Cleveland School of Cannabis Expands into Columbus

The Ohio-based Cleveland School of Cannabis has expanded into Columbus, marking its first physical expansion after opening two years ago, Crain’s Cleveland reports. The expansion comes three months after the school reported it had tripled its revenues after running in the red for its first 18 months.

The CSC is the only state-approved cannabis school in the state, offering both in-person and online courses in horticulture, dispensaries, and medical applications of cannabis; there is also an “executive” program that combines all three.

In March, the school reported they had graduated 111 students and that another 115 were enrolled in programs. According to the school, 70 percent of its graduates are employed in the industry. According to a CNBC report, cannabis industry wages are 11 percent higher than the national median and job openings rose 76 percent from December 2017 to December 2018.

In March, CEO Austin Briggs indicated that the employment rate for graduates might be higher if students were willing to move but many were waiting for jobs to open up closer to their homes.

In Ohio, the first medical cannabis dispensaries opened in January but the program has been marred by delays and, currently, just four of the state’s 40 licensed medical cannabis processors are operational. Last month, state sales figures showed medical cannabis sales in the state had topped $5.8 million, selling more than 750 pounds of flower to the state’s more than 30,000 patients.

Briggs said the school plans on expanding out of Ohio by 2021, naming New Jersey and Florida as possible destinations.