Marijuana is still in its infancy in terms of being sold in a traditional retail environment. It reminds me of the Internet early on when companies like Yahoo, Google, AltaVista and many others took the lead before major companies like IBM and even Microsoft really could establish themselves online. Even today, brands like Twitter and Facebook are start ups that grew into larger corporations. The same thing is happening with Marijuana growing/selling in California - major companies are still on the doorstep of getting involved, leaving a multi-billion dollar industry open to start ups and risk-takers.
Risk is involved in just about any job, from construction to office work - all jobs have hazards and dangers. Marijuana is particularly risky because of the negative press it receives when FBI/Federal Agents raid Collectives in what is typically a guns drawn and scary thing to witness. For the most part, this is fairly rare considering the number of shops that exist today, and if the operation is run legitimately - there are less risks involved. However, the negative stigma Marijuana still (and possibly always) will have, is sure to keep many job hunters away from applying to work in this industry for many years.
Larger cities have allowed Marijuana Dispensaries to sell legally to customers for over a decade in California. Recently, with the state/local budget deficits that are effecting every city - along with commercial real-estate being at all-time high vacancy, more Marijuana Dispensaries have been allowed to open within city limits. Oakland and Los Angeles have as many Weed Dispensaries than Starbucks, followed closely by Sacramento and other areas in Northern California. Stockton, CA is one of the more recent Valley Cities to debate opening 3 dispensaries within city limits. With many of the most wealthy people in town looking to get in on the business, there should be plenty of
jobs in Stockton coming soon related to the Marijuana business. Dispensaries, or the weed shops themselves are supposed to be run as non-profit' --- or more simply, the money earned has to be spent on business activities, while paying yourself and workers a reasonable wage.
The key factor in creating jobs is that these regulated businesses must spend the majority of profits on business related activities. Those include wages to staff, security, growers, trimmers and management. This also includes spending on advertising, labels, office/shop materials, and commercial real-estate. This type of money can directly impact local businesses that cater to these services. Things like Newspapers/TV/Radio (for advertising) and office supply stores (for labels, signs and other office materials) will benefit greatly from the fact that these businesses are forced to spend the massive profits they bring in. Not to mention, the sales are directly taxed - and that money is distributed to the local government to create more jobs (hopefully).
The truly non-profit and legitimately run Marijuana shops in California can bring jobs and much needed tax revenue to the local areas they are located. Its debatable if getting your 'Marijuana Card' is truly a scientific process, or one that really filters out the people who 'need' the drug versus the people who 'want' the drug. The fact that Marijuana benefits can be applied to many different types of common ailments, makes it a drug that many people can tolerate...therefore making it easy to prescribe. However, the shops themselves employ people (sometimes 24 hours a day) and that is much needed in today's job market. They bring foot-traffic to commercial real-estate areas that are often non used, or under capacity. If the California economy was booming like it did in the .com age or quarter-million dollar homes age ... the jobs created would be minimal. With so many people out of work, and the numbers projected to not get any better for several years, anything to create jobs and tax revenue should be of the highest priority for local governments and lawmakers. The voters of California made the process 'legal' and now that local/state governments need the money, Marijuana should continue to grow and lead to jobs in the state of California.
