If You’re an EA, OBM, Writer and/or a Social Media Manager, What’s Holding You Back from Working in the Cannabis Industry?

Last year you sent me an application to work in my (now defunct) agency, Boricua Digital. Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned, but this allowed me to pivot and focus my energy on the cannabis industry. I have had a blast being in the industry full-time and I want to help you break into this complex, yet growing industry. Read on. :) 

Are you an online business manager (OBM), executive assistant (EA), social media manager and/or a writer who’s having trouble finding work? Are you considering industries that you’ve previously overlooked? Maybe you’ve heard there are opportunities in the cannabis industry, but because of the stigma attached to it, you rejected the idea. Or maybe you just don’t know how to dive in?

As marijuana legalization sweeps across North America, Europe, the Caribbean, South America and Australia, and is just beginning to gain traction in Africa and Asia, there has never been a better time to consider cannabis as an industry.

The propaganda most of us were raised on is rapidly being debunked. Not only is cannabis not a dangerous drug, addictive, a gateway to dangerous drugs, or even the “devil’s lettuce,” here’s something that may blow your mind: 

Cannabis isn’t even a drug!

Cannabis is one of 28,000 medicinal plants that people have been consuming medicinally and as part of spiritual ceremonies for over 10,000 years. Cannabis is the subject of numerous studies around the world that are proving not only its safety, but also confirming what many cultures have known for centuries:

Cannabis heals the mind, body and spirit.

According to PubMed^®, more than 42,500 scientific papers have been written about cannabis and its ability to treat numerous conditions. And while the legally accepted conditions for cannabis consumption vary by state/territory/country, here are some of the common conditions cannabis is used to treat:

• Alzheimer’s disease

• Anorexia

• Anxiety disorders

• Arthritis (RA and OA)

• Autism

• Bipolar disorder

• Cancer (including side effects from chemotherapy)

• Chronic pain

• Depression

• Degenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and multiple sclerosis (MS)

• Epilepsy

• Fibromyalgia

• Glaucoma

• Hepatitis C

• HIV/AIDS

• Incurable and advanced diseases requiring palliative care

• Insomnia

• Inflammatory bowel disease (including Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis)

• Migraine

• Parkinson’s disease

• Persistent muscle spasms

• Peripheral neuropathies

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

• Severe nausea

• Spinal cord injury

• Any condition that causes cachexia or wasting disease

That’s quite a list for something that has been shunned and widely misunderstood for the last 100 years, isn’t it?

If you’re still with me, let me share some trends about the cannabis industry that may surprise you:

In 2012, the U.S. states of Colorado and Washington legalized cannabis for adult use (also referred to as recreational), which means that residents don’t need a documented medical condition to buy the flower, edibles, tinctures, oils, creams, etc. Prior to that, a handful of states had legalized cannabis for medicinal use, but it wasn’t widely known.

Here are some statistics to consider:

Or phrased another way:

Prior to 2012, several countries decriminalized cannabis, while Canada and Austria legalized it for medicinal use. By 2013, 10 EU countries legalized the plant for medicinal use.

Once a few U.S. states started legalizing, the rest of the world started waking up to its potential; not only for medicinal purposes and as an alternative to opioids, but more importantly (for businesses), to generate tax revenue.

So now that you realize cannabis is:

• Safe

• Medicinal

• A growing industry that’s adding 280 new jobs every day

How Can You Break Into This Incredible Growth Industry?

My cannabis writing journey started six years ago when I wrote my first article about the plant’s history and medicinal potential. Today, I have written close to 200 articles about cannabis and the industry.

And because most of my articles are reported pieces – meaning that I interview consumers about their experiences and subject matter experts (SMEs) about the work they do – I have spent the last six years creating a network of industry contacts for continued work.

