M State expands cannabis certificate options in partnership with Green Flower

M State has expanded its online cannabis career certificate offerings through its partnership with Green Flower, a national leader in cannabis education. This week, the college announced updates to its original three certificate programs and launched three new options, doubling the number of cannabis programs available to students.

M State became the first two-year college in Greater Minnesota to offer cannabis education when it partnered with Green Flower in January 2024. The initial programs – in cannabis cultivation, retail, and extraction and product development – proved popular, with consistently strong enrollment numbers.

Now, in response to evolving workforce demands, those original programs have been updated with fresh curricula and three new certificates have been added: Cannabis Associate, Cannabis Compliance Specialist and Medical Cannabis Specialist.

“Our goal is to give students a quality, affordable education that leads to real opportunities in the real world – whether that means landing a job, advancing a career or launching a business,” says Sean Collins, director of Workforce Development Solutions at M State. “Expanding these programs creates more pathways for students to succeed in a rapidly growing industry, and we’re proud to be a part of that.”

“These cannabis career certificates are built to match exactly what employers are hiring for in each sector of the cannabis industry,” says Max Simon, CEO and founder of Green Flower.

The new and updated certificate options include:

• Cannabis Associate Certificate – Eight weeks covering cannabis policy, plant science, industry sectors and compliance essentials.
• Cannabis Cultivation Specialist – Sixteen weeks preparing students for cultivation roles across indoor, outdoor and greenhouse environments.
• Cannabis Product Development Specialist – Sixteen weeks focused on developing products from extraction to finished goods, including edibles, beverages, topicals and more.
• Cannabis Retail and Sales Specialist – Sixteen weeks of product knowledge, sales skills and operational best practices for dispensary and brand roles.
• Cannabis Compliance Specialist – Sixteen weeks training students to manage compliance across cultivation, retail and manufacturing.
• Medical Cannabis Specialist – Sixteen weeks preparing students to guide safe and effective cannabis use in clinics, dispensaries and other patient-focused settings.

Students also gain access to Green Flower’s online Cannabis Career Resource Center, which offers job listings, résumé and interview assistance, leadership development, entrepreneurship support and networking opportunities.

New classes start every eight weeks, with the next session beginning January 13, 2026. To learn more or enroll, visit cannabis.minnesota.edu.