Oklahoma’s growing cannabis industry means high-demand for qualified workers. A new program at Tulsa Community College is looking to train the next generation of cannabis experts.

Four years after legalizing medical marijuana, Oklahoma has become one of the country’s top producers and consumers of cannabis. The rapid growth means the industry needs a skilled workforce.

Tulsa Community College’s VP of Workforce Development Pete Selden said the school realized the legal cannabis industry is here to stay.

“So I think the first question is, ‘Are there real jobs here?’ Right? Are they good-paying jobs. And the answer is yes,” he said. “Once they become established what’s the next thing they need? It’s that trained and skilled workforce.”

The college partnered with cannabis education company Green Flower, which developed three different online courses.

Daniel Calef at Green Flower said the training and qualification will ultimately boost standards throughout the industry.

“There’s jobs to be had, there’s going to be more jobs to be had, and these programs will help people be prepared to succeed,” he said.

The courses are split into three groups where the industry is seeing the most demand; dispensary work, cultivation and manufacturing.

“In these three areas, we can’t find people who know what they’re doing,” Calef said. “There’s lot of people who say, ‘Well I work at the Gap and I smoke pot, I’m sure I’ll be great at a dispensary.’ Not accurate. So this program can help them really be qualified.”

The courses are online now – and they’re not for college credit. You don’t have to go through steps of regular college admissions to get in.

You can find out more by clicking this link: https://cannabisstudies.tulsacc.edu/