Since recreational cannabis was first legalized in some U.S. states around 13 years ago, the industry has grown to reach an estimated $40 billion in sales as of last year. People interested in joining the growing field can even get a college level certification to get things rolling.
“We have over 60 partnerships with colleges and universities across the country to power their cannabis workforce programs,” said CEO Max Simon of Green Flower – a cannabis education-focused company founded in 2014 – in an interview this week with WWJ Newsradio’s Beth Fisher.
One of those partnerships is with Baker College, a private, 114-year-old school based in Flint, Mich. There, students have the option to obtain three different certificates: the Cannabis Cultivation Specialist Certificate, the Cannabis Retail Specialist Certificate and the Cannabis Extraction and Product Development Specialist Certificate. Each program takes nine weeks to complete and is offered fully online.
“The next set of classes start on April 7, and so we’re right before the next cohort begins,” said Simon. “And you can take any one of these three programs that are 100% online. They’re for anybody that’s 18 or over. And they’re very affordable. They’re only about $750 per certificate program so… they’re accessible and there’s even payment plans available if people need some extra support.”
So far, two dozen states as well as Washington D.C. and two territories have legalized recreational cannabis use and nearly all 50 have legalized medicinal marijuana. Reuters noted that last year, Drug Enforcement Administration’s announced that it would act on the call from former President Joe Biden’s administration to re-schedule cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).
“This historic move is considered to be the biggest step towards federal legalization in more than half a century,” said the outlet. However, it said that the process for implementing the change would take some time.
In Michigan alone, around 45,000 people are employed in the marijuana industry and sales of adult-use marijuana products reached $3 billion in 2023, the highest amount per person in the nation. Simon also said that the state’s industry is second in the nation behind California’s and that the field is a competitive sector, with employers looking for well-trained people who can help businesses thrive.
“Each of these programs allows students… to get access to learn the skills and the knowledge they need in cannabis cultivation or in cannabis retail or in this kind of manufacturing sector where you’re doing cannabis extraction and product development,” he explained. “And so, the programs give you the knowledge and the skills, and a qualification that helps you really stand out and have confidence to be able to enter or succeed in this industry.”
Once in the cannabis industry, Simon said that people will have a “full range of opportunities,” for jobs and careers, from entry-level workers all the way up to management and executive level jobs. He added that there is a strong entrepreneurial aspect to the business as well.
“With the addition of these cannabis certificates, we aim to meet the growing demand for skilled professionals in this sector,” said Dr. Jacqui Spicer, president and CEO of Baker. “Our partnership with Green Flower ensures students receive top-quality education and training to excel in this fast-growing industry.”
While cannabis has historically been stigmatized in the U.S., Simon said that the new era of legalized cannabis is opening up an exciting career path.
“I think that if you’re passionate about things like agriculture or plant medicine, or even just the cannabis industry in general – you’re excited to be in a brand-new space where there’s lots to learn and lots of change, then it’s a great place to look for a new career,” he told WWJ.