Social Equity: How Can You Help?
social equity & inclusion efforts on the part of regulators shouldn’t end when they grant a license to a social equity applicant.
I hope you agree. Recently RMCC participated in several social equity and inclusion events that got me thinking harder; why aren’t the folks in charge putting their money where their mouth is?
With so many new states launching medical and adult-use cannabis programs across the country, what more can regulators do to help social equity licensees thrive in this industry?
If knowledge is power, is that why education is so difficult to come by?
Hardworking people invest their life savings into their cannabis operation when given a chance to participate in this industry.
My focus with RMCC is on helping operators sustain their business with education and keep their license for their children and their grandchildren to build generational wealth.
Operators don't have to come up with continuing education programs themselves, but they should have the ability to provide access and support for their employees.
there are many education providers out there offering osha and hr onboarding training that may be required by regulators. what about after those first 30 days on the job?
In most states, the Metrc Administrator is responsible for training existing and new staff on proper metrc workflows. Unknowingly to the new operator, the Metrc Administrator becomes a critical role in standardizing their entire business. Often when applicants get their license, they severely underestimate how much time and training is needed to ensure everyone knows how to perform their duties compliantly.
Have you hired a certified project management professional (PMP)?
Is your HR professional SHRM Certified?
Is your training manager ATD certified?
Do you have an in-house CPA?
Strong organizations employ these types of professionals when they can afford them. After all, these employees demand higher salaries because it costs about $3,000 to become and maintain certified credentials in the professional world.
one way to recruit quality employees is by providing tuition reimbursement programs as part of compensation packages.
You are essentially outsourcing the training! You don’t have to provide the training; you just need to provide access and support for your team.
RMCC builds our education from real-world experience in cannabis. Our program is about $1K to get certified and maintain that certification though the price will be increasing when all of the audit modules are fully released. As RMCC’s Chief Learning Officer, I’m passionate about continuous education. It’s what brought me to cannabis.
I transformed my teams’ knowledge, skills, and abilities into RMCC’s Compliance Operations Certification program. I volunteer my time as the Rocky Mountain ATD Chapter Certifications Director; this is not the first certification program I have developed. But, can you see the problem? There is a massive elephant in the room - who is funding all this needed education? Knowledge is power, yet everyone cannot access education.
When I came onboard with RMCC in 2019, BriAnne Ramsay, our founder and CEO, already had a social equity and inclusion program in place; it just wasn’t structured the way it is now. BriAnne knows that without our legacy community, none of us would be working in this industry. Each team member feels strongly about the racial injustice we see in the government’s war on drugs. Most of us know someone who is, or has been in jail because of cannabis. Meanwhile, states and local jurisdictions leverage extremely high taxes on cannabis businesses and consumers and use this revenue to solve budgetary shortfalls. It’s just one of the reasons I knew I found my home at RMCC.
why isn't funding for essential training provided for social equity and inclusion applicants?
I just recently talked about this with Khadija Adams and Mike Lomuto of the NCIA Cannabis Minority Report podcast.
When you're supporting an Operation shouldn't you be protecting and supporting your investment?
Education is one of the best ways to do that. Forbes states,
“Few factors can have a greater impact on a company's success than providing employees with learning opportunities.
In fact, a recent study found that when companies offer comprehensive training programs, they have 218% higher income per employee than companies without formalized training. These companies also enjoy a 24% higher profit margin.”
“a recent study found that when companies offer comprehensive training programs, they have 218% higher income per employee than companies without formalized training. These companies also enjoy a 24% higher profit margin.”
How can that be? The truth is if you’re taking care of your employees, they’ll take care of you. If they know what they are supposed to do paired with support and guidance on HOW to reach the goals you’ve outlined, you’ll see things begin to fall into place.
When people are incentivized based on their motivations (recognition, education, promotions, or raises) for doing the right thing, of course, you will have a successful operation. Right now, education is the last thing people have money for.
Because of this, RMCC provides a limited number of absolutely free seats to our Social Equity Incubator program per year; however, anyone can apply for our Compliance Operations Certification program.