DENVER — The Community College of Denver (CCD) is set to introduce three new online cannabis workforce certificate programs, starting June 2. These nine-week courses aim to equip students with essential skills for various roles in the cannabis sector, in collaboration with Green Flower, a cannabis education platform.
The programs focus on the following specializations: 1. Cannabis Cultivation Specialist 2. Cannabis Retail Specialist 3. Cannabis Extraction and Product Development Specialist
Each program is structured to provide students with practical knowledge relevant to their chosen field.
Cannabis Cultivation Specialist Participants in this program will explore the cannabis supply chain and acquire skills necessary for successful cultivation. The curriculum includes topics such as hygiene practices, product safety, packaging, pest control, and commercial growing techniques. Students will also learn how to manage product safety during transport and storage. The program emphasizes the importance of understanding the heavily regulated nature of the industry, which can set graduates apart in the job market.
Cannabis Retail Specialist This program focuses on the cannabis retail environment. Students will gain insight into product knowledge, customer engagement, branding, and compliance with state and local regulations. The curriculum covers distribution within the cannabis supply chain, medical uses for cannabis, and the characteristics of major and minor cannabinoids. Graduates will be prepared for various roles in cannabis retail, enhancing their ability to meet customer expectations.
Cannabis Extraction and Product Development Specialist Enrollees in this program will learn about product development processes, plant processing methods, and facility design for cannabis manufacturing. The curriculum includes techniques for drying cannabis and understanding plant phenotypes. Students will gain a comprehensive view of the industry from cultivation to sale, covering manufacturing and lab testing.
Interested individuals can enroll in the courses online. These programs represent an effort to address the skills gap in the cannabis workforce, which has been noted amid declining sales in Colorado. According to ColoradoCannabis.org, adult-use cannabis sales dropped from $1.4 billion in 2019 to $1.13 billion in 2024, while medical sales fell from $338 million to $151 million during the same period. In Denver, adult-use cannabis sales were nearly $433 million last year, down from over $433 million in 2019, alongside a decline in medical sales.
The CCD’s initiative to offer these certificate programs reflects a growing recognition of the need for trained professionals in the cannabis industry as it continues to evolve.
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