Even though he’s just shy of his first year budtending at Symbiotic Sacramento, Jacob Harris has already made a splash with his managers, co-workers and customers.
This Elk Grove native has loved Cannabis since a young age, he said, but he didn’t see it as a job until he earned his degree in cybersecurity and moved back to Sacramento.
“After college, I was looking for a position in the field, and in the meantime, I applied here to see what would happen,” he said. “Honestly, it’s been the best thing for me, and I’ve felt super excited about continuing my education.”
Like many people, Harris said he grew up in a household that didn’t approve of pot, so he didn’t have experience with all the types of products and forms the plant has taken nowadays. But he said he found a passion for the work pretty quickly.
“There’s definitely been a learning curve. There’s a lot more that goes into it than I ever thought, especially with having it in so many forms: pills, edibles, tinctures, RSO,” he said. “I mean, there’s a whole bunch of different ways of enjoying Cannabis now, and I think it’s pretty interesting.”
Harris continued, “It was overwhelming at first, learning about all the different products all at once, but once I got the hang of the education, I got to focus on customers and really up my game. Growing up, I’d always pick up whatever from the plug. Now, I see the different percentages of everything that goes into a strain, what makes them smoke differently and why people like certain ones.”
The Leaf asked Harris if, after a year on the job, his parents still feel the same about Cannabis use.
“Growing up with my parents, weed was a no-go in our house, and I had to hide it,” he said. “Now that it’s more socially accepted, I feel proud of it, and they feel proud of me.”
One of the reasons Harris was nominated was for showing a natural understanding of why someone would want edibles over flower or a vape and helping them find the perfect choice.
“I just try to put myself into people’s shoes,” he told California Leaf. “I want to make the experience as easy and friendly as possible so they feel comfortable asking questions, learning about a product or looking for suggestions. That’s the best part, just making it fun and making them want to come back.”
The Leaf asked Harris if there was a particular genre of product that he didn’t imagine would be so popular before working behind the counter.
“Drinks,” he answered. “That one surprised me most. I kind of knew that edibles had started to pop off, but people are really buying drinks like crazy.”
Harris’ advice for someone jumping in: “Don’t be afraid to ask questions, but most importantly, just give it a shot. If you think you want to be a budtender, try it out, and you’ll quickly see if it’s not for you or if you find a love for the work and a passion for learning more about it.”
