Marijuana Business Magazine - Issue 09, Oct 2017

Despite the monotony, being a trimmer is a way to get a foot in the door of the rapidly growing marijuana industry. In fact, many trimmers have gone on to much higher, better-paying positions, such as extraction technicians or growers. A business owner should remind prospective trimmers of that fact when staffing a crew to handle an upcoming harvest. “Trimmers are definitely not the easiest bunch to work with,” said Aaron Spindler, production director at L’Eagle, a vertically integrated marijuana retailer in Denver. “It’s important for the trimmers to understand that they’re a crucial part in the process and have them take pride in the product.” Below are tips from three industry professionals who wrangle and manage teams of trimmers throughout the year. WHAT TO LOOK FOR Leif Abel – co-owner of Greatland Ganja, a grower in Kasilof, Alaska – seeks out candidates who have a strong interest in cannabis. “The prerequisite for any employee at Greatland Ganja is that you’re pas- sionate about what we do,” he said. He’d prefer to hire trimmers with experience, but such candidates can be tough to come by in Alaska. In Alaska, people who work directly with the plant must first have a mari- juana handler permit. “That’s the first step to them showing that they want to work in this indus- try,” Abel said. Alaska’s cultivation typically is done indoors so the harvest isn’t seasonal. That means Abel wants part-time workers who will commit to work for him when the plants need to be harvested. Interestingly, he’s had good luck with grandmothers, stay-at-home moms and others who can’t work 40 hours a week but enjoy the part-time schedule. He’s also willing to take a chance on a good candidate even if the person has a criminal record. “We don’t like to discriminate against people who have had a hard time in the past and have turned their life around,” Abel added. For Spindler, punctuality, a good attitude and an ability to follow directions are a must. “We’ll know right away if they can’t even keep a schedule,” he said. L’Eagle’s harvest schedule allows for trimming work to be done in batches. So the company has to work with part-time crews, and it will arrange for work to be done 30-60 days in advance of the harvest. “Most of the time these people weed themselves out by not showing up on scheduled dates,” Spindler said. Trimmers must show up with their proper documentation, including their Marijuana Enforcement Division Occupational License and correspond- ing badge. Spindler views it as a good sign if they can at least manage that. But the requirements for the job don’t stop there. Trimming at the AltMed facility in Coolidge, Arizona. Photo courtesy of AltMed A trimmer inspects a cannabis plant at AltMed’s facility in Coolidge, Arizona. Photo courtesy of AltMed