Canopy Growth Exits Springfield, N.Y., Hemp Operations

With tough times sometimes come reasons for hope, and in the case of the largely stalled U.S. job market amid the coronavirus pandemic, some qualified candidates seeking positions in cannabis may be in luck.

Some large multi-state operators are hiring, including Curaleaf and Trulieve. The latter is currently hiring for between 200 to 300 positions and has hired about 300 people since mid-March, Steven Ferrell, Trulieve’s director of human resources, said in an email.

Out of these Trulieve positions, about 60% are in retail, 30% are in cultivation and production, and 10% are in call-center, corporate and all other positions, Ferrell said. About 75% of the positions are hourly, and the rest are salaried, he said.

Photo courtesy of Trulieve

“We are hiring for delivery drivers due to a surge in delivery orders,” he said, addressing how the coronavirus pandemic and resulting government measures have impacted the company’s hiring practices. “While this uptick makes sense given the current climate, we expect that patients may want to continue to take advantage of the convenience of these options even when the stay-at-home order is lifted.”

To find qualified candidates, Trulieve is posting positions online, Ferrell said. Applicants then go through an application process that, in its entirety, includes phone and video interviews. New hires then report either to an onsite location or work remotely depending on their position, he said.

Trulieve is focused on building on its team to continue providing “attentive and informed” customer service to its loyal customer base, called “Trulievers,” Ferrell said. “We are excited to welcome new employees to our team and will ensure that they are trained, knowledgeable and approachable, continuing the positive customer experience that Trulievers expect.”

More broadly, he said, Trulieve has put together an “emergency response team” to protect patients and employees. It has hired an outside firm to perform deep cleaning after stores close, began offering cashless payment options and instituted new sick leave policies for employees.

Now, it’s hiring more people to address both its increased delivery orders and calls from customers, Ferrell said.

“We will continue to adapt and pursue all opportunities to make the experiences of our patients easier than ever,” he said.