![]() ![]() Part of the reason is that because marijuana is regulated at the state level, markets vary widely across the country. “It’s the type of program that’s getting its footing right now, and we’re trying to figure out if this is the type of certification or process that’s actually going to add value,” she said. And just because an applicant has the certification does not guarantee they’ll land a job, at least not yet. While these are all valuable skills, the certification itself is not essential to landing a job in the cannabis industry, according to Kelsea Appelbaum, vice president of partnerships for cannabis recruiting firm Vangst. Testing is comprised of a written knowledge assessment, a role-playing assessment that focuses on cannabis customer service, and a blind tasting assessment. “Similar to the sommelier, learn the techniques, but then they go home and practice.”Īfter the self-guided online classes, Ganjier participants register to attend a two-day intensive in the Emerald Triangle, California’s most famous cannabis cultivation area, where they’ll tour a marijuana farm, learn more about the customer service guidelines, and practice sensory analysis techniques in real-time with a teacher.Īfter that, it’s time for exams. “You can’t assess cannabis without actually consuming it,” Gilman said. (For those familiar with the Beer Judge Certification Program, the app is similar to a beer scoresheet.) Students also learn how to evaluate the quality of buds by looking at trichome structure and learning to identify contaminants such as mold or mildew.Įach program registrant receives a kit with terpene inhalers and flashcards, and a professional-grade jeweler’s lens to aid in home study, as well as access to a proprietary app that facilitates evaluation. When it comes to sensory analysis, aspiring Ganjiers will learn how to properly taste flower and concentrates by studying terpenes and breaking down other elements that affect flavor and aroma. Service training focuses on how cannabis professionals can help each consumer find the appropriate product for their liking and level of experience. Like the sommelier and cicerone programs, customer service and sensory analysis are essential to the curriculum. Ganjier enrollees receive a palate training kit, which helps them learn and then be able to identify different terpenes in cannabis flower and concentrates. The curriculum extensively covers all aspects of marijuana, including the history and science of the plant, the various ways it’s grown and processed, and modern consumption methods, among other topics. The Ganjier program includes a mix of self-guided online courses and in-person training before enrollees complete a written test and two oral exams. Enrollment is now open for the next session, meaning you, too, can graduate from casual enthusiast to bonafide weed snob. In September, 36 people received certifications following the inaugural Ganjier training. It’s the aroma, the flavor, the experience.” ![]() “Those epicurean industries I mentioned - alcohol, chocolate, coffee - they don’t measure quality based off of the alcohol content or the caffeine content. ![]() For me, it’s no different than people who enjoy a fine wine or a fine coffee or a fine chocolate,” Gilman said. I’m really into the tools, the techniques, you know, elevating the enjoyment of your experience with cannabis. “My personal passion is cannabis connoisseurship. Dispensaries often price weed based on how much tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, is in it, he said, which does a disservice to both the products and consumers. Managing director Derek Gilman said there’s a lack of understanding about - and therefore a lack of appreciation for - quality cannabis since the legal market was flooded with products. Launched in 2020, the program aims to expand education about the long-prohibited substance and facilitate a broader appreciation of craft cannabis in the process. But who do you call when looking for a cannabis expert? (Hint: It’s not your “guy.”) Participants in the Ganjier program receive a sensory analysis toolkit that includes a jeweler’s lens, so they can view a bud’s trichrome structures up close.Įnter Ganjier (pronounced gone-je-ay), a first-of-its-kind certification program that turns enthusiasts and industry professionals into marijuana masters. When you’re looking for a beer expert, you call a cicerone. When you’re looking for a wine expert, you call a sommelier. ![]()
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