Arizona's marijuana industry needs college-educated workers. Schools offer courses to train them

OG Article

Ginia McFarland

April 9, 2025

Cannabis, once an illegal drug, is now a legitimized business. Currently a billion-dollar-a-year industry in Arizona, it expanded exponentially after voters approved laws allowing recreational use of the plant.

The in-demand jobs have prompted two community colleges and one university to offer certificates in marijuana business and health care to meet the needs of the industry.

One of the first places such classes were offered is Scottsdale Community College.

“When we came up with this idea, it was just before the pandemic hit,” said cannabis education lead Bobra Crockett. “We were just brainstorming on finding programs so we could get students in the workplace faster.”

Through administration and industry support, Crockett was able to create the Cannabis Fundamentals curriculum.

“I jokingly said, ‘well, the cannabis industry is booming,'” Crockett said. “Immediately it went up the flagpole, down the flagpole, and it was like, ‘great, let's do it!'”

Two more business certificates have been added to Scottsdale's program.

Recreational use of marijuana was legalized in 2020 after Proposition 207 was approved by voters. Medical use has been legal since 2010.

Mint Dispensary reached out to several colleges after Prop. 207 passed to offer scholarships. The dispensary partners with Scottsdale Community College every April. The rewards amount to $420 per recipient.

“The best way we can help is by offering the scholarships,” said Raul Molina, CEO of Mint Dispensary. “Maybe it will encourage a few more people to develop their skills and knowledge.”

Molina said skills developed after a few years of working in dispensaries are being taught in weeks through colleges.

“But with Scottsdale, they are doing a lot of the fundamentals needed that we are having to teach,” Molina said. “We’re hoping this will get people to a deeper point in their knowledge.”

Ann Torres, executive director of the Arizona Dispensary Association, said she is excited for the de-stigmatization that comes with college education.

“When you do that (college certificates) in a new industry that was born out of an illegal industry, it really changes the format of what we can do as a whole new emerging business,” Torres said.

The business courses cover the regulations of weed within the state and how to use different parts of the plant for medical or recreational purposes.

“When you have educational institutions like the University of Arizona, ASU, again, the community colleges leading that conversation, they do such a great job at doing the research behind the way we talk about marijuana and for consumers and patients,” Torres said.

Torres said having people learn and understand the regulations of weed and working with the skill sets of other industries will help the growth of the industry and outreach to the consumers.

“This industry is not going away, and so having that fresh new blood entering into this as a career path is just an amazing place for you to be as a student,” Torres said.

In 2023, UA and GateWay Community College partnered with Green Flower, a cannabis education company based in California.

“Cannabis as an industry is actually very complex and really needs a deep level of understanding and skill set to enter the sector or succeed in the space,” said Max Simon, CEO of Green Flower. “And so that’s the role of higher education, is to train professionals in-demand careers that require specialized knowledge.”

Simon said the main students who have gone through these courses are those who have already been in the industry or people looking to switch careers.

“I think that the way we designed our content and our curriculum is to be more in that camp of skills-based, shorter form, very focused, much more affordable and designed to really give people the skills and knowledge they need,” Simon said.

Chelsea Armstrong completed the Cannabis Business certificate at UA.

Armstrong was against the use of weed, until she was involved in a car accident. After trouble recovering and suicidal thoughts, she tried marijuana.

“Ever since then it has turned my life around completely,” Armstrong said. “Ever since then I just wanted to have more knowledge on it.”

Armstrong was a distribution technician at Halo Infusions before starting courses, but said having the college credentials gave her more confidence and a deeper understanding of the industry.

“For my job, it shows I am willing to go above and beyond for this industry,” Armstrong said.

Armstrong did not have any intention of going to college at the time she found a Facebook ad for UA’s program. She said the self-paced classes and in-depth education were her favorite parts.

“I never knew how much cannabis affected everything until I got my certification,” Armstrong said.

Craig Wilson is a UA vice provost and said the university worked on creating an accepting atmosphere.

“We just wanted to do what we could to offer the ability to maintain professionalism in a space,” said Wilson. “Using the outreach, recognizing these students, these learners are looking for ways to enter the field.”

All certificates are online and take about six months to complete. Wilson said programs were created to meet the workforce need.

“So we look at health and medicine, legal compliance, as well as just starting a business itself within the field of cannabis,” Wilson said. “You know, those are three distinct tracks that students decide which fits them the best.”