Reese Xavier knows firsthand the complexities of navigating Illinois’ developing cannabis industry. He began researching business opportunities in 2016. He joined a group that applied for a craft license in 2020 and received one in August 2021. More than a year later, he’s still working to open his business — although he’s optimistic that it will be ready to go in the next three months.
“It’s a challenging process,” he said. “But I think this is a great time to be in the cannabis industry, particularly in Illinois. The projection is that this will be a $100 billion industry (nationally) in 2030.”
He isn’t alone in that optimism.
Oakton Community College created the state’s first medical academic cannabis program in 2019, according to previous reporting, and it has since expanded its educational offerings to include three career certificates available through its Cannabis Studies Program.
This fall, OCC will offer several free workshops to introduce more people to the industry, led by instructors like Xavier who have gone through the process themselves.
“They’re designed to bring more light into the state’s licensing process and move people closer to beginning careers in the emerging cannabis industry,” said Ruth Williams, OCC’s assistant vice president of academic affairs and dean of curriculum and instruction.
The college will feature two types of workshops. Overview sessions, which are free and open to anyone, will be held via Zoom meetings. Topics include learning more about cannabis dispensary licenses (Oct. 22 and Oct. 24), craftgrow licenses (Nov. 2) and infusion licenses (Nov. 3).
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OCC will also offer small group and consultation sessions, which are funded by a grant from the state and free to those who qualify as social equity applicants.
“The state sets these qualifications,” Williams said. “They are for people who self-identify as meeting these particular criteria.”
Those specifications are designed to reach people who have suffered disproportionately from the illegal drug trade in the state. A person can identify for social equity consideration if they meet any of the following:
A person lived in a “Disproportionately Impacted Area” in five of the last 10 years.
A person has been arrested for or convicted of cannabis-related offenses.
A person has a parent, child or spouse who has been arrested for or convicted of cannabis-related offenses.
The complete rules and a map of disproportionately impacted areas can be found on the Illinois Department of Commerce website.
These small-group sessions, which include topics like technical writing and compliance, will offer more interaction and guidance to those looking to enter the industry.
Since OCC launched its first certificate program in 2019, Williams said more than 500 students have taken a class in cannabis education.
“There has been a strong demand for it,” she said. “It’s an industry that is doing very well, and there are a lot of job openings.”
While a certificate isn’t necessary to work in the field, Williams said employers are looking for those with some industry knowledge.
“It gives them a leg up,” she said. “We’ve talked to employers, and having this training gets (their resume) immediately to the top of the pile.”
Xavier likens the cannabis industry now to the early days of information technology.
“It’s still professionalizing,” he said. “I’m going to show my age here, but it reminds me of the IT industry back when that was starting. You’d buy a book with a CD in the back, and that’s how you started in the industry. It wasn’t a mature industry with an established path forward. The barrier to entry in the (cannabis) industry is low right now, and the upside is very high.”
He also believes that growth is open to a wide variety of people.
“I think that the skills that are required are teachable,” he said. “Obviously, some skills are transferable from other industries, like accounting. But in terms of candidates with specific skills for working with cannabis, that can be taught relatively easily.”
The first of the small-group workshops begins Oct. 18. For a full roundup of the OCC’s offerings, visit the college’s website.