Automation Anxiety: Navigating AI as a Cannabis Professional
“I do not fear computers. I fear the lack of them.” – Isaac Asimov
I will never forget the moment that my supervisor casually mentioned to me that he had been “playing around” with ChatGPT and had asked it to generate a cannabis business licensing plan—the exact thing that he would typically have asked me to do. In that instant, a scene from the 2005 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory film flashed to my mind. It was the one where Charlie's Dad, that sweet and humble man, responsible for manually capping toothpaste bottles, was unexpectedly made jobless by a new capping machine. Though fictional, the fear, confusion, and uncertainty that must have washed over Mr. Bucket felt all too real to me in that moment.
For a short period after this incident, I am embarrassed to admit that I very much wanted to bury my head in the sand, so to speak, and to simply pretend that this technology had not been developed in my lifetime. I worked to convince myself that Skynet was not waiting to annihilate humanity or that HAL9000 was not poised to lock me out of my own job. The idea of a machine taking over my responsibilities felt like the ingredients of science fiction nightmares.
The uncertainty and rapid change that Artificial Intelligence heralds, both professionally and societally, was momentarily wholly overwhelming. My work ethic and approach to life have always been rooted in thorough practical understanding and willful control over my environment, and AI felt like a direct challenge to that. In some ways, I know that this is not among the healthiest of mindsets, but it is nonetheless a fundamental part of who I am.
I realized, then, that it was important for me to come to understand my apparent enemy, in the tradition of Sun Tzu. However, as I delved deeper into researching AI models, my initial curiosity turned to terror. What startled me most, and still causes me marked unease, is that we do not fully understand how some AI models work; we only know that they do. These platforms learn and evolve with use, and, further, when multiple AIs interact, they sometimes communicate in ways that are beyond our comprehension. For perhaps the first time in history, we have created something that is both beneficial and somewhat unknowable. It is both amazing and terrifying to realize that we are no longer fully in control of what we have created, and are rapidly becoming dependent upon.
In many ways, it feels as though we are somewhat obliviously participating in the making of our own end, and the further we travel down this slick road, the less likely it is that we will be able to turn back.
Yet, upon deep reflection, I eventually realized that I would be wholly unwise to hide from this AI invader. The change is inevitable; it is already happening. As the Invictus Poem says, “I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.” This line encapsulates an ethic up to which I attempt to live every day. It reminds me to take control of my actions and decisions, even in the face of uncertainty.
My Journey in the Cannabis Industry
I began my journey in the cannabis industry in 2012, working for a medical cannabis edibles manufacturer in Boulder, Colorado. Back then, it literally and figuratively was the “Wild West” of the industry. We did not have digital recipes; some recipes were not even written down. We estimated and created. There were no computer systems, no technology, no tags—just old-school trial and error, and a focus on helping our patients the best that we could with the scant resources that we had. I am not even sure if the idea of using computer software to automate what we did occurred to one of us.
When METRC, the first state-mandated track-and-trace software, was introduced in Colorado in 2013, it threw the entire industry for a loop. I will never forget the countless hours that I spent frustrated with that maddening green screen, as data management suddenly became a key focus of my everyday. This marked the beginning of technology’s inextricable integration into legal cannabis.
As I moved through the next decade, and various roles across the country, overseeing regulatory compliance and licensing for cultivators, processors, and retailers, I saw firsthand how technology began to play a central role in all successful cannabis operations, from day-one. Implementing ERP systems and other software solutions was initially an uphill battle, but ultimately these tools became indispensable in improving efficiency and accuracy. Whether I was working in Colorado, California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, or beyond, the trend was clear: technology was becoming essential in navigating the complex regulatory landscape of the cannabis industry.
Throughout my career, I have witnessed the industry’s evolution from spoken knowledge and manual, paper-based processes to sophisticated digital systems. These changes have not only shaped how we operate but have also highlighted the growing importance of staying adaptable and embracing new technologies.
The Benefits and Ethical Concerns of AI
Artificial Intelligence has already undeniably transformed work in the cannabis industry. Tasks that once required hours of meticulous manual labor are now streamlined and efficient, thanks to AI-powered tools. Drafting complex regulatory documents, such as Inventory, Quality Assurance, or Security Plans, is markedly faster and more accurate with AI assistance. A company-bespoke document that may have once taken two-to-three hours to compile can now take two-to-three minutes, under the right circumstances and with the right AI tools. It is still startling to me how quickly even first-generation AI programs are able to analyze and dissect complicated legal or scientific documents, distill their key points, relate those ideas to other materials, and carry out seemingly countless additional operations at the click of a button. What once took hours now takes seconds, and it is only going to get faster by the day. I know every generation claims the thought as their own, but we truly do live in an age of wonders.
Yet, this transformation comes with a shadow of fear, at least for the trepidatious. A handful of nascent studies have predicted that AI and related automation could significantly impact the workforce, potentially leading to widespread job displacement. This threat looms over my career aspirations, leaving me to wonder if the very tools that enhance my performance today might eliminate the need for my role tomorrow. Moreover, the ethical implications of creating and using AI are profound. Are we ceding too much of what makes us uniquely human? By relying on machines to think and make decisions for us, are we giving up a fundamental part of our identity and creativity?
The unique challenges in the regulated cannabis industry add an additional layer to this dilemma. Those of us who have been in this work since its infancy shudder each time mainstream culture takes a bite out of what we do and care about. Is AI just another area where we are allowing something that we have long cherished to be adulterated? This tension between embracing AI and fearing its potential to render our workforce obsolete is a daily struggle. While AI makes my job easier today, I cannot help but to selfishly worry about my future in an increasingly automated world.
Navigating the Future
To navigate this uncertain future, and perhaps to distract myself to a degree, I am focusing on engaging and educating myself, staying relevant, and potentially becoming self-sufficient through the skills I gain. I am doing this by seeking out AI educational courses, programming certifications, and as many thought pieces on the topic as I can devour. Thriving in these truly uncertain times of change will come down to simultaneous engagement and prudence, with a central recognition of the importance of meticulously controlled progress—social, legal, administrative—that helps to ensure that we do not outright turnover our professions to ones and zeros.
Balancing Authenticity and Efficiency
Even though I have been using these tools for a relatively brief time, I already feel my work product changing significantly. While these changes are undoubtedly for the better, they raise questions about authenticity and pride. My parents, teachers, and mentors, largely from the Baby Boomer generation, provided me with their outlooks and values, and a yardstick for measuring professional worth—one that did not account for technology like this, as it was never part of their careers, nor their lives. As I more and more rely on AI tools, I realize that my yardstick is increasingly inappropriate for today’s age. It feels as though I am almost shrinking away from who I was, becoming part of the amalgamation of thought that is ChatGPT. I question whether I am sacrificing parts of myself and my future, driven by a necessity that feels unavoidable, yet I wonder if it truly is.
Conclusion
In Wonka’s world, at the end of the film, Charlie's dad was rehired by the toothpaste factory—not in his prior role as a capper, but ironically as a repairman for the very capping machine that had replaced him. This analogy offers a glimmer of hope, even if it is nestled in a modern fairytale. While AI may replace many roles, it will not eliminate the need for human oversight and adaptability. As we navigate the evolving landscape of work in the era of AI, resilience and continuous learning will be our greatest allies. The future of work with Artificial Intelligence is uncertain, but by embracing change and preparing ourselves, we can remain the masters of our fate.