Yo, peeps! Check it out, the Rochester Public Library in Rochester, New York knows what’s up. They see the mad potential for jobs in the state’s new cannabis market. I mean, cannabis sales have been poppin’ off since last December, but Rochester just got its first dispensary called Herbal lQ a month ago on Aug. 30. And get this, it started as a temporary pop-up, but now it’s here to stay!
With all these new dispensaries poppin’ up, you know what that means? Job opportunities, baby! The city leaders got a plan to cap the number of dispensaries at nine. That means there’ll be one dispensary for every 12,500 residents. And check this out, the new cannabis businesses won’t be able to sell their products until January 1st, 2025. So they got some time to get their sh*t together.
But don’t worry, the Rochester Public Library got your back. They’re hosting this dope event called “Get Weeding with the RPL.” It’s a five-week course to help y’all get ready for careers in New York State’s legal cannabis industry. The event will go down every Saturday from Sept. 30 through Oct. 28 at the Bausch and Lomb Public Library Building’s Kate Gleason Auditorium on South Ave.
The mayor, Malik D. Evans, knows what’s good. He understands the importance of having qualified employees for these cannabis businesses. He wants them to succeed, especially for our Black and Brown brothers and sisters who got hit hard by the war on drugs. Shoutout to the Rochester Public Library’s Business Insight Center and their partners at the Cannabis Workforce Initiative and the Cannabis Employment and Education Development Unit for making these training sessions happen. It’s all about giving our residents a head start in this new industry.
If you can complete the initial coursework, you’ll get a certificate in Cannabis Career Exploration and Worker Rights. That’ll make you a top candidate to work as a budtender at one of them legal dispensaries. And if you really want to step up your game, you can sign up for an 8.5-hour virtual Responsible Vendor Training course. That’s some next-level sh*t right there.
The Rochester Public Library ain’t doin’ this alone, though. They’re teaming up with the NYS Cannabis Workforce Initiative (CWI) and the New York State Department of Labor’s Cannabis Employment and Education Development Unit (CEED). It’s all about coming together to create opportunities for everyone.
So here’s the deal, the in-person component of the training will go down from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on five consecutive Saturdays: Sept. 30; and Oct. 7, 14, 21, and 28. You gotta show up for all of ’em if you want that sweet certificate. Trust me, it’ll be worth it.
Roberta Reardon, the New York State Department of Labor Commissioner, knows what’s up. She sees how the cannabis industry is bringing new career opportunities to communities all across the state. The CEED Unit is here to help y’all gain the skills you need to succeed in this new economic engine. They got your back, fam.
Esta Bigler, the Co-Chair of CWI, is pumped to partner with the Rochester Public Library. They wanna raise awareness about all the different cannabis jobs that are gonna be available. And they especially wanna make sure that communities that got hit hard by cannabis prohibition have access to these opportunities and know their rights on the job. This training is key to helping people find their path to good jobs in this new industry. It’s all about empowerment.
And guess what? Sales of legal, regulated adult-use cannabis started on December 29, 2022. Governor Kathy Hochul said they set a course to prioritize equity and now they’re making it happen. The industry’s gonna keep growing, creating opportunities all over New York State. And the best part? The revenues are gonna go towards schools and revitalizing communities. It’s all about giving back, my friends.
When the sales started, the state launched the Seeding Opportunity Initiative. It’s all about righting the wrongs caused by cannabis prohibition and building a cannabis industry that’s fair for everyone. We’re making progress, one step at a time.
Now, let’s talk about Herbal IQ-Rochester, the first dispensary to open in the city. They had to go through some crazy legal hurdles to get where they are. But they fought through it all and now they’re here, serving up that good stuff. Props to them for making it happen!
So there you have it, my fellow cannabis enthusiasts. The Rochester Public Library is stepping up their game and offering a certification program for cannabis workers. It’s an opportunity you don’t wanna miss out on. Get your education, get your skills, and get ready to join this new industry with a bang. It’s time to make some green, my friends!
