Cannabis institute teaches people how to start marijuana business

Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.

An organization called Cannabis Career Institute holds classes and seminars on how to get started in the marijuana business. A recent talk on Saturday occurred in Baltimore, MD. On Tuesday, voters in three more parts of the United States — Washington D.C., Oregon and Alaska — legalized the use of marijuana.

The CCI has stepped in to educate people on the business opportunities in the fledgling sector, offering day-long seminars for $299. Doug Porter, who organizes the seminars, stressed during the talks that the drug is still illegal on a federal level and that “It is really an opportunity for anybody from all walks of life. Besides what we know about dispensary owners, the delivery service drivers and the growers, there are a lot of ancillary jobs that come as a result of this.”

The company has taught more than 3,000 people about the cannabis business since opening its doors in 2009.

Porter indicated that the classes have received a strong positive reaction in most states. Five areas in the United States now have legalized the purchase of marijuana; Colorado and Washington voted to legalize its sale two years ago and just this year began selling the plant for recreational use.

Porter, however, says that not all areas have been welcoming of CCI’s message, citing conservative Southern states as places where his talks have not garnered positive feedback.

Of the South, Porter says, “That’s where you still have the “reefer madness” mentality.”

It was projected that more than $2.34 billion in legal marijuana would be sold in 2014, an increase of 64% from the previous year.

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