PHOTO COURTESY OF VALLEY WELLNESS

Registration open for new medical cannabis training class at Mercer County Community College

Mercer County Community College (MCCC) is accepting students for its new health-professions program: “Medical Cannabis Training.”

The 15-hour non-credit class will run Monday evenings, Jan. 25 through Feb. 22, from 6-9 p.m. via Zoom.

Anyone from the public age 18 and up may enroll.

The course will be offered through MCCC’s Center for Continuing Studies and students will receive a certificate upon completion of the course.

The Medical Cannabis Training course is intended for anyone who is interested in a career on the ground floor of the medical cannabis profession, or who is curious about this emerging industry in New Jersey.

“New developments within the state with regard to the cannabis industry are happening almost every day. This course is intended to provide the necessary background to gain a foothold in this emerging industry,” Sarah Trent, course instructor and owner of Valley Wellness, said in a prepared statement.

The five-day course will introduce students to this highly regulated industry by bringing in a variety of subject-matter experts to discuss areas of import such as federal and state laws and regulations, the endocannabinoid system, cultivation basics, how cannabis products are made, as well as cover dispensary-technician training techniques such as dosing, administration and compliance.

Since the approval of medical cannabis in New Jersey, the need for trained individuals has increased, according to the statement.

“The potential for employment in this field is expanding. Not only is there a need for cultivators, manufacturers and dispensary employees, the spillover into other areas of the economy is enormous,” Trent said in the statement.

This is the first time MCCC has offered a course in medical cannabis since the laws have changed in the state.

“As the demand grows for a skilled health-professions workforce, MCCC will no doubt stay on the cutting edge of this industry,” Shan Bercaw, MCCC’s program coordinator, Center for Continuing Studies Division of Lifelong Learning, said in the statement. “The future is particularly bright for many types of jobs within this area of the economy and cultivating future health professionals is one of our main goals at the college.”

The cost for the five-session live virtual course is $500.

For more information or to enroll, visit www.mccc.edu/healthprof or email registration@mccc.edu.