From outside the cannabis industry, an easy misconception is that professionals should have a weed-smoking affinity to get ahead in the industry. From start-up execs to chief people officers at multi-state operators (MSOs), cannabis professionals have told HR Dive that frequent ingestion of THC or CBD products isn’t a consideration for most recruiters in the space. “We used to ask if you’re a consumer. We never ask that now,” said Scott Kenyon, CEO of cannabis HR company Würk.

Beyond that, talent challenges in the field are deeply nuanced — and a hot debate has sparked up regarding the finer points of cannabis-related skills-building. As is the case for many HR departments lately, L&D has come to the fore. Employers, feeling the talent crunch, face the “build or buy” dilemma: Do they hire for potential and prioritize upskilling, or do they wait for the perfect candidate to cross their path?