Canadian Cannabis Retailers Union Announces Exclusive Focus on Education and Training

Discontinuance of membership operations will allow the CCRU to focus on the growing needs for budtender training to keep pace with the expansion of cannabis retailing in Ontario and across Canada.

TORONTO, June 22, 2020 /CNW/ - The Canadian Cannabis Retailers Union Inc. (CCRU) today announced that effective today, it has ceased its cannabis retailer membership operations.  This strategic shift will allow the CCRU to focus exclusively on the growing opportunity to provide its cannabis retail training program to budtenders and store managers and owners across the country.

In January, 2020, the CCRU launched its 'Cannabis Fundamentals and Retail Training' program in partnership with the North American College of Pharmaceutical Technology (NACPT).  The NACPT is the leading cannabis career training college in Canada and is registered with Ontario Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities.  The program is Canada's most advanced course of its kind and includes thorough information and training on the safe sale of cannabis in Ontario and across the country. 

The course involves 14 hours education, including a unique mock-retail training component to reinforce practical problem solving and customer service skills.  Upon completion, students are able work effectively in a cannabis retail environment and apply best practices in safety, harm reduction, and customer service.   This knowledge enables those already working in cannabis retail stores, or those new to the industry to speak and act intelligently and to properly educate consumers on making informed purchase decisions for cannabis and its derivatives.

"With the rapid growth in cannabis store openings and the need for properly serving adult consumers in a safe way, the CCRU has focused its attention recently on providing its training program to meet the needs of the industry for the most comprehensive education possible.", stated Andy Deonarine, President & CEO of the CCRU. " By removing the operational burden of our membership activities, we can direct our full resources to the provision of training as our highest value opportunity."

About the Canadian Cannabis Retailers Union

The CCRU is the preeminent cannabis retail training organization in Canada.  As advocates for safe and reliable cannabis distribution, the CCRU's goal is to educate retail employees and store owners across Canada on how to responsibly sell cannabis to create safer stores and communities.  The CCRU's budtender training program includes best practices on keeping cannabis out of the hands of minors, promoting effective principles of harm reduction, and enables those selling cannabis in a retail environment to provide a superior experience to customers.  Further information on the CCRU's mission and programs can be found at http://www.ccru.ca/, on Instagram @cannabisretailersunion, and on Twitter @CCRU_2020.

SOURCE Canadian Cannabis Retailers Union Inc.

Media Contacts: Andy Deonarine, President & CEO, Director, 416-729-9957, [email protected]; Jonathan A. Carley, Executive Vice-President, Director, 905-320-6260, [email protected]