State Requirements for Non-Medical US Cannabis Retail Personnel

Authors

Cassidy R. LoParco, Author Affiliations: Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC (Dr LoParco, Mrs.Cui, Mrs.McCready, Yang, Miss Vinson, Berg); College of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, (Dr Romm); Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (Dr Romm); School of Nursing (Dr Yang); George Washington Cancer Center, George Washington University, Washington, DC (Yang, Berg); School of Public Health, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas (Dr Rossheim); Addictions, Drug & Alcohol Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington (Dr Carlini); and School of Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri (Dr Cavazos-Rehg).
Yuxian Cui Msph
Darcey McCready Ms
Katelyn F. Romm Phd
Y Tony Yang ScD Llm Mph
Matthew E. Rossheim PhD Mph
Beatriz Carlini PhD Mph
Katie Vinson Bs
Patricia Cavazos-Rehg PhD
Carla J. Berg PhD Mba Lp

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

7-1-2024

Journal

Journal of public health management and practice : JPHMP

Volume

30

Issue

4

DOI

10.1097/PHH.0000000000001892

Abstract

In September 2023, we examined requirements for budtenders working in nonmedical dispensaries in the 20 states with active non-medical cannabis markets. Two coders extracted data from each state's licensing board and/or governmental websites. The age requirement for budtenders was ≥21 years old ( n = 17) or ≥18 ( n = 3). Most states ( n = 16) required background checks; 10 specified felony convictions preventing employment, 5 allowed the Department to determine eligibility, and 2 allowed petitions upon denial. Twelve states required fingerprinting. There were application fees ($25-$300) in 13 states. Structured training was required in 7 states, while 5 states required employee training. Given the diverse budtender requirements, the evaluation of budtender standards is essential to assess the impacts of training on regulatory compliance and consumer education, and of application costs and conviction-based employment restrictions on social equity. This must inform the development of effective regulations and enforcement protocols, as well as and how to promote equity in cannabis regulations.

APA Citation

LoParco, Cassidy R.; Cui Msph, Yuxian; McCready Ms, Darcey; Romm Phd, Katelyn F.; Yang ScD Llm Mph, Y Tony; Rossheim PhD Mph, Matthew E.; Carlini PhD Mph, Beatriz; Vinson Bs, Katie; Cavazos-Rehg PhD, Patricia; and Berg PhD Mba Lp, Carla J., "State Requirements for Non-Medical US Cannabis Retail Personnel" (2024). GW Authored Works. Paper 5032.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/5032

Department

Prevention and Community Health