Podcast Summary: "Inside A New York Cannabis Farm – A Unique Career Opportunity"

Podcast: How Much Can I Make? — Real Jobs. Real People. Real Money.
Host: Mirav Ozeri
Guest: Bec Muni, Director of Operation at Supernaturals New York
Date: December 9, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Mirav Ozeri takes listeners inside the rarely-seen world of legal cannabis farming in New York with guest Bec Muni. As Director of Operations at Supernaturals New York, Bec shares practical insights, surprising realities, and the financial truths of running a small cannabis cultivation business. The episode covers Bec’s unique journey into the field, operational logistics of the farm, the economic realities of the new industry, and the joys and challenges of cultivating cannabis as a career.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Bec’s Unconventional Path to Cannabis Farming

[00:47] – [02:19]

• Background: Former middle school English teacher and young adult novelist.
• Personal Connection: Developed deep medicinal cannabis knowledge while caring for a partner with a brain injury and for their own PTSD.
• Industry Entry: Switched from teaching and writing to manual labor on a post-harvest focused cannabis startup, then quickly networked into on-farm roles.
• First Impressions: “When I got on a cannabis farm, I was like, I like it here.” ([02:12])

2. Understanding the Work and Wages

[04:11] – [05:49]

• Hand Trimming: Early jobs paid by the pound—$150/pound, highly variable based on flower density.
  • “There was one day...I made $90 for an eight hour shift.” ([04:25])
• Pre-roll Production: Not fully automated; uses specialized equipment (Futurola Knockbox), requiring both manual operation and oversight.
• Scale: Small team of 10 people handling all operations from cultivation through distribution.

3. Farm Operations & Licensing

[05:51] – [07:38]

• Size: Farms in two locations; only a quarter acre can be grown at a time due to microbusiness licensing, but with rotating canopies, they maximize production.
• Regulations: Shift from 1-acre to 0.25-acre allowable under changing NY state law.
• Brand and Bulk: Ability to buy up to 500 pounds annually from other licensed growers.

4. Plant Varieties and Cultivation Techniques

[07:21] – [12:52]

• Variety: Now grow 20–30 strains per year, fine-tuned to consumer demand.
• Harvesting: Dry/cure techniques include “paper bag method” for ideal curing.
• Seed vs. Clone: Use of feminized seeds to avoid male plants; annual “pheno hunts” to select preferred traits.
  • On pheno hunting: “There is a very deep purple, there is a very light soft green, and then there’s a pink.” ([11:47])
• Naming Strains: Some strains named by the farm ("Galactica" and "Super Cake").

5. A Day in the Life & Production Logistics

[08:53] – [10:59]

• Production: 5,000–10,000 pre-rolls made per day in peak season.
• Roles: Specific jobs include grinding, bucking, trimming, pre-roll production, packaging, and inventory management.
• Seed-to-Sale Tracking: Highly regulated tracking, more granular than alcohol or typical agriculture.
  • “It would be like alcohol if to make beer you had to tag every single barley plant and then track it.” ([10:54])

6. Soil Management & Sustainable Practices

[13:16] – [14:09]

• Soil Testing: Amend only as needed, using organic compost, worm castings, bone meal, and fish emulsion—never synthetics.
• Sustainability: Focus on regenerative agriculture and living soil.

7. Work Culture & Entry-Level Opportunities

[14:11] – [15:00]

• Reality Check: Farm work is rugged—only one bathroom, requires a “nature girl” attitude.
  • “If I wasn't from like a hippie, like camping, you know, rugged family, I don't know if I would be able to hack it.” ([14:32])
• Entry Roles: Packaging, weighing, stickering pre-rolls; entry wage $18/hour, with potential to rise quickly (but no benefits).
• Bigger Companies: Larger operators start at $16–$18/hour but include benefits.

8. Financial Realities & Industry Profitability

[15:33] – [17:07]

• Profit Margins: Small, around 10–15% typical profit margin; most companies not profitable after reinvestment.
  • “At what point as a small business do you ever start making enough profit that it doesn’t just go back into the small business?” ([16:31])
• Best-Paying Jobs: Compliance roles (regulatory, GMP, OSHA).

9. Market Pressures: Price Race and Value Creation

[17:26] – [18:20]

• Falling Prices: “Race to the bottom” as large-scale grows flood the market and prices plummet statewide.
• Survival Strategy: Focus on “craft cannabis” and products with added value for brand differentiation.

10. Security & Industry Oversight

[18:20] – [19:16]

• Field Protection: By law, mandatory fencing, cameras, lighting, and breach detection.
• Regulation: The OCM (Office of Cannabis Management) enforces rules and compliance.

11. Culture, Challenges, and Rewards

[19:28] – [21:18]

• Misconceptions: “We’re building a plane while we’re flying it, but like we’re also in a sky that’s being built while we’re flying through it.” ([19:30])
  • Not all fun and relaxation—hard work, long hours, constant regulation changes.
• Personal Rewards: “We are literally increasing quality of life and joy.” ([20:46])
  • Bec relishes helping patients, normalizing cannabis, and the sense of impact.
• Favorite Season: Early summer “when everything is just starting to warm up and there’s flowers everywhere.” ([20:54])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On misconception of the cannabis industry:
  “We’re building a plane while we’re flying it, but like we’re also in a sky that’s being built while we’re flying through it.” (Bec, [00:04], [19:30])

• About the tough reality of early farm work:
  “There was one day where the material I was dealing was so fluffy and so light that I made $90 for an eight hour shift.” (Bec, [04:25])

• On regulations and seed-to-sale tracking:
  “It would be like alcohol if to make beer you had to tag every single barley plant and then track it from its origin to its final product.” (Bec, [10:54])

• About market pressures:
  “The race to the bottom is the plummet in flower price that happens in every state.” (Bec, [17:31])

• On increasing quality of life:
  “We are literally increasing quality of life and joy.” (Bec, [20:46])

Timestamps for Key Sections

• Bec’s background and entry into cannabis – [00:47]
• First jobs, hand trimming pay, operational scale – [04:11] to [05:49]
• Farm structure, size, licensing – [05:51] to [07:38]
• Plant variety and genetics – [07:21] to [12:52]
• Typical day and production flow – [08:53] to [10:59]
• Sustainability and soil management – [13:16]
• Entry-level jobs and wages – [14:44] to [15:13]
• Profitability and business realities – [15:33] to [17:07]
• Price drops and value-add strategy – [17:26] to [18:20]
• Security and OCM oversight – [18:20] to [19:16]
• Industry misconceptions and rewards – [19:28] to [20:50]
• Favorite season on the farm – [20:54]

Summary

This episode demystifies the cannabis farming industry in New York, revealing a space defined by hard work, intense regulation, financial uncertainty, and deep personal reward. Bec Muni’s story and insights offer a candid window into what it’s like to build a career (and a business) on the front lines of a brand-new industry—dispelling myths and spotlighting both practical realities and moments of joy. If you’re curious about cannabis careers, this is essential listening!