Cultivating Opportunity: How Vermont’s Cannabis Industry is Spurring Jobs and Academic Pathways

Education & Job Market

How the industry is creating new opportunities in the Green Mountain State.

Vermont’s legal cannabis market is doing more than stocking shelves at the dispensaries—it’s creating jobs, attracting new businesses, and even inspiring academic programs. From dispensary counters to cultivation facilities, the cannabis sector is becoming a meaningful part of the state’s economic landscape

Growing the Job Market

Since retail cannabis sales began in October 2022, Vermont’s industry has quickly become a significant employer. Within its first year, the sector added approximately 700 new jobs statewide, according to WCAX (wcax.com).

  • Retail Expansion: The number of dispensaries climbed to 77 by mid-2024, reflecting both strong consumer demand and the need for more staff across the state (vtdigger.org).

  • Cultivation & Manufacturing: Grow operations continue to hire technicians, trimmers, and facilities staff, while infused product manufacturers employ kitchen workers, quality control teams, and logistics staff.

  • Professional Support Roles: Behind the scenes, cannabis businesses rely on a wide range of professionals—marketing experts, graphic designers, social media managers, accountants, compliance officers, and billing departments—to operate efficiently in a highly regulated market.

“The sector added around 700 jobs. The state now has dozens of licensed growers, processors, and retailers.”
— Brew View, reporting on Vermont’s cannabis industry job growth

Higher Education Steps In

Vermont’s colleges have responded to this demand with new academic pathways. Vermont State University (formerly Castleton University), along with NVU and VTC, offers a 12-credit Cannabis Studies Certificate Program.

This program, first launched in 2019, provides courses in cannabis culture, horticulture, business, and compliance. Students also receive Cannabis Employee ID Card training, a requirement for working in Vermont’s regulated market. WCAX reported that about half of the program’s graduates have gone on to work in the cannabis industry, including roles as budtenders (wcax.com).

This education pipeline ensures Vermont’s workforce is prepared not just for today’s jobs, but also for the evolving needs of the industry.

Building the Economy

The cannabis industry has already proven to be an economic driver in Vermont, with sales exceeding projections:

  • In its first 10 months, sales hit $67 million, generating $9.4 million in tax revenue (wcax.com).

  • By August 2024, total sales reached $128 million, well above the $86 million initially projected by the state’s Joint Fiscal Office (vtdigger.org).

These figures underscore how cannabis contributes to Vermont’s economy by:

  • Creating jobs across cultivation, retail, manufacturing, and professional services.

  • Supporting new business formation, from dispensaries to product manufacturers.

  • Encouraging educational innovation, with college-level training programs preparing the next wave of workers.

At a Glance

Vermont’s cannabis industry created around 700 jobs statewide within its first year of retail sales.

  1. Vermont State University (formerly Castleton University) and other state colleges offer a 12-credit Cannabis Studies Certificate, preparing students for careers in cultivation, business, compliance, and policy.

  2. The number of licensed dispensaries grew to 77 by August 2024, showing rapid market expansion and increased demand.

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