Washington State Looks For Pot Consultant

Washington state officials are hiring, and one of the top qualifications is knowledge about all things weed.

After passing legalization of marijuana last November, Washington must implement a system for the sale of cannabis by December. In order to figure out how to regulate marijuana, the state will hire someone with extensive knowledge about everything weed-related: how the market works, how marijuana is best grown, dried, tested, packaged, cooked, and labeled.

As an illegal drug, marijuana and its users are not often favorably looked upon by mainstream employers. However, the voter-approved legalization in Colorado and Washington are opening up government job opportunities specifically requiring much specific knowledge about marijuana and its production and use.

The job restrictions are somewhat unusual as well for government employment, reports The Washington Times. Where a felony conviction would usually immediately disqualify a candidate, a pot-related conviction is not grounds for dismissal, considering the line of work and its long history of prohibition. It is very likely that for someone to have accrued enough information to perform the job well, they would have acted against federal law at least, and possibly state law as well.

The Liquor Control Board is tasked with regulating the sale of marijuana within the year. Spokesman Mikhail Carpenter says they need a consultant for some of the technical aspects regarding marijuana.

There are four categories to be fulfilled by consulting services: product and industry knowledge, requiring at least three years of consulting experience relating to the knowledge of the cannabis industry, including but not limited to product growth, harvesting, packaging, product infusion, and product safety; quality testing, including testing for levels of THC; statistical analysis of how much marijuana licensed producers should produce; and development of regulation, which requires “strong understanding of state, local or federal government processes,” with a law degree preferred, according to the Washington Times.

One contract is up for bids, due February 15, but due to the wide variety of requirements, the state is willing to award multiple contracts to bidders who could collaborate. Read more: www.washingtontimes.com