LYNCHBURG, Va. (WDBJ) – From dispensaries, distributors, investors and beyond–the cannabis industry is growing rapidly across the nation. Leading many colleges, like the University of Lynchburg, to expand educational offerings.

Educational institutions are stepping up to meet the demand for skilled professionals in the field. Green Flower, a company dedicated to developing educational programs for cannabis careers, is helping in that initiative.

“It’s a very complex and very specialized industry. So, if people want to participate either as entrepreneurs, as employees or as service providers, it’s really imperative to have good education, strong credentials and a pathway to understand how to participate in this new industry,” said Green Flower CEO Max Simon.

In response to the growing need for qualified workers, the University of Lynchburg has partnered with Green Flower to offer non-credit cannabis education certificate programs.

“The Green Flower partnership was really key to us because it allowed us to engage with content providers and experts in the field to offer initially the healthcare and medicine certificate, which aligned well with our medical programs on campus. Then we expanded last Fall to the other four cannabis programs Green Flower offers,” said University of Lynchburg Executive Director of Professional Development Institute John Zinn.

For five consecutive years, the cannabis industry grew by more than 27%, making it one of the fastest growing industries in the country. That’s according to a 2022 Leafly Jobs report. The legalization of medical cannabis in Virginia in 2017, followed by recreational use in 2021, has further fueled the demand for knowledgeable professionals.

“People do look to cannabis for a whole host of different beneficial reasons. From very serious medical conditions like cancer and epilepsy to more manageable conditions like pain and sleep,” said Simon.

The program is entirely online, making it accessible to anyone interested, regardless of their enrollment status at the University. Participants can choose from various specializations, including cannabis agriculture, business, healthcare, compliance, and product development

“Each program lasts 6 months and contains three classes. Each class is 8 weeks in length. We want to be in the position to support workforce development and help individuals find opportunities to enter career fields that might be beneficial to them,” said Zinn.

“We have a lot of students that get jobs, we have a lot of students that go on to create businesses and we have a lot of people that just love the opportunity to familiarize themselves with cannabis, whether it be for their own personal interest or their families,” said Simon.

The first 2025 cohort of classes began January 6, but registration is still open through Monday, January 13.

Visit cannabised.lynchburg.edu/ for more information.

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