Jon Olsen-Koziol, Evergreen Scene Reporter • January 20, 2017
In a study published in the Journal of Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, researchers found many employees are recommending strains or products that exacerbate symptoms. There were 55 employees surveyed, only 30 received proper training.
Employees were surveyed at dispensaries in Colorado, California, Arizona, Oregon, Washington D.C., Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Maine, according to Live Science. Some findings include employees recommending weed with high levels of THC for people with anxiety issues, when high levels of THC can make anxiety worse.
Dispensary employees received customer service training 35 percent of the time, business training 26 percent of the time, medical training 20 percent and scientific training 13 percent of the time, according to the study.
The marijuana industry is still new, there is no standard for employee training. This leaves the dispensary owners responsible for educating new employees.
“Core brand values [are] going to determine whether bud tenders are educated or not,” said Joey Brabo, a Cannabis Liaison at Diego Pellicer in Seattle.
Brabo is a Cannabis Liaison at Diego Pellicer in Seattle, a well-reviewed cannabis retailer and said he received thorough training for his position.
