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7 Crucial Things All Budtenders Should Know

budtender trainingTricks of the trade come after being in one industry for a while, but there are a few elements any budtender just starting out in a marijuana dispensary must know. We’re not saying employees have to memorize the effects of hundreds of strains, but there are key components to their job that will make your shop a lot more successful if they stay ahead of the knowledge curve.

Aside from a few budtender skills that all successful cannabis retail team members share, here are 7 things to think about when training your frontline staff:

1. Require them to stay compliant

As a dispensary owner, you understand that compliance is the foundation of your operation and requires close attention to detail. Procedures are in place for a reason, and they should be followed to ensure that you remain open for business, steer clear of fines and penalties, and avoid losing what you invested.

If you haven’t drilled this into your budtender’s heads already, they’ll eventually learn from everyone else in the industry. Cannabis compliance is a huge facet to working in a dispensary and failure to follow strict reporting, labeling, and inventory procedures could lead to the loss of your shop's license. Rules vary based on the state you’re in, so make sure your budtenders mind their P’s and Q’s every day they’re on the job.

2. Are they diligent about checking IDs

In an industry as tightly regulated as cannabis, one tiny misstep could have huge consequences. While consumers are expected to show identification before they even walk through the dispensary door, the potential risk of someone underage slipping past security highlights the importance of having multiple checkpoints. Prior to ringing up a customer, budtenders should make it a habit to check each ID one more time to ensure everyone making a purchase is of the legal age. And while budtenders already have multiple duties at the cashwrap, simple solutions like ID scanners and in-store signage reminding customers to have IDs handy can keep this small but crucial step top-of-mind.

3. Do they exhibit superior customer service skills

In most major areas there are a plethora of cannabis dispensary options, and customers create brand loyalty pretty fast. Visitors to your shop don’t come in just to buy flower; they see you specifically for the experience.

Learning the nuances of when someone wants to be left alone to browse versus helping them every step of the way can take time for budtenders, but a willingness to learn and grow in their skills is essential.

4. Make sure they understand all of your products

Product knowledge is huge when working in a cannabis retail store, as your employees need to be the authority on everything sold under your roof. Some staff members might think it’s sufficient to know about flower and call it good, but if your shop carries concentrates, edibles, or accessories, your staff has to be ready to answer any and all questions that customers might have.

The industry is constantly adapting, meaning budtenders should be prepared to move with the tide and excited to share innovations. Your customers should have confidence in your team’s knowledge. Be assured that you are providing the best, up-to-date information by keeping up with the trends with knowledge and interest to know more about the industry. Enthusiasm about new technology, excited to discuss terpenes, or simply eager to learn about the latest legalization efforts, are becoming increasingly important for budtenders to show and know.

5. They should be able to use a scale

The only time one might not need to master this essential skill is if your shop uses pre-packaged products, but what if you decide to make a change and go deli style with your flower?

While it’s pretty easy to use a scale if employees make a mistake weighing out product, their error will throw off your inventory in a big way. Basic math isn’t even a requirement, as long as they can press the right buttons.

6. They have to be able to assist cannabis newbies

Not everyone has cannabis experience. In fact, due largely to legalization and changing societal attitudes, many people are exploring cannabis for the first time in their lives or after not having consumed for years - and there’s a lot they don’t know. It’s a budtender’s job to be able to navigate conversations with cannabis newbies and those customers still trying to wrap their heads around legalization. Whether explaining the differences between indica and sativa, outlining the benefits of CBD, or simply clarifying what’s legal to possess, consume or grow in your state or province, every budtender should be able to demystify cannabis by covering the the basics with customers when necessary.

7. Can they associate ailments with suggestions

The ability to match products with a patient's medical concerns is the mark of a budtender with skills. Remember, your budtenders cannot legally make recommendations, but it’s a skill to be able to match specific customer requests with preferred strains.

Working in a cannabis dispensary will clue your budtenders into these skills after a while, but knowing it beforehand will put them way ahead of the game.

Want to make sure your staff is the best it can be? Eager to grow your knowledge as an owner or manager of a dispensary? Subscribe to our blog for news and tips today.

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