For years major consumer package goods marketers have used Spokane, WA, as a product testing grounds.  Because of its prototypical average-ness, the city has served as an idea environment to test market everything from fast foods to fabric softeners.  It is striking, then, that this weekend the ultimate American city will turn it’s at attention to the promise of better living through participation in the legal marijuana economy.

Seeking their part of the Green Rush, hundreds of job seekers will attend MJBA Job Fair Spokane, eastern Washington’s first Cannabis Job Fair Saturday, June 20, 2015, 10AM-4:20PM at the Spokane Convention Center.  Organized by the Marijuana Business Association and Washington NORML, event sponsors include the Inlander, Cannabis Training Institute, Eden Labs, RMMC Consulting and Miller Soils. Featured employers exhibiting will include Washington’s Finest Cannabis, Blue Roots Cannabis, BioTrackTHC, WallaWalla Cannabis Company, Kush Comfort Farms, Belladonna, Mosaic Insurance, Triple T Farms, Farmer Tom, PayQwik, Stintzi Insurance, Dope Magazine, Hemp Industries Association, and 420MEDIA, which is holding an open casting call for creative talent to work on its new web series, Hmm…Did You Know.

Legal Cannabis is the fastest growing industry in America, creating tens of thousands of new jobs in 2015, and in Washington State, still only one of two states where adults 21+ can legal purchase and consume recreational marijuana, the industry is having a positive economic impact.  According to the latest MJ Research Report The state now has 163 licensed retail stores with 146 recording sales as of May, and combined Producer, processor and retailer sales were $215M through June 1st.

Analytically Correct estimates that by the end of 2015, between 3,000 and 4,000 direct industry jobs will have been created within recreational cannabis in Washington State. Note that this is total, direct (producer, processor, retailer) jobs within the I502 space, and is not additional jobs between June and December.

Stand up and be counted: Take the MJBA Cannabis Jobs Survey: http://bit.ly/MJjobssurvey

Ted McGregor, Publisher of the Inlander, will be the event’s keynote.  He is expected to speak about the budding industry’s economic and social impact on the region. Other featured speakers include Luc Nelson, Cannabis Training Institute; Washington NORML’s Kevin Oliver; Joy Beckerman of the Hemp Industries Association; Joe and Aubrey Armes, Analytically Correct; David Rheins, MJBA; Morgan, MJBA Women’s Alliance;  and cannabis personality TwiceBakedinWa among other industry thought leaders.

While Eastern Washington is home to some of the legal cannabis industry’s largest cannabis producers, featured employers are looking to fill a wide variety of jobs – many of them never touching the plant.  Free to job seekers, the fair is expected to draw hundreds of prospective workers in weed. Here are a few of the many openings that are waiting to be filled at the MJBA Job Fair:

BioTrackTHC:  “ As the industry leaders in seed to sale traceability we are happy to partner with the MJBA in finding more industry professionals to join our Washington team,” BioTrackTHC’s Ashley Heddy told MJNN. “We are looking to hire friendly support staff and software functionality trainers. We would like to thank the MJBA for once again bringing us together with our fellow industry professionals and making this happen!”

Miller Soils: Louis Miller tells us that the biochar has two sales positions open for Washington State: one on the east side one on the west side. Sales experience is preferred, with knowledge of soil and grow medias a must, and some growing experience a plus. This is a commission-based position.  Miller Soils also seeks experienced composter, with several years of experience with vegetative compost a must. Candidates should be familiar with safe operations of the equipment and organize the people involved in the composting process. This could be a salaried position or hourly, with lots of room for advancement. The company also is looking to hire soil blending manager.  Must have several years of experience and professional Soil Blending. Must have a good understanding of safe operations and how the equipment functions and the importance of proper measurements for the soil blends. This would be a salary position with a lot of room to grow!

PayQwick is looking for field representatives. The Field Marketing Representative will work together with the Marketing and Sales managers in the development, implementation and ongoing company’s marketing and sales efforts in the area.  Responsibilities will include daily visits to Licensed Marijuana Producers, Processors and Retailers, and working closely with marketing and sales teams to execute marketing programs and In-store promotional advertising.

“Those that pass the first round of auditions will be interviewing cannabis employers and potential employees on camera.”

420MEDIA is holding an Open Casting Call for creative talent at the show.  The Seattle-based media and entertainment company is a VIP Sponsor of MJBA Job Fair Spokane, and a national member of the MJBA. 420MEDIA is in expansion mode, and will be at the Job Fair seeking to hire DP’s, editors, photographers, graphic designers, web developers, animators, associate producers, and project managers.