A Connecticut university has new courses to help students be work ready. In an industry expected to add jobs

HARTFORD, Conn. -- With cannabis sales holding steady in Connecticut and planned federal changes to the industry, a university here is expanding its certificate courses in the cannabis business.

The new 16-week Southern Connecticut State University courses will take a deeper dive into the cannabis industry than those previously offered and students will come out job ready.

The expansion coincidentally comes at a time when President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that reclassifies marijuana as a less dangerous drug and open new avenues for medical research. That change is expected to increase jobs and cut taxes in the field, making for more expansion, the experts say.

Experts say cannabis is a $45 billion industry nationwide and with legalized businesses in Connecticut evolving, there is a need for workers who are knowledgeable about the products and laws that must be followed.

SCSU has been offering nine-week online courses related to careers in the cannabis field and has added five 16-week courses with more and deeper information.

The courses are curated and taught by California company, Green Flower and are non-credit, but end with a certification that puts those who complete in a good position to obtain employment in the field.

“We have to be where the workforce is and meet them where they’re at,” Amy Feest, senior director of the Office of Workforce and Life Long Learning at SCSU has said of the cannabis courses.

Max Simon, CEO of education business at Green Flower, which has partnered with SCSU, has said Connecticut is relatively new to the market, but as of 2024 there were 4,169 employed here in the industry.

“Having 4,000 employees speaks volumes,” Simon has said.

Simon said he started the education business, now carried by numerous universities in the nation, when he saw cannabis was on the precipice of being legalized and knew it carried a stigma. There was also too much misinformation out there, he has said.

According to state data, Connecticut saw $$4,799,813.57 in adult use cannabis sales during the week that ended Dec. 27, 2025, not counting medical use products. While sales vary per week, the total of adult use sales hit higher than $3.7 million in each of the three weeks prior to the week ending Dec. 27, state data shows. In November 2025, the highest sales were recorded for adult use products in the week ending Nov. 27, at $4,570,509.05.

Learning the business

After taking the shorter courses at SCSU some people go on to get a job in the industry, others learn about cannabis to enhance a career they already have, such as an attorney or to become a cannabis user themselves.

The new suite of online Cannabis Career Certificate programs feature 50 plus cannabis industry leaders.

“These new Cannabis Career Certificates are built to match exactly what employers are hiring for in each sector of the cannabis industry,” Simon said.

Feest said the collaboration opens doors for individuals to enter the rapidly growing industry.

Feest said Connecticut’s cannabis sector is projected to create between 10,000 and 17,000 jobs within five years and generate up to $1.7 billion in the state GDP, alongside hundreds of millions in tax revenue.

Locally, Feest said, New Haven and statewide initiatives—including the Social Equity Council’s workforce programs—are prioritizing training and employment opportunities for residents in disproportionately impacted areas, reinforcing the industry’s role in equitable economic development.

“As Green Flower expands its offerings with more comprehensive certificate programs and career development resources—including emerging areas such as Medical Cannabis Specialist training—Southern remains committed to preparing a skilled workforce that meets the demands of this evolving marketplace,” Feest said.

The new suite includes six online programs that align with the cannabis industry’s most in-demand job sectors, creating a clear, credible path for students to enter the industry:

In the shorter, eight-week long arena there is a Cannabis Associate Certificate for $850 that provides a comprehensive foundation in cannabis policy, plant science, industry sectors, and compliance essential.

The new 16-week courses for $2,200 includes Cannabis Cultivation Specialist, which prepares students for cultivation roles across indoor, outdoor, and greenhouse environments.

There is also a Cannabis Product Development Specialist course of that same amount of time and money that teaches how to develop cannabis products from extraction to finished goods, including concentrates, edibles, beverages, topicals, and more.

In the new category there is also a certificate for Cannabis Retail & Sales Specialist that equips students with product knowledge, sales skills, and operational best practices to succeed in dispensary and brand sales roles.

Another new 16-week course is for Cannabis Compliance Specialist, which trains students to manage compliance across cultivation, retail, and manufacturing operations.

A fifth 16-week course is Medical Cannabis Specialist which teaches students how to guide safe and effective cannabis use, preparing them for roles in clinics, dispensaries, and other patient-focused settings.

After the course certificates are earned students will access to the Cannabis Career Resource Center, which offers continued education and job resources.

As the cannabis industry professionalizes itself, employers are increasingly seeking candidates with formal training and recognized credentials, Feest said.

“One year ago, the state of Connecticut opened an entirely new market, creating jobs, opportunity, and a safe, regulated way for adults to purchase cannabis,” DCP Commissioner Bryan T. Cafferelli said in 2024.

“This was no small task, and the team at DCP launched this new market in a thoughtful, measured way,” he said. “Since then, many new businesses have opened and more are on the way. We are proud of the work carried out by our agency over the past year, and we are looking forward to continued growth, fair regulation, collaboration with our sister agencies, and thoughtful problem solving as new challenges present themselves in the years to come.”

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The SCSU classes have new start dates offered every eight weeks. To learn more or enroll, visit https://www.southernct.edu/owll.