On April 4, 2025, the New York State Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) and the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) launched the Responsible Workforce Training Program. This regulation requires that anyone working under a licensed cannabis business complete the program for safety purposes.

A New, Essential Program for a Growing Industry

The Responsible Workforce Training program is the first of its kind in the United States and aims to address health, safety, and employment standards in the emergent cannabis industry. These mandated courses focus on Cannabis Product Safety and Responsibility and Cannabis Workforce Responsibility. Under the new regulations, all employees of licensed cannabis businesses must complete the training within 30 days of their start date.

“The health, safety, and well-being of workers is non-negotiable,” acting executive director of OCM Felicia A. B. Reid stated, “especially as the industry continues to develop.”

Components of the Training Program

The four key components of New York’s Responsible Workforce Training Program outline various responsibilities, provide industry knowledge, and address cultural issues surrounding cannabis. The components are as follows:

  • Cannabis Product Safety and Responsibility: This free, hour-long online course covers key laws and regulations, safety requirements, and OCM resources. It educates participants on several core responsibilities of working with cannabis products.
  • Cannabis Workforce Responsibility: This 40-minute, free online course explores labor standards, worker rights, and workplace health and safety in the licensed cannabis industry.
  • License Education: This component requires employees to receive at least two hours of training from a licensee, including on-the-job and written materials.
  • Implicit Bias or Cultural Competency Training: At least one hour of training to address unconscious biases and a lack of cultural understanding in the cannabis industry.

“These trainings will ensure that cannabis workers have the knowledge and skills to safely deliver quality services consumers have come to expect,” said NYSDOL Commissioner Roberta Reardon.

The OCM’s Supporting Educational Resources

In addition to the newly introduced Responsible Workforce Training Program, the OCM provides a range of educational resources associated with the program to reinforce key topics of the training. These include resources such as a guide to safer cannabis consumption, poison control training, and hemp pathogens. Users who don’t see the needed information can request additional materials from [email protected].

The OCM’s CEED Unit

The OCM also maintains the Cannabis Employment and Education Development (CEED) Unit, which helps job seekers, workers, and businesses in the cannabis industry. For those interested in exploring a career in the cannabis industry, the OCM website has a page dedicated to cannabis workforce information.

The Importance of Free and Accessible Resources

OCM’s information through the Responsible Workforce Training Program and other resources is free and accessible. This ensures that all businesses, workers, and consumers have access to education in the cannabis industry without financial barriers. This information is essential as the state continues to push for a culture of responsibility and compliance in a new industry.