The Journey to becoming... The Ganjier.
The Journey to becoming... The Ganjier.
In today’s hyperactive world of the Cannabis Revolution, the industry (and those considering entry) seek a competitive edge. The two most impactful options are pursuing accreditation programs or professional development opportunities. Though there are “other” certification programs in the space, the Ganjier stands out as the preeminent leader.
My journey to become a Certified Ganjier began online with an intense video-based learning curriculum with ten modules that take approximately forty-four hours to complete. I immersed myself in the coursework over an eight-month period prior to attending the two days in-person training in Southern Humboldt County, CA. If you do not know, this is the Heart and Soul of the Emerald Triangle. The choice to return to complete my final exam at a later date proved to be a great decision. In 2022, the new training Campus opens, the Ganjier Training Centre, in the Humboldt Highlands. I chose to fully immerse myself in the experience and achieve Certification over the course of two trips.
The Green Flower Team and The Ganjier Council have done an amazing job at curating the curriculum. They deliver an in-depth comprehensive study of all that is cannabis. The Ganjier Council is “led by the cannabis industry’s most respected and brilliant minds spanning disciplines from cultivation to concentrates, chemistry to commerce, the Ganjier Council was established to guide, validate, and endorse the accuracy, validity, and rigor of the Ganjier Certification Program.” This collective wisdom is what the sets the program apart from all others.
Studying to become a Certified Ganjier, is like opening pandoras box. The area you choose to specialize in and to what depth, is your own journey. “The Ganjier will be trained in assessing and grading cannabis flower and concentrate quality using Ganjier’s signature Systematic Assessment Protocol™” (SAP). This proprietary tool sets the standard for cannabis assessment. This tool allows for the vigorous grading and evaluation of cannabis from a fair but critical lens. A clear and measurable set of data points are generated by the SAP in such a way that everyone can understand what makes its results valuable. If taken seriously, one can easily obtain areas for product improvements. After all, we all continuously seek out exceptional cannabis of the highest quality.
Prior to my choice to take part in the inaugural class (3261 applicants for 150 seats), I was not aware of the level of continuous learning opportunities and network building that would present itself. Whether through student-led study sessions, The Council Members’ speaker’s series, or peer-to-peer/Council-to-peer SAP Sesh’s to help calibrate our palates to understand how to grade the nuances, one feels blessed and privileged to provided with these opportunities. The Ganjier is a perpetual learning environment. We continue to evolve and define what it means to become a Ganjier, an attribute that makes The Ganjier Program exceptional.
Certified Ganjier is the beginning. There are three distinct but complementary certification paths: “Certified Ganjier (CG) - The foundational level of Ganjier training that focuses on the exact assessment of cannabis quality, artfully executed service, and the business of successful cannabis sales; Advance Ganjier (AG) - Advanced level training tailored to further the Ganjier’s ability in the business of cannabis consultation, cultivation, sales, events, and tourism; and The Executive Ganjier (EG)- Executive level of training that involves an intensive focus aimed towards equipping the Ganjier with the highest level of knowledge and skills to successfully manage any cannabis enterprise;” the depth in which one wants to go is… the personal journey.
My journey to becoming a Certified Ganjier has been humbling, inspirational and invaluable to furthering my understanding of this amazing, but complicated, plant. Beyond that, I have built a world-class network of colleagues and mentors while gaining further insights into what the business of cannabis is all about. The learning has only begun really, and will the journey ever end? I’ve achieved two Degrees from different Universities in my early adulthood, and The Ganjier delivers the best overall experience at the peak of my professional career. I have been able to “congregate, collaborate, and connect” with the ever-growing Ganjier Community. We are keeping our fingers on the pulse of the industry while continuing to dial-in our business acumen. We are today’s cannabis professionals. We are: The Ganjier.
What are you waiting for to start your journey of becoming a Certified Ganjier? Schedule a 30 minute call to asks any questions you may still have. The 2022 Ganjier Class is Open. Enrollment Now: https://www.ganjier.com/full-certification-pathway/
Written on April 10, 2022, by:
Mark Barbour, Ganjier-In-Training.
Inaugural Class of 2021.
Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada.
Left. Mark Barbour, Ganjier-in-Training & Chief Executive Officer of the BestBuds Cannabis Company.
Right. Dwayne Bisson, Certified Ganjier & Manager of Retail Sales, and Education of aqualitas.
Dec 13, 2021. Garberville, California, USA
