Dive Brief:
- A proposed ordinance would require that San Francisco employers in the cannabis industry ensure that at least 35% of new hires are graduates of the city's cannabis apprenticeship program.
- For a business with more than 10 employees to receive a city cannabis permit, current law requires that it "enter into either a Labor Peace Agreement or a collective bargaining agreement with a Bona Fide Labor Organization." The latest proposal adds the apprenticeship mandate to that requirement.
- The CityGrow program is aimed at training disadvantaged workers, according to local media, but has drawn criticism from employers who say they can't handle another mandate.
Dive Insight:
With more 600,000 jobs predicted for the emerging cannabis industry, some have suggested that training in this sector may provide a roadmap for other rapid-growth industries.
The industry is dealing with a lot of charted territory and few experts; training needs range from agriculture to quality control. In fact, recent data shows that less than half of the industry's current employees have received any type of training and only 20% have any medical or scientific background. Some have expressed concern that for dispensary workers, who recommend products based on a customer’s medical or personal needs, this can present a significant problem for the safety of consumers.
As with other rapid-growth industries, like craft beer and many tech sectors, cannabis training will need to keep pace with demand for employees — a challenge in any industry in today's tight labor market.
