Seminar, walk designed to speak to budding pot entrepreneurs
Drivers honked, waved, flipped off and gave thumbs-up to a group — including someone dressed as a 10-foot-tall marijuana joint — advocating Nevada marijuana dispensaries Saturday morning.
Cannabis Career Institute made its second appearance in Nevada this year at the Hilton Garden Inn in Henderson, where they hosted both a “Medical Marijuana Freedom Walk” and a one-day seminar.
The walk began at 8 a.m. with a smattering of the organization’s members standing at the intersection of Marks Street and Warm Springs Road. They carried signs with slogans such as “Vegas wants cannabis!” and “Let us grow our medicine !”
Erica Golter, a representative and professor-in-training of the organization, led the walk. “We’re supportive of the progression of the industry, instead of either political side,” she said.
She was referring to Senate Bill 374, which is being considered by the Nevada Legislature. The bill would allow dispensaries to open across the state. CCI teaches its students to open them successfully and in compliance with laws.
Golter said she became interested in medical marijuana after seeing its positive effects on a family member who has a debilitating neurological disease. “It helped everything from his pain, to his mood, to his inflammation,” she said.
The walk proceeded from its starting point to the hotel and received attention along the way. Not surprising, considering the group included a “Star Wars” stormtrooper and the dressed-up joint.
“Power to the plant!” yelled a man getting off a bus along the way.
At the hotel, the class meeting room was already more than half full 20 minutes before the 9 a.m. start time, and people were lined up in the hallway waiting to sign in.
“It’s the way to the future,” one student said of medical marijuana when asked why she was taking the class. “So why not?”
CCI expected this class to reach capacity, as did the one offered earlier this year.
Students enrolled in the class ranged in age from young adults such as Golter to middle-age and older adults. The target audience is both people who are newly interested in opening dispensaries and people who are already in the business and want to extend their education.
Class curriculum covers topics such as extraction, cooking and hydroponics. Networking and marketing are also emphasized, and all of the information is contained in a textbook written by organization President Robert Calkin.
CCI plans to travel to other states such as Oklahoma, Washington and New Jersey to continue educating rising entrepreneurs.
“Our goal is to prepare people,” Calkin said. “To get them ahead of the curve and to do that the right way.”
Contact reporter Annalise Porter at aporter@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0264.
