High Peaks Canna holds job fair in Spa City ahead of opening

High Peaks Canna’s job fair brought in 70 individuals who wished to apply for one of the many open positions. (Emma Ralls – Medianews Group)

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — In preparation to open the first cannabis dispensary in the Spa City, High Peaks Canna hosted a job fair with the hopes of hiring the majority of people they would need to staff the new business.

“We’re looking for people who are passionate about cannabis,” Roger Sharpe, a co-owner of High Peaks Canna along with his wife, Christine, said. “We definitely want people that love what they are supporting and being a part of the community that we’re trying to develop here in Saratoga.”

At the job fair, people were able to come in and interview for a variety of positions, including budtenders, fulfillment people, security, delivery drivers, and assistant manager positions. While no experience in the cannabis industry was required, those applying must be more than 21 years old and must be cannabis-friendly.

Sharpe shared that he has been in the cannabis industry for 30 years and was one of the first people able to apply for a retail license. After spending the last year looking for a location, he and his wife are very excited to bring this new business to the area.

“We found a location here in Saratoga, where we live, and we want to support our community and grow cannabis into the legal age,” Sharpe said. “From legacy to legal is a little bit of a slogan we’re running with here. Selling weed, growing weed — I had a hydroponic farm here in Saratoga that nobody knew about, obviously at the time, but now it’s legal and it’s wild that in our time, it’s here.”

The store will be at 37 Maple Ave. and will have up to 600 varieties of products from numerous New York farms. People can place orders online and pick them up in-store, get deliveries or walk in and browse the products. The estimated opening date is either mid to late July, with the hope of opening during the track season.

The job fair, hosted in the lower level of the Whitman Brewing Company, brought in 70 individuals who were interested in working at High Peaks Canna. In a Facebook post following the event, the business shared how much they appreciated getting to meet those who stopped by.

“We are so truly grateful to have met all 70 of you beautiful people,” the post read. “You brought so much happiness to us listening to your stories of how the plant has helped you, and in some cases, saved you. We were inspired by everyone’s passion for this beautiful plant. Feeling so blessed to know that when we open our doors, we will be helping so many people.

Sharpe stated that while this side of the cannabis industry isn’t something he has taken part in before, he’s ready to give it a go.

“We had no idea how many people to expect,” Sharpe said. “It’s a new market and I’ve never done this part of the business before, so we’re excited to see how it’s gonna go.”

Sharpe also shared that he is very excited to partner with his other company, High Peaks Event Production, to put on community events and to provide more jobs in the area, along with doing his part to decrease the stigmatism around cannabis.

“I hope we can help bring cannabis from the stigmatism it was, build up the acceptance it seems to have now and keep it moving to where it should be,” said Sharpe.

Those who were not able to make it to the job fair but are interested in job opportunities with High Peaks Canna can send their resumes to katie@highpeakscanna.com.