Latest news with #MaxSimon
CBS News
13-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Cal State East Bay students are earning cannabis certifications
In an effort to relieve the job vacancies in the state's marijuana industry, one California-based cannabis certification program is partnering with Cal State East Bay to boost the workforce. Gina O'Hara, who lives in Pacifica, recently completed Green Flower's cannabis certification course. "When it became legalized here, a lot of friends were going to dispensaries and stuff and trying things. But I was interested in the medicinal aspects of it," Gina O'Hara told CBS News Bay Area. She's been working as a consultant and technical writer for traditional pharmaceutical companies for the past 30 years, when she wanted to change things up a bit. That is when she discovered the school's online, six-month program. "You learn about the cannabis plant itself and how it works in the body. After everyone takes that, you specialize into different fields," she said. Students can learn about the agricultural cannabis business, medical applications, product development and compliance. "For people that are looking for a new career in a new career, a new sector they are passionate about, I think cannabis is a great place to look," Max Simon, the CEO of Green Flower, told CBS News Bay Area. The company is optimistic that their educational program will help boost the cannabis industry statewide. According to one recent report, there were more than 78,000 cannabis market jobs in the state last year. "There is some compression happening in the cannabis industry here in California but it doesn't mean there is a real dearth of opportunity. We have 65,000 people that work in the industry and thousands of employers throughout the ecosystem. And there are always new brands and new providers showing up," Simon said. "We still have a federal contradiction to the state laws, and that creates all sorts of challenges from a banking, compliance or fundraiser standpoint. I actually think we are very close to some federal reform which will fundamentally change the industry in pretty dramatic ways," he added. According to the 2024 California Cannabis Market report, the number of active licenses decreased by 18% last year. Some of those reasons, officials site, are increased costs, regulatory compliance and competition with unlicensed cannabis markets. The report states, however, that licensed cannabis production is up nearly 12%. "We also have a lot of people who take these programs from other sectors. Whether you're a lawyer, or a doctor, or a finance specialist, an investment banker, they take these programs and add cannabis to their practice," Simon said. As for O'Hara, she said as she is working in biotech, she is actively looking for contract jobs in the cannabis industry. "I've updated my LinkedIn, I got this certification. I put it on my resume, I'm looking at jobs here and there, and I'm hoping to get contract jobs going forward," she said. Both Simon and O'Hara said they are optimistic about the full legalization of marijuana nationwide, and hope that it will improve the future of the cannabis industry.
Associated Press
30-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
UW-Stout Launches Online Cannabis Education Offerings with New, 9-Week Programs
'We are dedicated to preparing professionals for emerging workforce demands by offering relevant, accessible, and high-quality education.'— Beth Hein, Exec. Dir. of Educational Pathways and Outreach, UW-Stout MENOMONIE, WI, UNITED STATES, April 30, 2025 / / -- University of Wisconsin-Stout's Continuing Education & Conferences is excited to announce a new collaboration with Green Flower, a nationally recognized leader in cannabis workforce education. This partnership brings specialized, fully online certificate programs in cannabis cultivation, extraction, product development, and retail designed to equip professionals with knowledge and skills relevant to this highly-regulated and rapidly-evolving industry. Launching April 30, these new certificate offerings will provide learners with an opportunity to gain industry-specific expertise in compliance, operations, product development, and business practices—knowledge areas increasingly valued across various sectors, including Wisconsin's USDA-licensed legal hemp industry. 'We are dedicated to preparing professionals for emerging workforce demands by offering relevant, accessible, and high-quality education,' said Beth Hein, Executive Director of Educational Pathways and Outreach at UW-Stout. 'These certificates will provide individuals with foundational knowledge and industry insights necessary to navigate complex regulatory environments and contribute to a growing industry.' Each nine-week, fully online certificate program allows learners to study at their own pace, making it ideal for professionals looking to enhance their credentials. Courses are taught by industry experts and are designed to help students build applicable skills for career advancement. 'Green Flower is thrilled to partner with University of Wisconsin-Stout, renowned for their commitment to providing career-focused industry experiences, to offer our three cannabis workforce training programs designed to equip individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive,' said Max Simon, CEO and Co-Founder of Green Flower. 'These programs are uniquely tailored to meet the demands of a highly regulated industry in a clear, thorough, and accessible manner for students in western Wisconsin and beyond.' Green Flower, a leader in cannabis education since 2014, collaborates with more than 60 universities and colleges nationwide to develop training programs that meet the needs of employers and professionals in regulated industries. For more information or to register, visit or contact [email protected]. Save $150 for a limited time using the code UWSTOUTFIRST at checkout. ### About UW Stout Continuing Education & Conferences at UW-Stout As part of Educational Pathways and Outreach, UW-Stout's Continuing Education & Conferences provides adult learners with flexible, high-quality education designed to enrich both their personal and professional lives. Our offerings span key areas such as leadership, artificial intelligence, and communications. In collaboration with Green Flower, we provide specialized courses and certifications to help you advance your career and achieve your goals. About Green Flower Founded in 2014, Green Flower is the industry leader in cannabis education, empowering thousands of consumers, regulators, and professionals with the knowledge they need to succeed in the emerging cannabis industry today. Green Flower's content and technology platform powers the cannabis programs of top universities and colleges across the country, provides customized learning and compliance solutions for cannabis businesses of all sizes, and equips individuals with the skills and credentials necessary to make an impact in the modern cannabis industry. Javan Pham UW-Stout Continuing Education & Conferences +1 715-232-2698 [email protected] Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
University of Lynchburg adds more Cannabis Studies courses
LYNCHBURG, Va. (WFXR)—The cannabis industry is growing, and the University of Lynchburg's Professional Development Institute is adding programming to accommodate it. The school first partnered with Green Flower to offer Cannabis Studies a year ago. Now the two are offering nine-week certificate courses online. Max Simon is CEO of Green Flower. 'They're designed to give people the knowledge and skills to enter the three most important job areas in the cannabis industry. Cultivation, manufacturing, and cannabis retail,' said Simon. Even as the industry grows though, federal reform hasn't been reached and some states like the commonwealth are still putting the breaks on their retail market. In March, Governor Glenn Youngkin vetoed creating a retail marijuana market again, claiming the substance quote 'endangers Virginians' health and safety'. Simon believes it's only a delay. 'Cannabis legalization is an inevitability,' he said. 'It's not a question of if, it's really a question of when.' Roanoke College introduces new Cannabis Studies Program John Zinn is executive director of the Professional Development Institute at the University of Lynchburg. 'With the current state in the commonwealth with cannabis, you know there's a possibility down the road it might open up more and we plan to be ready to meet the market when that happens,' he said about adding more programs. The new programs are designed to be more accessible for people interested in careers in cannabis. They're shorter, cheaper, and online. 'You don't necessarily have to be in the commonwealth, you can be in markets that are embracing the cannabis industry a little bit more,' he said. Zinn says enrollment in their cannabis programming has been fairly consistent over the last year, bringing in a couple students every other month to join cohorts of students from all around the country training to join the new industry. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
