Get Certified And Jump In: Online Cannabis Program Trains Future Workers

University Of California Merced Extension is launching a cannabis workforce training program, opening new opportunities in the Central Valley’s growing cannabis sector. The program, developed in collaboration with Ventura-based Green Flower, offers three online, 9-week courses tailored to prepare individuals for key roles in the industry.

The certificates available include Retail Specialist, Cultivation Specialist and Extraction and Product Development Specialist.

"It really was an opportunity that we felt we could meet," said Michael Pierick, who is UC Merced Extension's director of strategic initiatives, to The Merced Focus.

That’s because the program addresses a regional gap in cannabis education, with Merced County's industry still emerging compared to urban hubs like Sacramento and the Bay Area.

By offering these certifications, UC Merced aims to equip participants with the skills needed to thrive in a “very competitive and very complex” industry as depicted by Max Simon, CEO of Green Flower.

Classes are led by Green Flower facilitators and the curriculum includes essential aspects of cannabis operations, from retail management to cultivation and product development.

Read Also: U.S. Jobs Surge In June, Can Cannabis Keep Up? Salaries Might Tempt You To Switch Careers

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Cannabis Industry Job Demand

The legal cannabis industry added 22,952 jobs in the U.S. in the past year, a 5.4% increase compared with 2022, bringing total employment to 440,445.

This growth reflects the industry’s evolution, with 2024 marking a “turning point” for hiring and investment in talent.

Michigan and Missouri led job growth, each adding over 10,000 jobs, while states like California and Colorado saw losses. Emerging markets in Ohio, New York, New Jersey and Maryland show significant potential, with New York adding 2,050 jobs and New Jersey 4,870.

As for salaries, the Vangst 2024 Salary Guide reports a 4.7% increase in top cannabis salaries over the past year, with Directors of Cultivation earning between $90,000 and $140,000 annually and Budtenders earning $14 to $22 per hour.

• Read More: Cannabis Hiring Platform Vangst Predicts 1M Full-Time Marijuana Jobs By 2029, Announces Acquisition Of GreenForce Staffing Agency

Cover: UC Merced