Worcester Business Journal

12 Worcester Business Journal | September 2, 2019 | wbjournal.com Marijuana coursework Clark, Mount Wachusett and Worcester State have developed cannabis industry training programs BY ZACHARY COMEAU Worcester Business Journal Staff Writer M arijuana has been a part of college cam- puses for dozens of years, but the drug is now finding its way into the classroom, as Central Massa- chusetts educators are opening their doors to the cannabis industry. e U.S. cannabis industry is valued at more than $12 billion and with Central Massachusetts having more marijuana business applications than anywhere else in the state, Greater Worcester colleges and universities are adapting to the demand for educated and qualified workers. "What we do is meet the workforce development needs of the state," said Rachel Frick Cardelle, vice president of the Mount Wachusett Community College Department of Lifelong Learn- ing and Workforce Development. "is is clearly one of them." In Massachusetts, more than $260 million worth of recreational cannabis products have been sold in less than a year, according to the state Cannabis Control Commission. at's even aer a slow regulatory process where 23 stores opened in 10 months. Now, weekly sales are expected to reach $2 million, and the industry has added 5,300 jobs and counting. "I don't want to say there's a skills gap, but there's an education and train- ing gap," said Sam Barber, president of Leicester marijuana retailer Cultivate. Navigating the regulatory maze With marijuana still considered illegal on the federal level, individual businesses needs to prove the merit of legal cannabis to potential host communities in Mas- sachusetts. anks to the first program of its kind, Clark University thinks it can help move those conversa- tions along. Beginning this month, the private Worcester university is offering a graduate certificate in cannabis control, taking a somewhat different approach from the handful of institutions now offering cannabis as a course. Rather than focus on the business side of the conversation, the three- course, seven-week program focuses on cannabis enforcement, regulatory framework and health and safety of the new industry. Cannabis entrepreneurs "are terrific at moving forward and advancing a whole range of issues, but the regu- latory environment always lags that," said John LaBrie, Clark University's School of Professional Studies dean and associate provost for professional graduate education. LaBrie cited examples like cannabis cafes, where the reg- ulatory framework for public and social consumption is under discussion among the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission, as well as in other states with legal marijuana. LaBrie said Clark fell into the program aer the School of Professional Studies polled Worcester and other local towns about their most pressing issues for what was supposed to be an addition to the school's masters in public Sam Barber, president, Cultivate John LaBrie, Clark University dean of the School of Professional Studies F O C U S H I G H E R E D U C A T I O N PHOTO/ALLAN JUNG

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