Program offered by Mercer County Community College and Valley Wellness
West Windsor, NJ – March 18, 2021 – Back by demand, Mercer County Community College (MCCC) is offering the Cannabis Certification course developed by Valley Wellness CEO Sarah Trent. New Jersey Cannabis Certified will begin on May 3, 2021 and we are proud to announce that the New Jersey Cannabis Trade Association (“NJCTA”) will be providing six scholarships to individuals who meet demonstrated financial need and live within certain zip codes.
NJ Cannabis Certified is one of the premier cannabis education courses in the state that is designed to train individuals for entry level jobs in the industry.
According to Trent, who developed the course and leads the class, “we saw high enrollment in our 2020 class offerings, but we also saw that some people need financial assistance, so we started looking for sponsors to help create scholarships. The NJCTA was excited to get involved and help develop a plan to make sure those most in need of jobs, who live near existing cannabis operators in the state, had access to job training.”
NJ Cannabis Certified is a 15+ hour class that is taught live in five modules, presented over five consecutive Monday nights on Zoom. Module 1 – cannabis laws; Module 2 – cultivation, harvest, manufactured products; Module 3 – the endocannabinoid system; Module 4 – dosing administration, compliance, and tracking; and Module 5 – industry speakers. Each module is taught by industry professionals or academics from that area of expertise.
“When we heard this class was being hosted, it was a no-brainer for us to get involved,” said Shaya Brodchandel, president of NJCTA. “When we formed our organization in 2020, the primary purpose was for NJCTA to serve as a knowledge center for operators to share best practices from inside and outside of NJ. It’s a natural fit for us to extend that to the students involved in MCCC’s NJ Cannabis Certified Program.”
“By participating and creating a scholarship fund for the program,” Brodchandel continued, “we get to give back to the community where our members are located while simultaneously finding trained individuals who could be employed by NJ cannabis operators in the near future. Partnering with NJ Cannabis Certified and Mercer was the perfect way to achieve both of those goals.”
The Scholarship is open to those who live in one of the following zip codes, and individuals who receive the scholarship will be matched with the corresponding cannabis operator for an interview after completing the program’s requirements. Recipients must demonstrate financial need by being able to check one of the boxes on the chart below. Interested applicants can find the application posted at www.mccc.edu/cannabis. The application period will be live from March 22 – April 5.
Justice Cannabis Co. – 08638, 08628, 08618, 08611, 08560
Verano – 08889, 08809, 08801, 088829
The Apothecarium – 08865, 08802, 08827, 08848, 08867
Harmony - 07848, 07030, 07310
Curaleaf - 08031, 08095, 08010, 08505
The Botanist – 08401, 08234, 08401
Classes will be held Monday evenings, May 3, 10, 17, 24, and Tuesday June 1, 2021 from 6-9 p.m. via Zoom. Up to 80 seats will be available in May. There is no application process or pre-requisites, the class is open to the public and prospective students need only sign up. Students must be at least 18 to register for the class, but they should be aware that most employment in the industry requires you to be at least 21 years old and pass a background check.
In order to receive a certificate at end of the program, students must pass a short quiz at the end of the program.
The course fee is $500. Valley Wellness sponsors up to five Veterans for tuition waivers in addition to the scholarships posted above.
To register, visit: www.mccc.edu/cannabis. Visit www.njcannacert.com for more information about the class or contact Andrea Bash at 609-570-3122.