Vangst state of the week: ARIZONA

Sep 23

Arizona Cannabis Market Overview

Medical Cannabis (Med): Legal since 2010 (Prop 203).
Recreational Cannabis (Rec): Legal since 2020 (Prop 207); adult-use sales began in 2021.
Delivery: Permitted for licensed dispensaries, with recently expanded options.
Years Legal: ~15 years (medical), ~4 years (adult use).

Arizona ranks among the fastest-growing cannabis markets in the U.S., combining established medical operations with a rapidly expanding adult-use retail sector.

Hiring Trends in Arizona

Arizona’s cannabis market has shifted over the past year, with slower sales, increased competition, and tighter employment. Most operators aim to stay lean while managing cultivation, harvest, trimming, and packaging schedules. Supplemental labor remains the largest need due to the seasonal and project-based nature of the work. Badged candidates can easily move across facilities, giving clients flexibility and allowing candidates to stay active in the industry.

Vangst in the Arizona Market Vangst has been active in Arizona since our inception, maintaining a broad pool of candidates ready to work across the state. We assist candidates with acquiring and renewing FA cards to remain fully compliant.

During peak production seasons, many clients rely on our Gigs service to meet temporary labor demands. Through this service, Vangst provides thoroughly vetted, badged, and ready-to-work W2 employees. Our service includes:

Payroll management
Handling all state and federal taxes
Insurance and workers’ compensation

Employers share their job requirements with us, we dispatch employees on the scheduled workday, and bill the following week. If a worker proves to be a long-term fit, conversion to a permanent W2 employee is available for a flat fee. Additionally, after 360 hours, we waive conversion fees, allowing clients to evaluate talent thoroughly before hiring.

Why Gigs? Gigs streamlines the hiring process by handling resumes, interviews, background checks, and badge verification. Every worker we send is fully compliant and ready to contribute from day one. Employers also have the option to convert temporary staff into full-time employees after assessing their skills.

“I am exceptionally proud of the business we built at Greenforce, and couldn’t be more excited for our next chapter with Vangst. This transaction will give us the opportunity to expand more aggressively than ever before, provide an even more superior experience to our customers and workforce, and most importantly, continue to uplift the cannabis industry”.
— Ryan Rosenfeld, Greenforce Founder & CEO.

Companies Hiring with Vangst - Vangst collaborates with licensed operators across Arizona, including dispensaries, cultivation facilities, and MSOs. Notable clients include:

Copperstate Farms (ultivation, Snowflake, AZ)
Connected / Alien Labs
Grow Sciences
Sueno Verde
GreenDot Labs
Mfused
SIP
Mint
Rare and Exotic Farms
Varz (resuming operations)
AND MORE

Interested in using vangst to help with your hiring needs?

Schedule a call

Cannabis Job Requirements & Application Process

Per Arizona regulations, employees must meet the following compliance requirements:

Eligibility: Must be 21+ years old
Background Check & Fingerprinting: Required
Application Fee: $300 (renewal every 2 years)
Fee Waiver: Assistance may be available to cover the cost if you qualify
Fingerprinting cost: $50–$75 (required every 2 years with renewal or every 5 years).
No history of certain disqualifying felonies.

FA Card Process and Forms:

How Vangst Supports Candidates:

Verifies badge requirements and ensures candidates remain compliant before placement.
Connects candidates with employers statewide across cultivation, retail, and manufacturing.

Open Roles in Arizona