Our Colorado president Albert G. doing some work with his alma mater Metropolitan State University of Denver! The University will begin offering the nation’s first hospitality-focused certificates in the field this fall.
MSU Denver launches the nation's first cannabis hospitality certificates through the MSU Denver School of Hospitality.
The program will cover responsible sale and consumption of cannabis in dispensaries and food preparation, with entry-level and advanced certificates available to both degree-seeking and non-degree-seeking students.
The initiative also includes forming state and international advisory boards to enhance student opportunities, promote social equity, and contribute to the global standardization of cannabis education.
More ⬇️ (4 MIN READ)
#ICYMI- 🌿📚 New Blog Release: Harnessing the Potential of Partnership Between the Cannabis Industry and Academia 📚🌿
Published by NCIA’s Education Committee (EC), our recent #IndustryInsights blog explores the vital collaboration between cannabis businesses and academic institutions. As the industry evolves, the partnership with academia is essential to educate and prepare the future cannabis workforce, addressing the projected need for 1.5 to 1.75 million jobs by 2025.
Highlights include:
• Insights from leading experts like Amanda Reiman PhD MSW of New Frontier Data and Mila Marshall, PhD of Oaksterdam University
• The impact of state laws on cannabis literacy programs in states like Ohio, Colorado, Illinois, and Michigan.
• The importance of legacy knowledge, social equity, and ethical teaching in cannabis education.
• The role of advisory councils in shaping cannabis curricula and career opportunities.
Join us in fostering a more equitable and educated cannabis industry. Read the full blog here - https://bit.ly/4bWobZ6#CannabisEducation#NCIA#AcademicPartnerships#CannabisIndustry#WorkforceDevelopment#SocialEquity
Co-Founder and CEO of Crystal Nugs, the first Black woman owned cannabis delivery and storefront dispensary in Sacramento CA
Social Equity✔️
Locally owned and operated ✔️
Thank you @ken.magri and Solving Sacramento for highlighting Crystal Nugs and social equity here in Sacramento!
Photo by Kachiside Madu
Maisha Bahati stands proudly inside her new storefront. “We took so many risks,” she says. After four years of hard work and worry, Crystal Nugs cannabis delivery service opened a walk-in dispensary on J Street in Midtown Sacramento in November.
Crystal Nugs is Sacramento’s first Black and women-owned cannabis dispensary, and one of four new stores assisted by Sacramento’s Cannabis Opportunity and Racial Equity program.
Bahati and her partners C Lofton, Melinda Brown and Bryan Brown started in 2019 as a delivery service. “A few months in, I heard that the city was working on this program to help Black and brown people get into cannabis,” she says. Shortly after, Crystal Nugs became a CORE participant.
Bahati attended basic business classes administered by the Greater Sacramento Urban League and the Sacramento Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce. She connected with other CORE participants while learning about financing, fee waivers and grant applications.
To avoid giving away part of their ownership to a bigger company, the four partners sold their homes and liquidated their assets. Aided by CORE grants and loans, Bahati says the partners finally accumulated the $400,000 they needed to proceed, along with $600,000 they raised themselves.
To better succeed, Bahati wants Sacramento to legalize on-site consumption, which would allow customers to enjoy products within a lounge setting at any dispensary. “If the city does move on that, it’s going to completely change the game,” she says. San Francisco has allowed it in selected dispensaries since 2022.
Last September, the city’s Law and Legislation committee began exploring “a pilot program of consumption lounges with consideration of consumption events to come later,” says Jennifer Singer, communications specialist for the city.
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#sacramento#crystalnugs#blackowned#womenowned#socialequity#community#locallygrown#midtown#bethechange
Medical Cannabis Specialist & Clinical Pharmacist, helping patients throughout the US and Australia to initiate and adjust their cannabis therapy | Medical Cannabis Educator & Speaker | PCCC Executive Board
On Wednesday, Oct. 16 I launch one of the biggest, most comprehensive, cannabis technical assistance programs to exist in the United States: The New Jersey Cannabis Training Academy, powered by the NJ Department of State's NJ Business Action Center.
[Edit] WE ARE NOW LIVE: https://lnkd.in/embvig3F
It's a testament to the ongoing work that the State of New Jersey's cannabis advocates have been doing for YEARS; pushing for accessible, free, education around the cannabis licensing process, and the realities of surviving the industry. It's a testament to New Jersey's government and the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission for putting the time, resources, and trust, in the right people to see this program to come to life.
