I waited too long to come back to this thread, lol.
In no particular order, here are my responses:
To the guy laughing about being a budtender, yes it's a rediculous job title, but I've also never made more money legally than I have now.
Craziest story? Message me, lol. It involves smuggling mdma from Canada and getting out of getting robbed in nyc immediately after because I spoke Spanish. Or the time I got a police escort in California through a shady hills have eyes like desert town with 50 lbs of shatter in my truck because the roads were washed out. Or when my friends and I accidentally found a cartel grow near the hot springs in socal and were scared off the (public) land.
Budtender quality varies. Im in ny where the industry is at the absolute ground level, so it's a bit of a wild wild west situation. I'm fortunate to work at one of the few dispensaries owned by the people serving the masses for years. The staff varies between me and a few others with legit experience to stoners who just want to learn and help. For every budtender like me, there's a dozen with no clue. It's unfortunate, but that's capitalism, baby!
Corporatization of cannabis is the best and worst thing to happen to the plant. The variety of items I see is astounding. Also, the new smokers and the old timers are my fsvorite customers. But rec cannabis isn't for everyone yet. When micro licenses start getting issued, my job is going to lend its legal services to the true legacy cultivators to try to remedy the bullshit thats flooding the market.
Favorite grow medium: living soil + compost tea (there's nothing like it when it's done right) or hydro greenhouse w/ mixed lighting.
Favorite/popular strains atm: slurricane is easily the most popular strain I sell as flower (wedding cake as pre rolls). My favorite strain the store has is platinum life breath. Personally, im a sucker for that old school sour that doesn't exist anymore (albany sour is close), island sweet skunk, and oreoz. Im growing a killer local genetic line rn called chiefstar that's looking like a winner
And I gave up heroin because it's fucking heroin. The fact I didn't stay dead (died via od twice) is a miracle. The lifestyle is literal hell and I couldn't do it anymore. So I put my self through outpatient rehab then caught a gig as a stagehand so I was on the road most of the first 8 months out of active addiction. For the past 16 years cannabis kept my bills paid and my stomach fed, so it was a no Brainer to move from my previous job back to cannabis.
My biggest Complaint on the Industry is the price atm. But, inevitably, as time goes on prices will fall. I see it happen in real time. Quality is all over the map. You can find trash and you can find the best bud you'll ever find, but you will pay for it.
Also, alot of people like the security of a tested and regulated product. Hell, I like the security of a tested product. The rec market isn't for everyone, just like the black market isn't for everyone. They both serve their purpose and both aren't going anywhere anytime soon.
I'd do the reddit ama but im certain someone I work with would see lol
