Canadian budtenders fear for their job security
The safety of Budtender Canada is a real concern for pharmacy staff. With over 2600 retail cannabis stores across the country, that’s a lot of frontline workers.
Customer-centric jobs attract a certain personality type. Not only do these roles require you to be active when you’re feeling down, but they also force you to navigate a variety of situations with patrons that range from sexist, racist, uncomfortable, and in some cases downright dangerous and life-threatening. threatening.
The old adage says the customer is always right, but where is the line? A racial slur, a physical attack, a death threat? For some budtenders in Canada, these situations are far too common, and workplace safety is a growing concern nationwide.
Budtenders face rampant racism and sexual harassment
“Female budtenders are constantly harassed by male customers, especially if the girl is well educated when it comes to cannabis,” says Ella King*, a budtender from Edmonton, Alberta.
King recalls a disturbing experience where a male customer walked into the store while she was working. The man is said to have approached her at the counter, looked her in the eye and asked why the owner let two women work together in the shop.
“[He told us] we were more likely to be ‘robbed and killed on the spot’ than a male worker,” she says. “I wanted to lock the door for the rest of the day.”
John Torrez*, a budtender who was employed at a Toronto pharmacy during the pandemic, has also experienced stressful situations at work.
One case that stands out for Torrez, who is Canadian with Mexican roots, is when a customer used a racial slur in a thinly veiled analogy.
“I asked the customer how he would like to pay and he said, ‘Green card, like the Mexican [redacted]’ while holding up his green debit card,’ he says. This customer’s geographically inaccurate racism will come as no surprise to retail workers of color.
Torrez was alone in the store when this happened, and his manager at the time still hadn’t shown up for her shift. There was no impact and the aforementioned customer is still visiting the place, he says.
Torrez also alleges that a disgruntled customer “fired a gun” during another shift after he became aggressive and physically assaulted employees. Police were called but to his knowledge there was no impact on the store.
Fewer staff means higher risk during the pandemic
When Torrez first started working at the store, there were always three people working at once: a bouncer, a budkeeper, and an inventory person. But as more stores opened across GTA, competition increased and the number of customers began to dwindle.
The drop in paying customers meant the owner had to reduce the number of employees during a given shift. It makes financial sense – fewer jobs, save money – but fewer employees also means more security risk.
Sometimes, says Torrez, who was eventually promoted to supervisor, he was the only person in the store for hours. But even on days when two employees were on duty, he felt uncomfortable.
“I’m a pretty short person, and my main collaborator was a very short woman,” says Torrez.
He asked his employers to schedule a male bouncer on the days the pair worked together, which he said would “make it easier to deal with dangerous situations,” but his request was ignored.
The pandemic and its public safety measures are also increasing disputes between pharmacy staff and customers as many continue to oppose mask regulations.
“A guy walked in without a mask, so we gave him one and he put it on his face but left it hanging over his chin,” says Karen Barry, founder and CEO of Calgary’s Beltline Cannabis Dispensary.
“I asked him if he wouldn’t mind putting them up so we could all move forward and instead he threw the mask away and stormed out.”
Barry agrees that such negative Covid-related encounters have increased and while discouraging, the robust health and safety protocols at her company are helping to keep everyone safe.
At Beltline Cannabis there are always at least two employees in the store at any one time and no one ever closes alone.
The company also has a safe word for employees to use if a situation ever escalates. If the security word is spoken by one of the employees, sales in the area will stop immediately.
There are dozens of cameras on the premises, in addition to their company’s special protocols for closing and securing the premises.
For the most part, the cameras simply film normal, friendly interactions between employees and customers. As Barry points out, the vast majority of customers she encounters are cordial.
“Generally when comparing spirits to cannabis, we don’t see these angry drunk people walking in,” says Barry of her store. “It’s a rather passive audience in general.”
Are Current Security Measures Helping or Threatening Budtenders?
Canadian cannabis retail stores are required by law to adhere to a list of safety measures. These vary slightly by province.
In British Columbia, the government has released a 30-page handbook that includes store must-haves like an alarm system, lockable display cases, a lockable storage area, secure door locks and more.
Meanwhile, the Ontario Alcohol and Gambling Commission (AGCO) says cannabis stores in the province must keep cannabis locked in a secure storage room and there must be records of employees authorized to enter that room.
AGCO also writes in its Cannabis Retail Regulations Guide that store windows must be blacked out so people on the street cannot see in.
“Once cannabis products and supplies are on-site, they cannot be seen from the outside of the store (ie, some retail store operators may choose to use tinted glass or frosted windows),” the document explains.
This particular covered window rule varies across the country (in 2020, the BC government eliminated the requirement for opaque windows for cannabis stores).
Regardless of what the playbooks say, the feedback Leafly Canada has received from budtenders coast to coast suggests there is more we can do as store owners and as an industry to keep employees safe.
These store associates have a busy schedule during their shift and don’t have to worry about their personal safety. Guys, be nice to your budtender and for heaven’s sake put the damn mask on.
*Names have been changed for anonymity reasons.
Lisa Feleptchuk
Lisa Felepchuk is an experienced lifestyle editor, writer and digital nomad based in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia.
Check out Lisa Felepchuk’s articles
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