From the growing fields to the dispensary counters, the legal cannabis industry is desperate for talent. Joliet Junior College’s partnership with Green Flower, a nationally recognized leader in cannabis workforce training, is giving students the skills to step straight into these new roles. Over winter break, JJC approved the expansion of the Cannabis Career Certificate options, releasing a statement about the courses on Jan 5, 2026. Originally only a few courses were provided in the prior years when the certificates originally launched at JJC in 2022, now there are a total of five career certificates that are available for students to begin enrolling in if they have an interest in a cannabis related career.
The five total cannabis programs available for non-credit courses are as follows: Cultivation Specialist, Product Development Specialist, Retail & Sales Specialist, Compliance Specialist and Medical Cannabis Specialist.
Since its launch, the program has aimed to meet both workforce needs and industry standards, helping students earn the proper qualifications that are recognized by employers across the country. According to Green Flower’s website they provide “the world’s most comprehensive, on-demand training platform, built specifically for cannabis professionals.”
David Lantz with the JJC center for continuing education says that through the partnership with Green Flower they have “industry leaders from around the country,” teaching the classes. These professors have gone around the country asking the industry what the skills it needs from the incoming workforce, ensuring students receive up-to-date, credible, and practical training. Skills much like, being able to understand different products and the effects that they create and more.
Not only is there no requirement for previous cannabis experience in order to take these programs, but the courses are also online which help students who have a busier lifestyle. These professors have gone and asked what the industry was looking for in order to create the curriculum. With the courses being online, the industry is hoping to get those who are self motivated and are genuinely interested in growing the industry for more than just recreational use.
JJC is not only working with industry leaders, but they are also starting to partner more local cannabis companies in order to get students hired. Companies like Terrabis Dispensary and Cresco Labs for example.
With the growing acceptance of cannabis usage, if students are genuinely interested in a possible future career within the Cannabis Industry, this is a great place for students to start getting certified.
