St Paul College's cannabis courses look to expand Minnesota job opportunities within the emerging market now that it is legalized in Minnesota.
Retail sales are expected to begin in the state in 2025 and as that date approaches St. Paul College is creating a way to equip students with career awareness as they enter the Minnesota cannabis market.
Program Manager Brady Malecha says they want students from all economic backgrounds to have access to their courses. Those explore cannabis retail, cultivation and product development.
"This is a short term non-credit training that's built around workforce needs with the online asynchronous piece," explains Malecha. "There's no books or materials that are physically needed from the students. Really the only thing that they would need is access to the internet."
As the need for the legalized cannabis market continues to grow, schools like St. Paul College are are looking for ways to educated students for a market that by 2027 could generate well over $100 million in tax revenue for the state.
"What this really can provide anybody, is the foundational understanding of what is the cannabis industry, what's really the supply chain and what that looks like in Minnesota and across the nation," Malecha says. "And really what are some of the cornerstone areas of the industry that they would need to know?"
Three certification courses are currently being offered by the college at $750 a class.