In 2020, a cannabis dispensary owner asked me to write his memoir. And while I was busy writing it, his best friend, a cannabis cultivator, asked me to be his personal assistant. These two acts allowed me to expand my network even more and focus my skills as an EA/OBM and writing to the cannabis industry. My network continued to grow. In 2022, I took a job with a cannabis accountant as her OBM, a job I got because I had worked for the cannabis cultivator and because of the knowledge I’d acquired about the plant and the industry.

You may not want to wait six years to build up your knowledge and your cannabis industry network. What if I told you I could cut that time down by years? And what if I told you that you could learn enough in two days about the plant and the industry to pivot from your current go-to industry(ies) to cannabis?

If you are concerned that you don’t live in a state/territory/country that has legalized cannabis, it doesn't matter. Both before the pandemic and since, remote working in the cannabis industry is normal. My cannabis clients have been in states across the U.S. and around the world.. I work from home in Puerto Rico.

And if you have concerns that you don’t consume cannabis, many in the industry don’t. It’s by no means a requirement.

The Masterclass and Beyond

My two-day Masterclass will give you an intro into writing about cannabis and/or providing supportive services and access to some of the industry’s subject matter experts.

I’ll take it a step further, because I really want you to succeed in the cannabis industry, by offering all those who take my Masterclass:

• A Facebook group for continued support

• Access to contact information for editors at publications who accept cannabis pitches (and help writing pitches)

• Links to recruiters in the industry

• Links to websites and groups that have cannabis industry jobs

Here’s an example of what you’ll learn in my Masterclass:

Plant-touching vs. Ancillary

Supporting the plant-touching businesses is a huge, behind-the-scenes network of what we call ancillary businesses (who provide supportive products and services). And like the plant-touching side of the industry, ancillary businesses also need experienced writers, EAs, OBMs and social media managers

Those trends about sales and job growth I shared with you earlier? They only reflect the plant-touching side of the industry. When you add all the ancillary businesses, you can easily double those figures.

I Will Introduce You to Sources Across the Industry

Sarah Ratliff, Writer, OBM and EA for the cannabis industry

Antoine Mordican, CEO, Native Black Cultivation

B.C. Wehman and Dustin Kava, podcasters of Because Cannabis

Dr. Bridget Cole-Williams, aka “Dr. Bridget": cannabis doctor and author of Courage in Cannabis Volumes I and II

Diawn “DK” Jones, CEO, the Hippie Chemist

Ashanta McGhee, former Chief Marketing Office

Angela Mays, Founder and CEO, The Blunt Accountant

John Mee, Business Development, Mee Industries

Peter Su, Cannabis Banking

Deborah Agboola, Cannabis Writer

Olivia Almagro, Public Relations

Gretchen “Grey” Arvelo, Social Media Manager

Your Masterclass includes:

• A two-day class with SMEs and a deep dive into the cannabis industry

• Continued access to support and my years of experience as a writer, OBM and EA

• Access to recruiters and job board groups

• Contact information for editors who accept cannabis-related pitches

• Pitch-writing assistance

• The difference between writing for plant-touching or ancillary businesses

How much would you expect to pay for a Masterclass like this? $500? $1000? Or more?

You’ll get all of this for only $350.

But wait! There’s more! I’ll also be offering:

• Two scholarships 

• The ability to pay in two installments without interest

• If you have a genuine financial hardship, reach out to me. I’ll see what I can do.

Why am I willing to do all of this?

• I want to see you succeed and money shouldn’t be a barrier to success (especially for those of us who provide supportive services to executives)

• When I was new to freelancing 15 years ago, I asked for help from seasoned freelancers about breaking into freelancing, not one person offered to help me. I swore I’d never be that person.

• I want you to pay it forward by helping someone else who’s struggling when you get the chance.

If you’re ready to break into the U.S.’s largest growth industry, sign up for my Masterclass.

Secure your seat using our convenient two-installment payment plan.
*Both payments required for full access.

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If you're facing genuine financial hardship, please contact me. I'm here to help find possible solutions.