Career of the Future
The cannabis industry is expanding, as legal cannabis gains traction across the globe. Consumers are bombarded with many different options for consumption, with a rising demand for concentrated cannabis products. Concentrates are much more potent than traditional flower, and with greater potency comes the ability to treat more intense medical issues, while recreational consumers experience a much stronger effect.
The increased demand for concentrated cannabis products has led to a higher demand for qualified candidates to fill jobs. Concentrate processing is a relatively new career field available to people interested in working in the recreational or medical cannabis industries. With products like CO2 oil and shatter increasing in popularity, there is greater potential for a steady, rewarding career in the extraction field as a concentrate processor. Here are some points to consider when taking a glimpse into the career in the industry as a concentrate processor.
“Concentrates are here to stay, and with the technical nature of processing, there are more and more opportunities opening up for those with experience in extraction.”
CERTIFIABLE START
First, because the extraction process is becoming increasingly more scientific, those interested in this career field will likely benefit from a background in chemistry to safely get started in the field of processing concentrates. Some employers will ask applicants if they have previous experience working in a lab or experience working with botanical extractions. Others will ask for an HVAC certification that can usually be completed within a year at a technical school. Safety is a huge concern for extraction artists, as well as for the retailers who sell their products. To produce a safe and effective concentrate, the proper training is essential. For the novice, it would be wise to get involved in some sort of internship or apprenticeship with someone who already works in extraction. Keep in mind that due to the heat and exposure to chemicals, concentrate processing can be dangerous work.
EXTRACTION METHODS MATTER
Processors use various solvents to extract cannabinoids and other potent ingredients from the cannabis plant. There are many different solvents used for extraction, although they are mainly chemically-based solvents. Once all the cannabinoids and other active materials are extracted from the plant, the solvents need to be strained out. It is not safe to ingest these chemicals in large amounts, so it is important that processors only sell products containing plant material to retailers.
Processors tend to hone in their skills of extraction by focusing on specialized extraction methods. Once an extraction method is chosen, processors often make adjustments in temperature, moisture and agitation to create different variations and textures. Each type of concentrate and its characteristics are dependent on the type of plant material and solvents used for extraction from raw plant material. Solvents like butane and ethanol strip compounds from the cannabis plant, leaving an oily substance packed with cannabinoids. Different types of concentrates can contain extremely high levels of cannabinoids like THC. There are also many non-psychoactive compounds that contain high amounts of CBD, which are effective in treating various conditions from chronic pain to seizures.
THE ART OF CONCENTRATES
Other labs use non-solvent extraction methods and are seeking Distillation Technicians. These types of extraction artists winterize and filter products using vacuum distillation. Although lab work is at the heart of the job for a concentrate processor, creativity also plays a huge role when creating concentrates. A large portion of a processor’s time is spent planning and blending different strains to create unique flavors and effects. The art of extraction is a relatively new one, and new methods and techniques are still being developed. Concentrate processors are entering a new frontier when it comes to perfecting the process and creating the best concentrates for different tastes and purposes.
Alex “Toast” Troester from Beehive Extracts in Portland, Oregon told CULTURE about the excitement in creating new substances. “My favorite part of every morning at the lab is when we open the vacuum ovens and the smells of specific strains radiate through my nose,” Troester said. “It reminds me that processors are exposed to a wide variety of cultivars, which allows for rapid learning of the subtle nuances of terpene profiles and the growing methods used to produce them.”
Concentrates are here to stay, and with the technical nature of processing, there are more and more opportunities opening up for those with experience in extraction. Thousands of new industry jobs are created in each state with legalized cannabis, and those numbers will continue to grow. With so many opportunities for growth, and so much potential to earn money, the career of processing concentrates is one that we will likely see gain a lot of popularity in the near future for those who are best suited for the job.
