Cannabis Staff Writer

About VICE.com and Savage Ventures

VICE.com is a global digital media platform known for its fearless, culture-driven journalism and original storytelling. Covering everything from entertainment, tech, and style to cannabis, travel, and culture, VICE delivers sharp, irreverent reporting and features that resonate with curious, engaged audiences worldwide. With a distinctive voice and a commitment to exploring what’s shaping modern life, VICE reaches millions of readers through its website, social platforms, and multimedia content.

Role Overview

VICE is hiring a deeply plugged-in, commerce-minded Cannabis Staff Writer to cover one of our most culturally embedded beats. This is not a surface-level stoner blog role. We’re looking for someone who understands cannabinoids, compliance nuances, product formulations, consumption methods, and the ever-changing business of legal weed. This writer will pitch, write, and review THC and CBD products (including drinks, edibles, vapes, flower, wellness products, and accessories), while tracking launches, legislative shifts, and retail expansions. You should already have trusted expert contacts and know when to bring them into coverage to add authority. You’ll work with publicists and brands while maintaining strict editorial independence, identifying which drops, deals, and innovations actually deserve attention. Above all, you’re obsessed with the category and know how to separate legitimate innovation from marketing smoke.

Responsibilities

• Pitch and write original cannabis commerce stories, including buying guides, product reviews, explainers, cultural trend pieces, and news-driven shopping coverage.
• Review THC, CBD, hemp-derived, and other cannabinoid products responsibly and write nuanced, experience-based reviews with clear pros and cons.
• Maintain a sophisticated understanding of the cannabis market, including cannabinoids (THC, CBD, THCa, CBN, Delta-8, etc.), dosing, onset times, legality nuances, and emerging formulations.
• Monitor federal and state policy developments and understand how they impact consumers and product availability.
• Identify culturally relevant moments (4/20, major product drops, festival season, wellness trends, etc.) for commerce coverage.
• Develop and maintain relationships with cannabis experts (researchers, MDs, toxicologists, policy experts, lab professionals, dispensary operators) to strengthen authority and credibility.
• Work with publicists and brands to source product information and samples while preserving editorial standards.
• Optimize content for search and commerce performance without compromising voice, accuracy, and audience trust.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in English, Journalism, Communications, or a related field.
• 3+ years of experience in commerce writing and product reviews, preferably in the cannabis space.
• Demonstrated expertise in cannabis products.
• Ability to accurately explain complex topics like dosing, onset, cannabinoid differences, and more.
• Experience testing and reviewing cannabis products responsibly and ethically.
• Understanding of affiliate commerce strategy and SEO best practices.
• Experience working with PR teams.
• Highly organized, deadline-driven, and collaborative.
• Ability to pivot direction as cannabis use and legalization evolve.
• Familiarity with publishing and affiliate platforms (like WordPress, Trackanomics, Katalys) and performance analytics tools is a plus.

The VICE Writing Style

• Bold and Edgy: VICE embraces a bold, unapologetic, and irreverent tone that often pushes boundaries. The writing is fearless and willing to tackle controversial or unconventional topics.
• Conversational and Relatable: The VICE tone is casual and conversational, making complex or niche subjects accessible and engaging for a broad audience. It often feels like a conversation with a knowledgeable friend.
• Authentic and Honest: VICE prioritizes authenticity, delivering content that feels genuine and true to its subjects. There’s a strong emphasis on honest reporting and personal perspectives.
• Culturally Savvy: VICE writing reflects a deep understanding of current cultural trends and movements. It is in tune with the zeitgeist, often highlighting underrepresented or subcultural phenomena.
• Investigative and In-Depth: While maintaining a casual tone, VICE articles involve thorough research and in-depth reporting. The stories are well-crafted and provide insightful analysis.

Key skills/competency

• Cannabis Industry Expertise
• Commerce Writing
• Product Review
• SEO Best Practices
• Affiliate Marketing
• Journalism
• Content Strategy
• Cannabinoid Knowledge
• Policy Analysis
• Editorial Independence