Cannabis sector training takes root in Canadian colleges and institutes
In October 2018, marijuana was legalized in Canada. This radical shift in public policy created a new sector of the economy. As cannabis producers and retailers introduced their new products to the Canadian consumer, colleges and institutes had already updated their course calendars.
“This was an industry that came from nowhere and the colleges were the first ones at the door. The colleges and institutes were able to mobilize quickly to meet employer demand,” says Denise Amyot, president and CEO of Colleges and Institutes Canada.
According to Amyot, new training programs were needed to equip the workforce because this is a “very special type of production that have a lot of regulations that accompany it.” If the strict regulations aren’t followed there are significant ramifications for producers and retailers.
Students can now enroll in a diverse set of cannabis sector programs. Colleges across the country have launched new programs in horticulture, facilities management, marketing, entrepreneurship, business fundamentals and security.
“We have a suite of program offerings to ensure that the country meets the workforce demand in all aspects of this emerging cannabis industry,” says Amyot.
Amyot says the leap into new programming was relatively easy for the college sector because at the end of the day when you have a new product that was legalized you need to ensure the public safety. “It’s a historic moment. It’s a brand new sector of the economy and we can see that it is growing. And will continue to grow,” says Amyot.
An important component of this new educational niche is applied research. Since the college sector historically cooperates with their private sector partners, it’s logical for them to assume the lead in cannabis education and research.
Loyalist College in Belleville, Ontario was the first learning institution in Canada to receive a license from Health Canada to cultivate cannabis for research purposes. “One of their projects is the creation of an alcoholfree beer. They are replacing the barley and grains with fermented cannabis,” says Amyot.
In British Columbia, the College of the Rockies has established a Cannabis Retail Specialist Program. Students will be trained in plant anatomy and physiology, chemical components of cannabis, regulatory requirements, preparation techniques, administration and marketing.
Okanagan College will train their graduates in regulatory policies, business opportunities, investment strategies in the cannabis sector, pest management and cannabis production.
In Alberta, agricultural instructors at Olds College will focus their students’ attention on cannabis crop production, facilities management and cannabis legislation.
Every program includes key courses on regulation — which is a major part of the compliance required for growing a controlled substance.
“Our colleges are looking at all aspects of the cannabis sector to ensure that people know and follow the rules in an ethical way and that they make sure that they conduct business within the legislation,” says Amyot.
Canada wants to be a world leader in the cannabis industry. The colleges who provide the training must disseminate the proper regulations. It’s crucial to the success of the sector that emphasis is placed on conducting business within the authorized parameters, says Amyot.
In the emerging school of cannabis compliance there is specialized on-line training available at Holland College in Prince Edward Island. The college has developed a new training portal aimed at law enforcement officers: Introduction to Cannabis Legalization. The program was created in partnership with the Canadian policing community.
In Central Canada, Niagara College’s Commercial Cannabis Production program was the first in the country to provide cannabis production training. Students learn plant nutrition, pest control, facilities management, staffing and security.
Oshawa’s Durham College has developed a unique cannabis industry specialization certificate. It’s managerial in scope and is available both in-class and on-line. Its mission is to prepare professionals that already have business experience but need to get up to speed on the fundamentals of cannabis: regulation, ethical issues and quality control.
In June 2018, MYM Nutraceuticals and Quebec’s Sherbrooke College signed an agreement to develop a training program for MYM’S employees assigned to the production of cannabis. The educational curriculum will be expanded and offered as a diploma program for the general public.
The province of Saskatchewan has no programs on offer but they are “exploring the possibilities” says Amyot.
Amyot forecasts more growth in the cannabis sector. “The current range of cannabis programming will continue to expand in response to increasing demand.”
According to Amyot, cannabis training could expand into new areas like health care, drug detection, law enforcement, social services, mental health and addictions and the culinary arts.