MJBizMag April 2021 - 10

FiveQuestions | with Ryan Douglas
How to Hire and Pay a Lead Grower
A master cultivator is one of the most important hires a cannabis cultivation company
can make, and the position deserves the pay to match
By Bart Schaneman
I
t's one thing to know how to grow a plant, but running a
commercial cultivation facility is another skill completely.
So says Ryan Douglas, a Florida-based cannabis consultant
and former master grower at Tweed, a major cannabis
producer with headquarters in Ontario, Canada.
When looking for a lead grower to manage and operate
a cultivation facility, cannabis executives should expect to
hire someone with a background in commercial agriculture
or horticulture, according to Douglas.
In turn, that person should be placed at the top of the
grow's pay pyramid and earn at least six figures, he added.
Marijuana Business Magazine asked Douglas what to
look for when hiring a lead grower, how much to pay the
person in that position and how to retain them on staff.
What are some key considerations when hiring
for a lead grower in cannabis?
Cultivation businesses should hire for commercial plantproduction
experience, not cannabis knowledge. Ten
years of growing ornamental or edible crops on a large
scale are more valuable than 10 years of raising a few
cannabis plants at home. Commercial growers bring
with them a wealth of experience managing people,
production and facilities. For businesses that are laserfocused
on early market penetration or rapid expansion,
these skills are often more valuable than cannabisspecific
knowledge alone.
Executives should not be hesitant to place a noncannabis
person in charge of their crop. Commercial
growers are trained to learn new crops quickly, and 90% of
the concepts and techniques used in traditional horticulture
are directly transferrable to cannabis. Whether it's corn,
cucumbers or cannabis, the fundamentals of managing a
commercial-scale production site are the same.
How much should an executive expect to pay
for this position?
Executives should plan on hiring the best grower they can
afford and anticipate them being one of the highest-paid
positions in the company. A cultivation business makes
money by selling what they produce, and the responsibility
of the cultivation program ultimately rests on the shoulders
of the lead grower. They directly influence the likelihood of
success or failure for a cultivation business.
Serious operators should anticipate paying six figures
for an excellent grower. If the company forecasts selling
$20 million of cannabis over the next 12 months, a
$150,000 salary is easily justified. Smaller operations
can get away with paying less for a novice grower, but they
should be prepared for a long and expensive learning curve.
Executives should plan on
hiring the best grower they
can afford and anticipate them
being one of the highest-paid
positions in the company.
-Ryan Douglas
Cannabis consultant and former master grower
10 Marijuana Business Magazine | April 2021
MJBizMag April 2021

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