Nearly 100 people trained Sunday to learn about careers in the medical marijuana industry.
The free training focused on women and minorities who want to get into the industry. Organizers said the cannabis industry is expanding rapidly and they want to help people get their foot in the door.
The Cannabis Career Institute, UMED Pharmaceuticals and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore teamed up for the training. It's the second part of the state government-supported Category II curriculum.
The goal is to improve opportunities and competitiveness for underrepresented groups for the upcoming round of grower and processor medical cannabis licenses.
"Maryland is at the beginning stages of their licensing and their cannabis program, so that's the time when people need the most training and the most guidance," said Bob Calkin, CEO of the Cannabis Career Institute.
"With the diversity training, it allows people of other color, ethnicities and all to become bigger into it, and after a study through the Maryland Cannabis Commission, they found out that there was a disparity and they're here to correct it," said Toby Davidson, chief operating officer of the Cannabis Career Institute.
Both classes were funded by grants from the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission. Another training will be held in April.
