According to Leafly’s 2021 Jobs Report, there are a total of 18,078 cannabis jobs in Michigan, with 9,216 of those added in 2020.
To combat this, Grand Rapids-based cannabis company Fluresh – known for enduring efforts to embed equity in cannabis business – opened applications for its inaugural incubator program in December 2020, with eligibility open to any individual who is a legal resident of Michigan and 21 years of age or older as of Jan.
The first session took place on Feb.
Participants included emerging businesses, entrepreneurs hoping to start their business and professionals looking simply to acquire knowledge of the cannabis industry for their own career paths.
“It was a really hard decision in the applications process,” Mojet said.
Morgan Underwood and Mary Sherman are female caregivers and cultivators for GanjaGirl MI who are interested in creating a business that serves those disproportionately affected by the war on drugs.
Wormies Vermicompost is a Latino-owned company committed to the sustainable future of local Michigan communities.
Ciarra Adkins, owner of Aqume Enterprises, is a Michigan attorney and consultant and is interested in growing her knowledge of the cannabis industry to better serve the communities she works in, having first-hand experience in witnessing the devastating, generational effects of the war on drugs.
Hills also works at the city of Grand Rapids and believes that learning the industry can enhance his regulatory lens for people in the city.
Tyler is a Grand Rapids native with a passion for chemistry, compliance and community.
Gonzalez is a longtime Grand Rapidian and cannabis aficionado who has navigated the industry, even through challenging encounters with the law, to establish himself as a respected former dispensary operator and medical qualifying clinic investor.
The more Fluresh learned about the participants, the more it realized the need for a network that supports similar programs in the future, Mojet said.