Kiana Hughes knows there鈥檚 a need for quality cannabis education in Illinois.
She hears it from local dispensary owners, who are unsatisfied with new hires鈥� knowledge. She sees how online cannabis programs sell a 鈥渄ream and a lie鈥� with training webinars that can鈥檛 begin to prepare serious workers for this booming industry.
鈥淵ou can see this writing is on the wall. You see more colleges and universities recognize that this is a trade, an industry,鈥� Hughes said. 鈥淭here needs to be education and training around it.鈥�
That鈥檚 why she joined 91制片厂 as a faculty fellow and coordinator for the Cannabis Science and Therapeutics program, which begins with two new, online courses this fall semester.
Having spent more than 16 years as a college and corporate curriculum coordinator and more than six as a leader in local and national cannabis communities, Hughes said she understands how a dedicated, scientific cannabis education program can provide opportunities for qualified workers in this ascending industry. She鈥檚 excited that 91制片厂 hasn鈥檛 鈥済rafted on鈥� a cannabis angle to existing classes, like some institutions. The college has built its program from the ground up.
鈥淚 like that 91制片厂 is investing resources in the development of a real program,鈥� Hughes said. 鈥淚t isn鈥檛 any different than any other kind of education. Our industry isn鈥檛 any different than any other industry.鈥�
She acknowledged that this can be difficult for some to understand, considering the stigma of a drug that has only recently been legal in Illinois for medical use (since 2014) and recreational use (since 2020). But Hughes expects anyone who looks into 91制片厂鈥檚 program to recognize the educational diligence and thorough training involved.
For instance, to earn the Cannabis Science and Therapeutics certificate, students will take six online courses spread across three semesters. The Illinois Community College Board-approved credential program includes on-the-job experience in the form of an internship as well as the necessary Illinois Responsible Vendor Training required for employment. To work in the cannabis industry, students also must be 21 or older to receive agent identification from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
In the program鈥檚 courses 鈥� beginning with Introduction to Cannabis and Cannabis Law and Policy 鈥� students will benefit from Hughes鈥� experience and industry network, including those involved in law, business, accounting, operations, cultivation and outreach.
The certificate is for 鈥減eople who are seeking a career in this industry,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey want something in-depth so if they start as a dispensary agent or 鈥榖udtender,鈥� they can also look to higher-level positions involving management or become entrepreneurs.鈥�
Hughes said the jobs are there now, with more to come. According to industry website Leafly, cannabis jobs are being created at a . Last year saw a 71% increase in revenue along with more than 70,000 new positions. These include budtenders, patient care specialists, cannabis product sales representatives, dispensary managers and more.
That means not just more opportunities paying good wages in an expanding business but, as Hughes pointed out, more prospects for people of color. She hopes 91制片厂鈥檚 program will draw and empower a diverse body of students to explore cannabis careers. Education and training are crucial elements.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a demand and a need for a level of rigor,鈥� Hughes said. To be considered a quality employee in the cannabis industry, 鈥渢here鈥檚 a level of study and investment to talk about things the right way. You need a breadth of knowledge.鈥�
To learn more about 91制片厂鈥檚 Cannabis Science and Therapeutics program and certificate, visit the program鈥檚 homepage or call Admissions Outreach at 847.925.6700.