Amid delays in the state's medical marijuana program, Cleveland School of Cannabis is holding an open house in Columbus on Friday for people interested in working in the industry.
A 2016 law set a deadline of Sept. 8, 2018, for medical marijuana to be on dispensary shelves, but inspections, lawsuits and other issues have pushed that date back.
Kevin Greene, vice president of recruitment and admissions at Cleveland School of Cannabis, say the delays are ultimately a boon because it means the industry will work properly.
"We want to make sure the program is up and running and properly up and running," he says. "So I think that it's a good thing that the state is taking it's time to make sure that it does it right and doesn't have to pull back or stop or pause."
Though state lawmakers have expressed frustration on behalf of patients, Greene says that exactly why they shouldn't rush.
"We don't want our program to not be able to do its job, because we're talking about medicine and medication," Greene says.
Given the newness of the industry, Greene thinks more time will allow operators to better prepare.
"People are still not fully privy to all the information, that are not fully prepared," he says. "So somewhat of a delay actually is a benefit to everyone that's actually trying to get in the industry."
Greene says, though the media has focused on the grow operations, the law will create plenty of jobs outside of horticulture.
"There's going to be so many ancillary businesses that are going to support the industry, because we need everything from banking to insurance to lawyers to be bale to go ahead and make our industry something that's fruitful," Greene says.
