Help wanted: Medical cannabis job fairs set for Kansas City, Springfield and St. Louis
Statewide workforce development events come as the one-year anniversary of historic vote approaches
ST. LOUIS – Medical cannabis job seekers will soon have the chance to meet face-to-face with prospective licensed operators as Missouri prepares to welcome hundreds of new state-legal marijuana businesses in early 2020.
Each month, members of the Missouri Medical Cannabis Trade Association (MoCannTrade) gather with colleagues to network, hear from industry experts and fine-tune their business plans as state officials prepare to award nearly 350 coveted business licenses to grow, manufacture and sell medical marijuana.
In November, MoCannTrade is opening the doors of the normally members-only events and inviting the public to the first cannabis job fair to connect with would-be employers in Springfield (Nov. 11), Kansas City (Nov. 12) and St. Louis (Nov. 13). The one-hour sessions will use a “speed interview” format to allow both job seekers and prospective employers to connect with as many potential matches as possible, with additional time to network after the formal program concludes.
“Our preliminary estimates indicate Missouri’s MMJ industry will create 4,000 new jobs and generate an overall annual economic impact of more than $500 million,” said Andrew Mullins, MoCannTrade executive director. “With excitement among aspiring employees as well as potential business owners palpable, we wanted to give members of both groups an opportunity to jump-start the recruitment and hiring processes.”
That enthusiasm is also apparent among Missouri medical marijuana patients and caregivers. As of Wednesday, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reported approving nearly 16,000 patient and caregiver applications — with another 2,500-plus applications pending. That’s a weekly average of nearly 1,000 new patients since the program started accepting applications in late June.
Prospective medical cannabis business owners have submitted 2,273 applications for the fewer than 350 operating licenses total the state will award for cultivation, infused product manufacturing and retail dispensaries by Dec. 31. Retail sales are expected to commence by the spring of next year.
Under Article XIV of the state Constitution, which voters overwhelmingly approved in November 2018, Missouri residents with cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma and 20 other qualifying conditions can purchase or cultivate medical cannabis with a physician’s recommendation. The new law also provides physicians with the discretion to certify patients who have other chronic and debilitating medical conditions that could benefit from medical marijuana.
To sign up in advance for the state’s first-ever medical cannabis job fairs, visit www.mocanntrade.org/news/event-calendar. Registration is $10, plus processing fees, for those age 21 and over.
*******
The Missouri Medical Cannabis Trade Association (MoCannTrade) is an association of business owners, health care providers, professionals, patients and residents responsible for helping to implement a successful, safe, compliant medical marijuana program in Missouri.
The membership-based association is directed by a board of diverse professionals experienced in medical marijuana, healthcare, law, pharmaceuticals, science, agriculture, law enforcement, security, commercial real estate, finance, public affairs, and regulatory sectors.
To learn more about MoCannTrade please visit www.mocanntrade.org
