by those suffering from Parkinson’s disease. Additionally, it has been successfully used to treat wasting syndrome associated with HIV, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, interstitial cystitis, endometriosis, fibromyalgia, and a variety of other conditions involving chronic pain.

Marijuana Is Changing Healthcare

As medical marijuana continues to replace other drug alternatives, states where marijuana has been legalized are reporting fewer deaths from opioid overdoses. The Journal of the American Medical Association reported that states with legalized medical marijuana have seen a 25 percent reduction in opioid-related deaths compared to states that do not permit the medical use of marijuana. Supporting marijuana as a replacement for opioids could also help to reduce America’s addiction epidemic which claims an average of 115 lives every day.

Increased Jobs in Healthcare

Medical marijuana is being used across the globe and continues to explode in the United States. This dynamic growth is leading to new employment opportunities in the healthcare industry. According to Marijuana Business Daily, approximately 215,000 new jobs have been created, with that number potentially growing to 475,000 by the year 2023.

Since education on the science of medical cannabis is generally not included in most medical training programs, there is a demand for healthcare professionals with this specific training. To meet growing demand for sound, fair, balanced, and relevant medical cannabis education, cannabiscareer.com offers online courses to help educate healthcare professionals, caregivers, and patients who want to learn more about medical cannabis.

Throughout our course, you will learn everything from the history of cannabis to how cannabis products affect the human body, as well as how to effectively communicate as a Cannabis Dispensary Technician. Earning your Dispensary Tech Certificate from cannabiscareer.com will give you a deep understanding of what a Dispensary Tech does and the underlying chemistry of how cannabis works on the body.

At cannabiscareer.com, our staff is highly educated and experienced, offering a winning approach to providing career training to prepare you for your new cannabis career path.

What You Need to Know About Becoming a Budtender

The Legalization of Medical Marijuana

It’s an exciting time in the medical industry with the increase in alternative medicines such as medical marijuana. The legalization of cannabis is creating an entirely new segment of jobs that didn’t exist previously. If you are considering a career in the healthcare field, becoming a cannabis dispensary technician may be just what you are looking for.

As marijuana becomes legal in more and more states, every day, more cannabis companies are popping up, offering high-demand career opportunities. With the cannabis industry growing at such a fast pace, now is an excellent time to pursue an education that can help you prepare for a well-paying job with plenty of opportunities for advancement.

Although cannabis is still banned at the federal level in the United States, as of October 2019, medical marijuana has been legalized and is regulated in over 30 states. According to Marijuana Business Daily, the acceptance of medical marijuana has led to approximately 215,000 new jobs, and by 2023, that number could grow to 475,000.

Cannabis Dispensary Technician

One of the many career options in this growing industry is budtender, also known as a cannabis dispensary technician. According to Payscale.com, the median salary for a budtender in 2018 was $32,000. In addition to hourly wages or a set salary, many budtenders also earn tips.

This job requires a wide range of skills, from customer service abilities to a scientific understanding of the products that are sold in a dispensary. Budtenders need to be comfortable working with people to help them understand different strains of cannabis, as well as the varying levels and combinations of THC and CBD.

Marijuana dispensaries hire budtenders as their salespeople with the expectation that they will be product experts. A budtender is expected to know the current marijuana industry trends by researching products, attending trade shows, and learning about partner dispensaries. Budtenders must also ensure compliance with the local laws governing marijuana usage.

Part of the job is to ensure customer satisfaction by helping customers select the appropriate products for their needs. This means that as a budtender, not only do you need to know your products, but you also need to learn about your customers so you can make appropriate recommendations. You have to be comfortable asking people questions about their budget, lifestyle, and history of marijuana use.

How to Become a Budtender

There are several courses available to become a certified Cannabis Dispensary Technician. Classes may be offered in a traditional classroom setting as well as online. At cannabiscareer.com, we off a Cannabis Dispensary Technician Course that covers all areas of knowledge, including botany, biology, history, safety, and even customer service. Our goal is to establish a high level of comfort in a cannabis dispensary, which leads to great experiences for you as an employee and for your customers as well.

The course consists of 11 modules, each containing a variety of media to learn, including text, videos, and current articles. There are quizzes along the way to reinforce important information and an exam at the end of each module.

History of Cannabis and the Cannabis Dispensary Technician
Basic Infection Control and Safety in the Cannabis Dispensary
The Endocannabinoid System
Phytocannabinoids
Pharmaceuticals (synthetic cannabinoids)
The Human Body and Responsive Conditions to Medical Cannabis
Modes of Delivery, Routes of Administration and Dosages
Effectively Communicating as a Cannabis Dispensary Technician
Risk Factors, Adverse Effects, and Appropriate Responses to Complications Associated with Cannabis Distribution and Use
Legal and Ethical Issues Related to the Distribution and Use of Cannabis
The Future of Cannabis Research

Get the Knowledge You Need

If you are a people person with an interest in the growing medical marijuana industry, a career as a budtender may be just the job you are looking for. This industry is expected to experience strong job growth as medical marijuana becomes an accepted alternative to traditional pharmaceuticals. One of the essential skills you need as a budtender is product knowledge and industry knowledge. At cannabiscareer.com, we can make sure you get the education you need for a successful career as a Cannabis Dispensary Technician.

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