Marijuana Business Magazine August 2019

Marijuana Business Magazine | August 2019 78 FRIENDS, FAMILY A GOOD SOURCE While many companies operate their internship programs only during the summer months, Los Angeles-based cannabis testing lab CannaSafe’s program is open to students year- round. Unlike companies that serve the cannabis industry but don’t actually handle marijuana, CannaSafe requires interns to be 21 years old. CannaSafe hires interns for virtually any position at the company, from lab assistants and technicians to drivers and customer support representatives. CannaSafe finds its interns through friends, family, social media and other business owners who know young people interested in a career in cannabis. CannaSafe pays its interns the standard rate it pays everyone for the position they’re working in. “If someone was working as a lab assistant (intern), their salary would be between $15 and $18 an hour, just like our employees,” CannaSafe Director of Operations Antonio Frazier said. “This is because we only take qualified interns. Our interns are people who would normally be eligible for full-time hire but need to complete courses or aren’t available full time yet.” The program typically lasts 90 days, which Frazier said is enough time to determine whether they will be a good fit for the company. CannaSafe’s orientation program covers industry background, science, ethics, protocols and how CannaSafe represents itself as a brand. “Every employee represents the licensee, so it’s very important they understand what they can and can’t do to keep us compliant,” Frazier said. “There are a lot of things that can get you in trouble if you don’t operate the right way.” CannaSafe’s internship program enables the company to attract talented scientists to an industry that people already established in their fields may shun. “It’s hard to get scientists,” Frazier said. “It’s very hard for them to leave an industry that’s quote-unquote acceptable. We need to destigmatize the industry. It’s not going to blacklist you from working anywhere else.” PHONE INTERVIEW TO BEGIN New York City-based Mattio Communications, a public relations firm focused solely on the cannabis industry, was set to hire its first interns this summer. The company found its candidates by reaching out to connections and searching the online sites LinkedIn and Indeed, as well as career centers at universities. After an initial phone interview with Talent Acquisition Leader Regina Rear-Connor, potential interns will meet with the Mattio team to learn more about the company, the industry and the clients it supports. “We likely will hire three interns with the idea and hope that perhaps one of them, if they are graduating, might be interested in conversion to a full-time role,” Rear-Connor said. After a day of onboarding, which includes an overview of Mattio’s clients, business operation and culture, interns will work on media projects, helping with pitches and learning the cannabis industry. They also will work on social media and build content for the events Mattio produces for its clients. “It will be a great experience for them to see how far-reaching the industry is,” Rear-Connor said. Regina Rear-Connor Courtesy Photo The Internship