FREE Five-Week Cannabis Worker Course To Take Place at Rochester Public Library
An in-person five-week legal cannabis industry workforce development course is scheduled to take place on Saturdays from September 30, 2023 through October 28, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Bausch and Lomb Public Library Building, Kate Gleason Auditorium located at 115 South Ave.
The course is FREE to the general public.
The course is loosely titled, “Get Weeding with the RPL.”
Certificates in Cannabis Career Exploration and Worker Rights will be awarded to attendees who successfully complete the initial coursework. Event organizers say successful course completion and certification would make certificate holders ideal candidates to work as “bud tenders,” in a legal cannabis dispensary.
Attendance is mandatory at all sessions to receive the certificate.
Those who complete the in-person, five-week course are then eligible to participate in an 8.5-hour virtual Responsible Vendor Training course at their convenience.
“The cannabis industry is bringing exciting new career opportunities to communities across New York State,” said New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon. “The Department’s Cannabis Employment and Education Development (CEED) Unit is here to help New Yorkers gain the skills they need to have successful careers in the wide array of careers growing in this new economic engine.”
“The City of Rochester puts a lot of consideration into our processes to make sure cannabis businesses are set up to succeed in our city, especially for Black and Brown people who were most negatively affected by the war on drugs,” said City of Rochester Mayor Malik D. Evans. He further stated, “As we prepare for legal cannabis dispensaries to operate in our region, it is important to make sure we have a pool of qualified employees ready to start working in these businesses as soon as they open.”
“We are excited to be partnering with the Rochester Public Library to offer the Cannabis Career Exploration and Worker Rights Certificate program,” said NYS Cannabis Workforce Initiative (CWI) Co-Chair Esta Bigler. “It is critical to be out in the community, raising awareness of the range of cannabis jobs that will be available.” Bigler further stated, “These are real opportunities, and we believe this kind of training is key to helping folks find their path to good jobs in this new industry.”
Course coordinators say the program is anticipated to consist of the following curriculum:
Cannabis Career Exploration and Worker Rights Certificate Program (In-person, 15 hours)
Program Introduction and Industry
The Cannabis Plant
What the Legalization of Cannabis Means for You
Working in a Dispensary
Jobs in Extraction and Manufacturing
Health & Safety in the Cannabis Industry
Your Rights at Work
Seed-to-sale compliance
How are you Protected from Discrimination and Harassment
Other Opportunities in the Cannabis Industry
Job Readiness (Virtual 8.5 hours)
Responsible Vendor Training
Soft Skills
Resume Development
Interviewing Skills
More information about this certificate course is available by contacting Rochester Public Library Business Insight Center Division Head Jennifer Byrnes, at: jennifer.byrnes@libraryweb.org or by calling (585) 428-8102.
