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The New Jersey Business Action Center is gearing up to officially launch its new, no-cost training program aimed at helping diverse entrepreneurs get established in the state’s cannabis industry.
Set to begin this year, the Cannabis Training Academy will offer technical assistance, training and mentorship to recreational cannabis license applicants in the social equity, legacy, impact zone, diversely owned and microbusiness categories.
Designed as a 10-week program, the CTA will walk applicants through everything they need to know to complete a cannabis application and provide them with reliable information from trusted sources that either work, teach or consult in New Jersey’s cannabis space.
In advance of the CTA’s start, NJBAC announced the first group of 25 instructors who will assist in building out the first-of-its-kind program, as well as the courses each will teach.
After putting out the call last year, the CTA team received more than 200 applications and spent three months screening, vetting and interviewing candidates before making their picks.
CTA Executive Director Tauhid Chappell commented, “Each of our selected instructors bring years of experience, success, some painful lessons learned, and deep insight to budding entrepreneurs who are interested in stepping into the Garden State’s cannabis industry.”
“Many have personally written and submitted applications for, and have succeeded in winning, cannabis licenses in New Jersey and/or other states too. This wealth of knowledge gives us confidence that prospective CTA students will be getting the most relevant, on-the-ground, guidance and wisdom from those who’ve been through the exact process and know what it takes to enter and thrive in this industry,” he said.
The selected 25 CTA instructors and their designated courses are:
- Rosemarie Moyeno Matos – Gaining Municipal Proof of Local Support
- Chuck Latini – Understanding Zoning Approvals and Site Plans
- Stephanie Thomas – Real Estate Considerations
- Cecilia Oyediran – Understanding The Application Scoring Criteria and Application Fees, Writing Your Personal History & Entity Disclosure Forms and Submitting A Successful Application
- Chirali Patel – Understanding and Drafting Business Plan and Management Profiles, Writing A Regulatory Compliance Plan, Preparing your Conditional Application Submission, and Understanding the Conditional Conversion Application Process
- Lauren Rudick – Crafting and Understanding Business Formation Documents, Understanding Management Service Agreements (MSA) and Financial Source Agreements (FSA), and Understanding Vendor Contractor Agreements
- Jessica Velazquez – Understanding Cannabis Taxation
- Dharshini Casinathen – Describing Your Business, Drafting Mission Statement & Value Propositions, Organizing A Qualified Team, Describing Your Products and Services, Writing An Executive Summary
- Devan McLaren – Creating A Financial Forecasting Plan
- James Jackson III – Preparing to Obtain Liability Insurance
- Patricia Walker – Understanding Your Business and Financial Plan, Preparing An Operating Plan, Describing Your Business Experience
- Hugh Giordano – Understanding Labor Peace Agreements
- Daniel Pierre – Understanding Collective Bargaining Agreements
- Tahir Johnson – Creating A Workforce Development, Job Creation Plan and Creating A Community Impact, Social Responsibility and Research Statement
- Marie Montmarquet – Creating A Safety and Security Plan and Drafting Standard Operating Procedures for Delivery
- Tim Weigand – Creating Your Environmental Impact Plan
- Monica Werkheiser – Understanding The Fundamentals of Standard Operating Procedures, and Drafting SOPs for Adverse Event Reporting, Quality Assurance/Control and Recall
- Kindalyn Thompson – Drafting SOPs for Packaging and Labeling, Inventory Control, Storage, Diversion Prevention, Recordkeeping and Waste Disposal/Sanitation
- Jason Gully – Drafting SOPs for Cultivation
- Kevin Serwatowski – Drafting SOPs for Manufacturing
- Charles Smith – Drafting SOPs for Wholesale
- Sequoah Turner – Drafting SOPs for Distribution
- Suzan Nickelson – Drafting SOPs for Dispensing
- Renata Serban – Drafting SOPs for Accounting & Tax Compliance
- Anita Bear – Drafting SOPs for Age Verification, Secure Transport of Cannabis and Reporting of Test Results for Cannabis
Announced in late 2022, the CTA will provide online courses to New Jersey residents ages 21 and above interested in obtaining an adult-use cannabis license. General students will be able to access the first three levels of online instruction to understand how to establish a compliant New Jersey business, the laws and regulations that shape the state’s cannabis market, and an overview of the cannabis license application portal.
To gain access to the rest of the levels and course materials, eligible students must qualify as Impact Zone applicants – as in, general students will need to attest they currently live in an Impact Zone, plan to locate their future cannabis business inside of an Impact Zone and/or plan to hire future employees that live in Impact Zones, according to NJBAC.
“Our goal is to provide key support to Jersey-owned, Jersey-local, entrepreneurs who are interested in pursuing a recreational cannabis license through this virtual technical assistance program,” commented NJBAC Executive Director Melanie Willoughby. “We are proud to provide resources and support to budding cannabis entrepreneurs and current local operators who are striving to make a positive impact in their communities.”
Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way, who oversees NJBAC in her capacity as secretary of state, added, “We look forward to launching the Cannabis Training Academy in 2024. This program will build upon the work happening throughout state government to create a more equitable, inclusive, and diverse cannabis industry.”
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