BUFFALO, N.Y. — Erie Community College wants to be the pot pioneers of New York if Albany legalizes recreational marijuana. It's designing a curriculum to teach its students how to be part of a growing industry.
It's partnering with the California-based company Flora California Prime. The Buffalo Urban Development Corporation approved a plan for Flora to build a 1.25 million square foot marijuana facility. The company said it would bring about 500 to 1,000 jobs to the area, and ECC would be training all of the new employees.
"We expect all those workers to be coming from our programs which means 1000 of our SUNY Erie students," Erie Community College President, Dan Hocoy, said.
ECC will be teaching its students in everything from the business side of pot to plant science.
"Plant biology, and physiology as well as soil chemistry...Marketing branding, licensing, operation, security, engineering, site design," Hocoy, said.
The ECC president wasn't able to give a specific wage, but said that after students graduate from its program, they will be able to earn a livable wage.
You can't enroll in ECC's pot program yet since it is still in the design phase. Plus, it's all dependent on whether or not marijuana is legalized by Albany. So it could be a few years before you enroll in Marijuana 101.
