How do you get an internship in the marijuana industry? (Yes, there are!)

The US Cannabis Council (USCC) has partnered with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) to set up a summer internship program. This internship lasts nine weeks. It can be described as the easiest option available to get into the cannabis industry. Through the Pathways to the C-Suite Internship Program, black

Americans and other people of color have the opportunity to be part of the burgeoning cannabis sector through the Pathways to the C-Suite internship program. The program was modeled to advance the African American talent pool. Since the inception of the US legal industry, one thing that has stood out in the room is the unequal distribution of tribes. The whites in the sector are more than all POCs combined.

The goal of the USCC

The organization’s mission is to make the cannabis industry as diverse, inclusive and equal as possible. Considering that the black community bore the brunt of the drug war and is now falling short in the burgeoning industry. Black entrepreneurs and employees in the industry need equal opportunities for growth.

According to Tahir Johnson, the organization’s director of social justice and inclusion, most black business owners willing to get involved in the industry are consistently denied access. Regulators have inadvertently created a sector that mostly favors non-black people. Johnson added that the new partnership with CBCF will improve access to the industry for black students and entrepreneurs.

In a few weeks, the organization plans to launch a tool to assess the success rates of black businesses in the industry. This will be done through the newly established Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Task Force.

A colored cannabis industry

A look at the current hotshots in the various federally legal cannabis industries would reveal very few blacks and more whites. With a reform program like this, black youth have many opportunities to push for reformed cannabis policies.

The internship was first announced in late 2021, and the U.S. Cannabis Council backed the new revelation with an application deadline within the first week of December 2021. This could launch a grassroots program that would position many black youth on the legal cannabis platform. The program organizers are looking for black young adults who wish to join the cannabis bandwagon. The program promises to instill core business values ​​in these young graduate students and connect them with networking opportunities at leading cannabis companies. These companies include Curaleaf, Holistic, Marijuana Policy Project, Columbia Care, ACHEM, Weedmaps and Canopy.

The Summer 2022 Pathways to the C-Suite Internship will allow college students (final year) and recent graduates to show what they’re made of to the top cannabis executives in the country. You will have the opportunity to learn about cannabis policy formulations and the factors influencing that policy at all levels. The program is the best place to learn all about the business side of the cannabis industry. Potential interns have much to gain from this program, from valuable knowledge to hands-on corporate cannabis work experience that will enhance their CV. The lucky ones could even be kept.

What can I benefit from the program?

The new internship program in partnership with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation is one of the best things happening to the cannabis industry right now. Employment diversity should be the norm; Therefore, this program will help steer things in the right direction. Because most of the companies involved believe that internships lead to employment opportunities, interns will have difficulty finding permanent employment after the program. Students or graduates selected for the program will receive approximately $3,000 in tuition and free accommodation during the 9-week internship. You must also report to the corporate sponsor’s office.

Qualified applicants will be equipped with the valuable tools and skills to excel in the current cannabis industry. The partnership has scheduled some events and development sessions to improve the team building and leadership development skills of these interns.

In order to survive in any sector of American business, these skills are necessary. The companies associated with the program provide the interns with suitable environments to learn and solve simple and complex challenges in practice. The interns will also work closely with senior leaders to gain insight and network with other black cannabis workers.

A dedicated task force

The USCC’s DEI task force was recently restarted following its merger with the Cannabis Trade Federation (CTF). Linda Mercado Greene, founder and CEO of Anacostia Organics and Chair of the DEI Taskforce, said the taskforce’s primary goal is to ensure that people of color have equal opportunity in the industry, particularly those with strong ties to communities hardest hit by the drug war . She stressed that equality for people of color is critical to gaining entry and thriving in the industry.

Currently, the task force is developing a strategy to create a diverse and inclusive cannabis industry. It plans to ensure disadvantaged communities reap the maximum benefits from cannabis reforms. Efforts will intensify once federal lawmakers decriminalize cannabis.

Some members of the task force include former Congressman Carlos Curbelo, Columbia Care Vice President Nhiste Abebe, Tetrasol co-founder Rtd. Judge Shelli Hayes, Lantern Head of Equity Partnerships Akele Pernell, Akerna Director Ashesh Shaw and National Cannabis Festival Founder Caroline Phillips. These members include civil rights activists, athletes, medical professionals, entrepreneurs, and former legislators. Greene noted that all task force members have a wide range of experience.

bottom line

Legalization of medicinal and adult-use cannabis is making waves across the country, but most regulators have refused to take communities of color along. With USCC’s involvement, the industry may finally have a good chance to be just and inclusive. The internship program will remove barriers to entry for the young black population and put them on an excellent path to maintaining leadership in the industry. You can visit the organization’s website to verify your eligibility to apply to the program before recruitment begins.

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