“So getting the additional staff on-boarded and trained is delayed,” she said.

Dispensary workers aren’t the only employees in the cannabis industry feeling the pinch of this health crisis.

Lompoc resident Joe A. Garcia, who works as a brand ambassador for a company that supplies cannabis products, has also seen his work opportunities evaporate over the past few weeks.

As an ambassador, Garcia had been on a set schedule in which he would regularly visit 11 dispensaries — four in Lompoc, three in Santa Barbara and four in Port Hueneme — and set up booths where he could highlight his company’s products, answer questions about them and offer deals.

Given that his job primarily consists of connecting with members of the public, Garcia said he is unsure when he will be able to work again.

“My job is to interact with people and right now that’s kind of what they don’t want happening,” he said.

Garcia, who expressed gratitude for his husband remaining employed amid this pandemic, said he has already filed for unemployment insurance. With no idea when he can expect to resume his job, Garcia said he is planning to pursue other work in the industry.

“I’m going to try to hop on to become a delivery driver or do something else temporarily, at least,” he said. “But, you know, I’ll be fighting everybody else that’s laid off and looking for the same job. So we’ll see what happens.”