Launched in 2023, CannaWorkforce, Inc., is funded by a Maryland Department of Labor EARN grant (Employment Advancement Right Now) and is a pioneering workforce development program. CannaWorkforce delivers cannabis industry programs that train the unemployed and underemployed to work in Maryland and neighboring-state-regulated cannabis industries in cultivation, trimming, processing, and dispensary operations. Learners must be Maryland residents and hold a GED or high school diploma.
CannaWorkforce collaborates with Strategic Industry Partners (SIPs) throughout Maryland to ensure that curriculum content directly aligns with industry needs and current best practices. These partnerships create direct pathways to employment:
- SIPs provide input on curriculum development and real-world training scenarios
- SIPs interview successful CannaWorkforce learners for open positions
- When a match is found between learner skills and employer needs, SIPs hire CannaWorkforce graduates
Successful learners receive a modest stipend to support any costs associated with CannaWorkforce training, including:
- Transportation to and from training sessions
- Professional attire for industry interactions
- Other program-related expenses
This support ensures that financial barriers do not prevent motivated individuals from accessing these career-changing opportunities.
CannaWorkforce’s curriculum is specifically designed to exceed Maryland’s state-mandated Responsible Vendor Training (RVT) requirements, ensuring that successful learners become top candidates for employment. The program includes:
- All required RVT content as mandated by the Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA)
- Enhanced cannabis science education beyond basic regulatory requirements
- Comprehensive patient care training for medical cannabis dispensary roles
- Advanced customer service skills for both medical and adult-use markets
- Introduction METRC seed-to-sale tracking system
- Maryland-specific regulatory compliance education
For more information or to apply, contact us.
