Cannabis Industry Classes Being Offered At College In Riverside County

SAN JACINTO, CA — People looking for careers in the cannabis industry can now get some training through Mt. San Jacinto College.

Green Flower, a California-based cannabis education company, is offering three not-for-credit certificate courses that began Tuesday through the college. Enrollment remains open for the eight-week online courses that are being offered through the MSJC Contract and Community Education department in a self-paced format with lessons structured in weekly modules.

The programs focus on various aspects of the cannabis industry, with courses centered on advanced cultivation technician, advanced manufacturing agent, and advanced dispensary associate training.

Each course will provide students with "knowledge, skills and abilities to help them excel in their chosen field of specialization," according to an MSJC news release.

"The cannabis industry is one of the fastest-growing sources of employment in America and this includes Southwest Riverside County,” said Janice Mrkonjic, MSJC’s interim director of workforce and economic development. “After interviewing industry leaders, I identified their needs for a skilled workforce in the areas of cultivation, manufacturing, and dispensary.

"MSJC’s commitment to transform learners, communities, and lives is directly aligned with Green Flower’s progressive and strategic approach to deliver cannabis industry-centric educational programs,” Mrkonjic continued.

The cannabis industry is booming. In Riverside County, taxable cannabis sales increased from $264.19 million in 2020 to $374.18 million in 2021, according to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration. That's a 41.6 percent year-over-year rise.

Upon completion of each course, participants will earn a Certificate of Completion and gain access to Green Flower’s career portal as well as the college’s online job board, JobSpeaker, which allows local employers to post job openings, according to the news release.

“Green Flower is honored to be partnering with Mt. San Jacinto College to offer our three cannabis industry training courses,” said Daniel Kalef, vice president of university partnerships. “With the cannabis industry in California continuing to grow at a record pace, while also being the largest cannabis market in the world, the ability to help people train to work in the industry continues to be vital.

“The programs we are offering in partnership with MSJC will help ensure not only the continued growth of the industry in California but growth in great part due to a well-trained workforce. We can think of no better college or group of people with whom to partner with and are excited to begin offering them to the public,” Kalef continued.

For more information and/or to enroll,visit cannabis.msjc.edu.