Connect with us

San Francisco, CA

Cal State East Bay students are earning cannabis certifications

Published

on

Cal State East Bay students are earning cannabis certifications


In an effort to relieve the job vacancies in the state’s marijuana industry, one California-based cannabis certification program is partnering with Cal State East Bay to boost the workforce.

Gina O’Hara, who lives in Pacifica, recently completed Green Flower’s cannabis certification course.

“When it became legalized here, a lot of friends were going to dispensaries and stuff and trying things. But I was interested in the medicinal aspects of it,” Gina O’Hara told CBS News Bay Area.

She’s been working as a consultant and technical writer for traditional pharmaceutical companies for the past 30 years, when she wanted to change things up a bit. That is when she discovered the school’s online, six-month program.

Advertisement

“You learn about the cannabis plant itself and how it works in the body. After everyone takes that, you specialize into different fields,” she said.

Students can learn about the agricultural cannabis business, medical applications, product development and compliance.

“For people that are looking for a new career in a new career, a new sector they are passionate about, I think cannabis is a great place to look,” Max Simon, the CEO of Green Flower, told CBS News Bay Area.

The company is optimistic that their educational program will help boost the cannabis industry statewide. According to one recent report, there were more than 78,000 cannabis market jobs in the state last year.

“There is some compression happening in the cannabis industry here in California but it doesn’t mean there is a real dearth of opportunity. We have 65,000 people that work in the industry and thousands of employers throughout the ecosystem. And there are always new brands and new providers showing up,” Simon said.

Advertisement

“We still have a federal contradiction to the state laws, and that creates all sorts of challenges from a banking, compliance or fundraiser standpoint. I actually think we are very close to some federal reform which will fundamentally change the industry in pretty dramatic ways,” he added.

According to the 2024 California Cannabis Market report, the number of active licenses decreased by 18% last year. Some of those reasons, officials site, are increased costs, regulatory compliance and competition with unlicensed cannabis markets.

The report states, however, that licensed cannabis production is up nearly 12%.

“We also have a lot of people who take these programs from other sectors. Whether you’re a lawyer, or a doctor, or a finance specialist, an investment banker, they take these programs and add cannabis to their practice,” Simon said.

As for O’Hara, she said as she is working in biotech, she is actively looking for contract jobs in the cannabis industry.

Advertisement

“I’ve updated my LinkedIn, I got this certification. I put it on my resume, I’m looking at jobs here and there, and I’m hoping to get contract jobs going forward,” she said.

Both Simon and O’Hara said they are optimistic about the full legalization of marijuana nationwide, and hope that it will improve the future of the cannabis industry.



Source link

Advertisement

San Francisco, CA

Body cam footage released in South San Francisco police shooting

Published

on

Body cam footage released in South San Francisco police shooting


(KRON) — The South San Francisco Police Department released video Thursday showing what led up to two officers shooting a man who authorities said was armed with a knife.

On December 8 at around 5:10 a.m., police arrived at the 900 block of Sandra Court on the report of a man under the influence of drugs and making threats to kill himself. When officers made contact with the man, identified as 28-year-old Luis Francisco-Manzo, he initially complied with orders, authorities said.

Officer-worn body camera video shows Francisco-Manzo walking toward officers in the entrance hallway of an apartment complex with his arms raised. A small dog barks as officers give repeated commands. Suddenly, Francisco-Manzo appears in the entranceway next to officers as one calls out, “He’s got a knife.”

South San Francisco Police Department officers shot Luis Francisco-Manzo on December 8, 2025. Authorities said Francisco-Manzo charged at officers while armed with a knife. (Photo: South San Francisco Police Department)

Officer Brendan Hart, who has been with SSFPD for eight years, fired a Taser at Francisco-Manzo, but it did not have the intended effect, police said.

Advertisement

Four gunshots are heard in the body camera video. Police said Officer Hart and Officer Martin Corona were the officers who discharged their weapons. Officer Corona has seven years of law enforcement experience with over four years at SSFPD.

(Photo: South San Francisco Police Department)

Francisco-Manzo was transported to the hospital in critical condition. On Thursday, authorities said he continues to recover in the hospital. No officers were injured in the incident.

The police shooting remains under investigation by the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

San Francisco, CA

Pedestrian killed in San Francisco hit-and-run crash

Published

on

Pedestrian killed in San Francisco hit-and-run crash


A hit-and-run crash in San Francisco on Wednesday evening left a pedestrian dead.

Driver fled scene

What we know:

Advertisement

According to the San Francisco Police Department, the crash happened around 6:05 p.m. in the 5500 block of Mission Street. The driver fled the scene after striking the pedestrian.

The victim died at the scene.

Advertisement

Officers have not yet provided a description of the suspect vehicle involved in the incident.

No further details were immediately released. 

San Francisco
Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

San Francisco, CA

San Francisco: Anti-ICE protester gets probation for ‘depredation’ of ICE van’s tire

Published

on

San Francisco: Anti-ICE protester gets probation for ‘depredation’ of ICE van’s tire


SAN FRANCISCO — A protester who was initially charged with misdemeanor assault has been sentenced to probation for a less serious offense, ending a federal prosecution that only started four months ago, court records show.

On Dec. 8, Angelica Guerrero, 35, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor “depredation” of an ICE van’s tire — a fancy legal term for slashing it with a knife. The same day, a federal judge sentenced Guerrero to probation, according to a minute order of the hearing.

The charge stemmed from an Aug. 20 protest, when Guerrero slashed the tire of an unmarked Chevrolet van being used in an ongoing “enforcement and removal” operation by the Department of Homeland Security on the 100 block of Montgomery Street, according to prosecutors. The complaint alleges that Guerrero “made repeated threats” against one of the officers, including stating, “I’m going to (expletive) you up” and “I’m going after your family,” as well as threatening to stab the officer.

Guerrero was released within 48 hours but complained of “barbaric” conditions inside Santa Rita Jail, during an interview with ABC7.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending