This program is preparing the workforce for New York's growing cannabis industry

As the spring semester begins, Dutchess Community College is expanding one of its newer programs to match the growing cannabis industry in New York.

"New York is expected to be the No. 2 cannabis market in the nation," said Maureen Gittelman, the school's program chair of hospitality & tourism management. "There is going to be a need for strong, solid management at the dispensary level."

Enter the Cannabis Retail Management program, a 15-week microcredential designed to put students 21 and over in a position to pursue careers in recreational dispensaries.

Gittelman said the students who've enrolled in the program so far have been passionate about the opportunities available within the industry.

"We have had great feedback from our students," Gittelman said. "It's been really exciting."

More: Hudson Valley's first adult-use cannabis dispensary opens in Orange County

What is the Cannabis Retail Management program?

The program, which costs $2,742 before books, consists of four courses and equates to 13 credits over a 15-week period. As a microcredential, it is equivalent to about a semester of coursework, and students who complete the program can continue on the hospitality or business management tracks toward an associate degree.

In addition to instruction on how to follow the guidelines established by the New York State Office of Cannabis Management, three of the courses are existing business courses — customer service, hospitality purchasing and marketing, retail management — with a focus on how aspects of each apply to the cannabis industry.

A new science course, "Intro to Cannabis," explores the biological and chemical aspects of the Cannabis sativa plant.

Classes will be held Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights at Dutchess Community College's Fishkill location. The courses are done in person, but there are some hybrid aspects.

"There's some in-person time and some online work that they have to do," Gittelman said.

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Diving into the coursework: 'Intro to Cannabis'

Mark Condon is a professor of biology at Dutchess Community College and teaches the "Intro to Cannabis" course. He said those who are going to be involved with the product at their future jobs should have knowledge of the plant and how it will impact the consumer.

The course covers topics such as cannabis biology, chemistry, biochemistry and ecology, basic botany and botany of cannabis, cannabinoids and terpenes — responsible for the aroma characteristics of cannabis — along with the impact cannabinoids and terpenes on human physiology, basic genetics and genetics of cannabis, human systems effected by consumption of cannabis, medicinal versus recreational uses of cannabis, chemical dependency, as well as historical, social, economic and legal aspects of cannabis. Students also participate in a lab.

In their future cannabis industry jobs, Condon said the lab work will help students when they need to explain products to customers.

"There's a need for staff who have excellent customer service skills and know how to talk to both the cannabis connoisseur or the canna-curious customer, building relationships and recommending the right kind of products," Gittelman said.

From brewery to dispensary: Students launch cannabis business

Two students who completed the program, mother and daughter-in-law duo Angela and Stephanie Barone, plan to open their own dispensary by early May in Hyde Park called Grounded.

Angela Barone found the business side of the program to be very beneficial. As co-owner of Hyde Park Brewery — the brewery closed in 2022 — she said she's worked with the rules and regulations of alcohol in New York state and from the program learned those have been mirrored in the cannabis industry. She also liked getting to know the workforce of the cannabis industry.

"It definitely gives you a starting point and enough knowledge to start something, whether it's a job or a business," Angela Barone said.

The "Intro to Cannabis" course was what stood out for Stephanie Barone, saying Condon dove into the intricate knowledge of the plant, but in a way that was easy to understand. She said she wants one of the focuses of their future dispensary to be on cannabis education, so this class was the perfect opportunity to prepare for that.

"We want to educate the community the right way and sell safe, legal cannabis," Angela Barone added.

Stephanie Barone said this program is a great opportunity to step into a new industry in New York, when you might not know where else to start.

Career advancement in the cannabis industry

Dutchess Community College estimates prospective salaries in the industry include $41,500 for budtenders — sales associates with cannabis expertise — $71,500 for an assistant dispensary manager and $93,900 for a dispensary manager.

Gittelman said some students already have licenses to open a dispensary, such as the Barones, or plan to work in one, and some have applied for a microbusiness license — these licensees can act as a cannabis producer and retailer.

"Everyone recognizes regardless of where they want to be in the industry, these courses are really valuable," Gittelman said.

For more information visit sunydutchess.edu/cannabis or email cannabis@sunydutchess.edu.

This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: How Dutchess program aims to equip NY's cannabis industry workforce