It's a testament to everyone's patience as we worked to make this concept a reality, I know some people continue to ask "where's XYZ?" well, it's government. What people say is true, I can confirm. It doesn't move fast at all, but when it moves correctly, it moves perfectly. I wouldn't be here without the dream team of Melanie Willoughby Penni Wild Jessica F. Gonzalez, Esq.Kelly WhymanSarah L.Precious Osagie EreseAnna Rivera, MS + our partners at the Office of Information Technology and Appinium for getting us to this point. I give praise to all 25 of our incredible CTA Instructors for helping us provide much-needed, critical, information to prospective and current cannabis entrepreneurs who hope to make the best business decisions they can make before they decide to jump into the industry.
And listen, I run the country's first graduate-level cannabis curriculum at Thomas Jefferson University that examines the impacts and outcomes of cannabis equity movements around the country. I've also lived in 5 different states + D.C. and have had to study and learn the different cannabis laws, regs and different approaches to addressing the education needs of communities, entrepreneurs and those interested in participating in the cannabis industry.
I may be a little bias, because I'm from Jersey originally, but I have to say New Jersey is bringing the best quality of expertise and knowledge to the table in preparing people for what's to come if they want to go for a cannabis license in our state. I hope we become the model for every state to implement. The NJ CTA is accessible online, 24hrs, 7 days a week, at no cost.
Beyond prospective entrepreneurs, the license holders who I've talked to are also ecstatic this program is coming to life because now their employees can level up their understanding of the cannabis industry and truly have a deeper grasp, and bigger appreciation, on all the hard work it takes to not just apply for a license, but to win one, secure a location, and thrive under harsh, volatile, realities and market conditions.
The NJ CTA 🪴is launching Oct. 16. Come celebrate with us and watch the livestream of the launch on the New Jersey Department of State's YouTube account.
There's so much more to learn about cannabis
One of the things that I've both loved and hated about the cannabis industry is the incredible diversity of different kinds of products.
I love it, because it means there is a product category for anyone and everyone.
I hate it, because so many people are un-educated about all these different types of products that exist today, and as a result, make up all sorts of false and misleading claims and information.
Cannabis concentrates is one area where misinformation runs absolutely rampant.
Rosin. Live resin. BHO. Shatter. Wax. Badder. Hash. Etc....
These are all totally different and unique cannabis product types that are produced using different extraction methods, are consumed in different ways, and appeal to different types of consumers.
Now in the Ganjier Product Specialist program, we're energized to be teaching you the details and nuances of cannabis concentrates through the very talented and knowledgeable "Laura Bell".
Known as Cherry Blossom Belle: Laura became Frenchy Cannoli's apprentice in 2015.
In the tradition of formal apprenticeships, she lived with Frenchy and Madame Cannoli, and worked side-by-side with Frenchy for over 7 years experiencing the ups and downs of legalization and the impact on the cannabis industry. Today she is Lead Hash Maker and Director of Manufacturing at Heritage Mendocino in Ukiah, CA.
This is just one module in our new Ganjier Product Specialist program, which is akin to the Level 1 Sommelier certification in the wine industry or the Beer Server Certification in Cicerone.
Details here: https://lnkd.in/ggy_SR3P
I believe accurate understanding of cannabis products today is mission critical to our industry, and unfortunately, we've still got a long way to go.
Thanks for the 👍 if you agree that trusted cannabis education is very important for the growth and success of our industry.
#cannabis#ganjier#cannabiseducation
Each year Greenway asks readers to submit nominations for those leaders, companies, brands, products, and businesses they have deemed to be the Best of the Industry. The top nominees for each category are selected to be voted on by readers. Awards oversight is provided by a committee of industry and advocacy professionals who contributed in a variety of ways. A nomination or win showcases a company or individual as an industry leader in Missouri’s cannabis space. Missouri marijuana has become a billion-plus dollar industry annually with the addition of adult use sales. In 2023 the state saw retail sales essentially triple […] - https://lnkd.in/gJmRScnx
A new report issued by Los Angeles-based SIVA ENTERPRISE LIMITED and authored by Avis Bulbulyan
offers a scathing critique of the various social equity programs across the nation.
Social equity programs was pioneered by the city of #oakland in 2018. The original program had good intentions but the criterias to be able to qualify was too restrictive, ans the people that did qualify, a lot of times end up getting taken advantage of. Oakland has made a lot of changes to their program and it is starting to help but most programs out there do not end helping people.
The author of the report offers ways to improve the programs.
Instead of focusing on who will win how many number of business licenses, the goals of #socialequity would be better accomplished by reorienting such programs so that they prioritize community reinvestment, such as:
Job training.
Mentorship.
Other avenues of support for those who were hurt by cannabis prohibition.
Thank you John Schroyer from the Green Market Report for the national update.
#cannabisindustry#cannabiscommunity#cannabisnews#cannabiseducation#cannabispolicy#cannbislawhttps://lnkd.in/g5T239xs
