Trenton - The New Jersey Department of State’s NJ Business Action Center (NJBAC) has added 11 new, no-cost courses to its Cannabis Training Academy (CTA) technical assistance program to help industry owners and others meet mandatory ID badging requirements.

All cannabis licensees, employees, owners, principals, contractors, volunteers and testing labs – whether plant touching or not – are required by law and regulations to have an official, non-transferable Cannabis Business Identification Card (CBIC) to work in the industry.

The CBIC Training Course is an eight-course online offering designed to meet the regulatory requirements. Its purpose: to assist new and current cannabis New Jersey license holders and industry employees seeking to obtain or renew a Cannabis Business Identification Card (CBIC), or renew their annual licenses to ensure continued compliance.

Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 17:30-8.1, the CBIC Training Course covers eight (8) topics, including an overview of the history of cannabis, covering its use, prohibition and legalization, along with a deep dive into cannabis cultivation techniques, strain and cultivar varieties, and chemotypes. Participants will also gain knowledge about packaging, labeling, and advertising regulations, and an understanding of cultivation and manufacturing processes. Health education topics will address the risks of cannabis use, including dependency, while a section on medical cannabis usage highlights its therapeutic applications.

Three additional courses outside of the eight-topic badging curriculum include:

• A CBIC Employee Initial Badging Training Course, designed to assist cannabis business owners, principals, employees, and other relevant personnel with learning the process of obtaining their CBIC in accordance with state regulations.
• A CBIC Employee Renewal Badging Training Course, designed to guide participants working in New Jersey’s cannabis industry through the process of what it takes to renew their CBIC in accordance with state regulations.
• Annual License Renewal Course, designed to assist New Jersey cannabis businesses in the steps to renew their annual licenses with the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJ-CRC), ensuring continued compliance with state regulations.

“One of the biggest hurdles new and existing cannabis employers and employees face is ensuring that all staff and vendors are properly and consistently badged and in compliance with state laws and regulations. New license holders who are reaching their one-year anniversary also need guidance on preparing to renew their license so they can operate with ease as they move onto their next year of business operations. With this no-cost offering from the State, we’re not only providing compliance education, but saving license holders money and time as they work to renew their badges and licenses each year,” said CTA Executive Director Tauhid Chappell.

About the Cannabis Training Academy
The New Jersey Business Action Center (NJBAC), housed in the New Jersey Department of State, has been designated by the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJ CRC) to build and launch the Cannabis Training Academy (CTA), a no-cost technical assistance, training and mentorship program that supports local cannabis entrepreneurs who wish to apply for a cannabis license in New Jersey, learn about the garden state’s cannabis industry, and stay within compliance as they operate their cannabis businesses. To learn more, visit https://cta.nj.gov