Last year finally saw the legalization of medical marijuana in the state of Arkansas.
The Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment, or Issue 6, passed with 53 percent of voters saying “yes” to medical cannabis.
With eight states allowing both recreational and medicinal cannabis sales, and another 20 with medicinal alone, Arkansas has joined the majority of states to legalize marijuana in some fashion.
While medical legalization is a huge step forward for a primarily red state, there are even more issues to consider for the future Arkansas cannabis industry. One of these major considerations needs to be education.
According to CannabisReports.org, a website dedicated to cataloguing medical marijuana facts, there are exactly two physical school sites where an individual can learn about and earn a certification concerning the cannabis industry.
Oaksterdamn University, the nation’s first Cannabis College, and Clover Leaf University have already certified thousands of students looking to enter the burgeoning cannabis industry. The only problem — the schools are in California and Colorado, respectively.
There are a number of traveling seminars that individuals can attend, but these are primarily only held in larger cities where the demand is much greater.
Online certifications are an option as well, but many are skeptical and fear wasting thousands of dollars on a scam. With the cannabis industry growing at such a rapid rate, and especially with a substance that is used to treat a number of illnesses, proper education on the growth, cultivation and sale of marijuana is absolutely vital.
According to medical marijuana, the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commision stated that 32 dispensaries will be allowed in the state, as well as five licensed cultivators who will be chosen after a lengthy application process.
Each of these facilities will need to employ trained and well-educated professionals to do everything from growth, trimming, quality control and cultivation, as well as work as the faces of the dispensaries themselves.
These salespeople, referred to as “budtenders,” must have a vast and professional knowledge of the intricate details of the plants they are providing for patients. Budtenders must be able to answer any questions a new patient has, recommend strains for whatever particular condition the patient has and be able to help educate the patient on dosing and methods of consumption.
The demand for educated individuals in the cannabis industry is quickly growing, and Arkansas must be ready to meet the demand. This new industry will provide thousands of new job opportunities not only with consideration to the dispensaries and cultivation sites themselves, but also in the education field.
The majority of individuals looking to enter this field in their home state don’t have the opportunity to travel to the west coast to learn about the industry — the need for medical marijuana classes and educational programs in Arkansas has never been higher.
credit:astateherald.com
