Meet the coalition supporting cannabis job opportunities and training in New Jersey

Last Monday, Dutchie was a proud sponsor and presenter as the Minority Cannabis Academy (MCA) cohort kicked off in Jersey City, New Jersey. 

What is the Minority Cannabis Academy (MCA)?

Founded by Brendon Robinson and Stanley Okoro, MCA is a Black-owned adult learning institution based out of Jersey City. The organization focuses on the professional development and technical training of minorities in disenfranchised communities impacted by the War on Drugs, who are interested in becoming cannabis industry professionals. Courses include:

• Horticulture
• Extraction and processing
• Budtender training
• Entrepreneur training
• Introduction to medical cannabis and cannabis law 

To learn more about the MCA, click here.

I sat down with Erica Woods, Dutchie’s Director of Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs, to hear about how the kick off went. We discussed what’s ahead for MCA, their partnership with Dutchie, and how New Jersey’s adult-use recreational cannabis market is progressing overall.

Woods shared some key details about MCA’s program. Here are the highlights:

• MCA is an 8-week program that meets two times per week
• MCA’s current cohort includes 25 members, drawn from over 150 applications
• The cohort will learn about the cultivation process, compliance, and core details about operating in a dispensary setting in New Jersey
• MCA is housed in a study space generously provided by Harmony Dispensary
• The cohort will use Dutchie Point-of-Sale Hardware for living training and receive course instruction on using the system from Dutchie employees

We’ll continue to check back on how the New Jersey industry is progressing, including the inaugural cohort of the Minority Cannabis Academy in Jersey City, New Jersey. 

To learn more about the MCA and how you can get involved, visit their website. 

If you are interested in starting a cannabis business in New Jersey, check out The Ultimate Guide to Applying for a Recreational Cannabis License in New Jersey.

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