High demand for pot jobs: huge turnout at Colorado marijuana job fair

Looking for a job as a bud-tender? Get in line.

A marijuana-industry job fair in Colorado saw a massive turnout Thursday of job seekers who waited in line for information about employment in the expanding industry following the legalization of recreational marijuana use in the state.

More than a dozen companies were looking for candidates to fill jobs as bud-tenders (those who work behind the counter and dispense pot), marketers, marijuana trimmers and even accountants.

Some prospective candidates came from as far away as California and New Mexico hoping to nab a coveted job. The fair’s organizers had expected a turnout of about 700 people, the Denver Post reported. But by some estimates, the number was more like 1,200.

The state is experiencing an economic boom as companies rush to meet growing demand.

In January, the first month marijuana’s recreational use was legal, the state reported sales of about $14 million. That translated into about $2 million in taxes for state coffers.

Jerad White of New Mexico was among those who want to partake in the expansion.

White, who drove 11 hours to attend the job fair, told CBS News that he would take just about any job. “Whatever they want to throw at me, then it’d get my foot in the door,” he said.

So far, 20 states and the District of Columbia have passed legislation to allow the legal sale of marijuana for medicinal use. Colorado and Washington state have legalized pot’s use for recreational purposes