Combining social justice and medical marijuana, this hemp company wants to hire growers with marijuana convictions.

People with marijuana convictions on their record often have a difficult time finding gainful employment. Sure, a number of states have legalized marijuana.

But pot offenders are often treated like pariahs when looking for work. It is for this reason that one hemp company wants to hire growers with marijuana convictions.

The goal is to put their felonious talents to work in the legitimate medical marijuana industry.

Marijuana Convicts to Work in Medical Marijuana

Hikurangi Hemp will hire workers with drug convictions. The company, which recently signed a deal to produce pharmaceutical-grade cannabis for Seattle-based Rhizo Science, says it only makes sense to employ those with experience growing marijuana.

Some of these workers will undoubtedly have pot-related blemishes on their criminal record. But Hikurangi Hemp considers this a feather in its cap.

“We’re pushing for people who have convictions for growing or supplying drugs, who are the real experts to be allowed to work within the [regulated] industry,” said the company’s co-founder Panapa Eha.

Last month, Rhizo Science hired Hikurangi Hemp to develop high CBD hemp.

Dallas McMillan, who runs the company, says many marijuana producers “can’t keep up” with the workload. Because of this, Hikurangi is the perfect partner for the job.

This Hemp Company Wants To Hire Growers With Marijuana Convictions

In order to fulfill this obligation, Hikurangi Hemp says it will need to hire around 200 workers.

Most of the recruits will come from New Zealand, which is where the company’s home base is located. Together they will produce around 27,000 pounds of high-grade hemp by 2021.

“We are very excited about the impact of this new industry for our communities on the Coast and for New Zealand as a whole” Hikurangi Hemp managing director Manu Caddie said in a statement.

“New Zealand has a great reputation internationally for high-quality food and natural health products,” she added.

“We have leveraged this reputation with international customers who want the highest quality medical cannabis products in the world.”

Meanwhile, some areas in America are working to expunge marijuana convictions.