I was a tow truck dispatcher in 2013, dealing with workplace bullying and a shit wage, when I started Googling
“how to make money online.”
I’d been watching people I knew make edibles since 2009. Cannabis made me feel calm, focused, less anxious. I figured if people who smoked weed were building businesses, those would be better places to work. Chill but focused and upbeat.
Boy was I wrong!!! (At first)
The Cannabis Industry Reality Check
Pre-legalization, cannabis was still a drug dealer’s game. The first companies I worked for were run by maniacs.
One was led by an old car dealership CEO treating cannabis like a get-rich-quick scheme. Another used cult manipulation tactics, leveraging marijuana access to extract my time, skills, and resources for basically nothing.
I almost lost faith completely.
The “chill cannabis culture” I expected didn’t exist. These workplaces were more toxic than the towing company and factories I’d escaped from.
What Actually Worked
I’d been studying digital marketing since 2013. Building social media profiles, learning keywords, and understanding algorithms. I updated LinkedIn profiles for my mom and friends, treating it like resume optimization practice.
When I was ready to try the cannabis industry again, I added two words to my LinkedIn headline:
“Cannabis SEO.”
That’s it.
I found a leader who sees cannabis as a wellness product, not a hustle. Someone who trusts me, pays what they promise, and doesn’t make me question reality daily. Now I help dispensaries get found on Google, and 244 remote cannabis positions exist across the U.S. for roles like mine.
Red Flags I Wish I’d Known
Before you apply anywhere, watch for these warning signs:
- Promises without legal agreements. If they won’t put it in writing, they won’t honor it.
- “We’re a family” language. This usually means boundary violations and unpaid overtime.
- Vague answers about workload. If they can’t explain what you’ll actually do daily, they have unrealistic expectations.
- High turnover rates. Ask how long the last person in this role stayed. Check Glassdoor.
- Controlling behavior. Dress codes, excessive monitoring, or using cannabis access as leverage.
Your Actual Next Step
Remote cannabis roles in SEO, content creation, social media, and project management didn’t really exist until 2020. Now digital marketers in this space earn a living.
If you want one of these jobs, start learning everything about your niche and online marketing today. Not tomorrow. Today.
Build your LinkedIn profile with specific keywords. Join cannabis business Facebook groups. Ask questions in Reddit communities about companies before applying.
I’m even developing WorkFromWeed.com to list legitimate remote cannabis positions.
Study hard. Self-regulate your learning. Show you can work independently without micromanagement.
The cannabis industry has real remote opportunities now. But you need to vet employers as carefully as they vet you.
I learned that the hard way, so you don’t have to!
