Employee Spotlight
Spotlight on Anita Evans
Getting to Know Those within the Missouri Cannabis Industry
by Rocco Scarcello , contributing writer
Let ’ s be honest ; nothing will turn a work environment sour quite like a coworker who won ’ t follow their own advice . Luckily for the shipping department at Elevate Missouri , they don ’ t have to worry about that with shipping coordinator Anita Evans .
“ If every adult had a joint once a day like it was a multivitamin , the world would be a much better place to live in ,” Evans , known affectionately as Mom by her coworkers , said through her trademark grin . decided to start pursuing job opportunities within the industry in June or July of 2021 .
“ I wanted to learn more about the industry ,” Evans said , “ and I wanted to be in a job where I could be more ‘ me .’”
Evans doesn ’ t seem to hide the fact that she has been able to accomplish both of those goals since starting in the industry . After starting with Elevate Missouri ( formerly Terrapin Care Station ) in September 2021 , Evans had no trouble learning about how the different sides of a Missouri Medical Marijuana cultivation site worked , spending time in various parts — including harvest and packaging before settling into team lead in the shipping department , and then eventually shipping coordinator . Despite having no prior professional cannabis experience , Evans proved herself to be an irreplaceable member of the crew quickly — both in terms of her work ethic and her neverending desire to make sure her coworkers are taken care of on physical , mental , and emotional levels .
Transitioning away from careers where she had to keep such a critical part of herself hidden and into one where it will be celebrated has been a positive catalyst for Evans .
“ My favorite part about working in the industry is I don ’ t have to hide who I am anymore ,” she said . “ People can see that I consume marijuana , but I get up , and I go to work every day . I raised a kid by myself . I have a house that I take care of by myself — I get to be me .
“ I can say , ‘ Hey , I tried this new stuff ’ and not have to worry about the repercussions of getting a drug test or getting fired . And the people here know I can do a job .”
Anita Carlene Evans , a Texas transplant who has lived in Missouri since 2005 with her son , Carl , does more to make the world better than just smoking a joint once a day . However , that aspect has become easier for her since she made the professional leap into the cannabis industry . It may have been a difficult maneuver for Evans , who had spent ten years working as a nutrition services manager for a St . Joseph high school , followed by another six years working in a nursing home . But after spending quite some time considering it , she
With the Missouri adult-use market opening very shortly after this edition of The EVOLUTION Magazine went to press , changes will be coming for cannabis workers across all the licensed cultivation sites , Evans included . But she feels confident that she won ’ t be caught off-guard by the possibility of ramped-up operations , partially thanks to the fact she has been in the cannabis industry for this long and understands the serious nature of the business .
“ I just want to tell everybody that it ’ s a job just like any other job ,” Evans said . “ Some people think , ‘ Oh , it ’ s cannabis , I ’ m gonna go in there , and it ’ s just gonna be all fun and games .’” And we do have
50 February 2023