For any one interested in working in the booming cannabis industry, registration is now open for North Shore Community College’s new Cannabis Cultivation and Retail certificate, a 16-credit, two-semester academic program designed to provide the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in this emerging field.
Students will learn how to: manage/assist in the cultivation of legal cannabis for medicinal, recreational, and industrial use; market legal cannabis products and manage their sale through dispensaries and other outlets; successfully communicate the legal, economic, and health-related cannabis usage considerations; and understand the steps involved with state licensing, various licenses and equity programs offered through the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission.
Cannabis is a $25 billion business in the United States. Annual job growth has been greater than 27% for five consecutive years. Given the legalization of marijuana in MA, there are emerging job opportunities in this field driving regional demand and needs.
To meet local workforce demand, NSCC began the process of creating curriculum and obtaining all necessary state approvals for a credit certificate in Cannabis Cultivation and Retailing. The program launching this Fall is aligned with NSCC’s successful hands-on Horticulture program and is approved by the New England Commission of Higher Education and the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education.
“This program is a perfect example of offering our students access to the skills and knowledge they need to enter the workforce in a growing industry in our region,” said Dr. Steven Hubbard, NSCC Dean of STEM and Business. “Students who complete this certificate can begin working right away in the cannabis industry or continue for an associate degree. Or, they can do both!”
Required certificate courses include: Plant and Soil Science; Fundamentals of Plant Health; Cannabis Law and the Regulatory Environment; Greenhouse Crop Production; Cannabis Cultivation and Management; and Cannabis Retail Product Development and Management.
There is no fee to apply to this program. Financial aid is available for those who qualify. Massachusetts residents can expect to pay $4,200 out-of-pocket for tuition and fees, excluding books without aid.
Initially, classes will be held in-person on the college’s Lynn campus, with the Cannabis Law and the Regulatory Environment offered online. Credits from this academic certificate can also be used towards an associate degree at NSCC in Horticulture and Business Administration.
The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Committee records currently list 436 recreational licenses for cannabis businesses. These include specific licenses for Cultivation, Delivery Courier, Independent Testing Laboratory, Microbusiness, Product Manufacturer, Retailer, and Third-Party Transporter. There are also 94 licenses for Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers.
This program will be featured at a Spring Open House planned for March 25 at the college’s Lynn campus at 300 Broad Street from 10-12 p.m. Or, for more information, see https://www.northshore.edu/
