Discern’d Cannabis Purveyors—a retail operator committed to educating consumers about the benefits of cannabis—has established a company-wide mandate requiring that all team members hold a Dispensary Associate Certificate, part of a professional credential program administered by GF Institute through Green Flower, Inc.

A professional membership program developed by leaders in the cannabis industry, GF Institute is designed to promote the highest standards of professionalism, credibility and equity for dispensaries and related facilities nationwide. Green Flower is the industry standard for cannabis education, training and certification, working with industry leaders since 2014 to create best-in-class training programs for individuals and businesses.

The Dispensary Associate Certificate is awarded as the culmination of a comprehensive 26-module program that serves as a turnkey solution for helping entry-level cannabis professionals acclimate to their new dispensary and retail careers. In addition to automatically becoming members of GF Institute, all graduates receive a digital badge that allows them to post their newly achieved credentials online—as well as manage, share and verify their competencies digitally—as a testament to their quality commitment within the cannabis industry.

Being a founding member of the GF Institute—as well as an investor in the GFI curriculum—reflects Discern’d Cannabis Purveyors’ commitment to making education a top priority in its dispensary business model.

“Requiring all Discern’d purveyors to hold the Dispensary Associate Certificate is further evidence of our commitment to educate consumers about the role cannabis can play in enhancing their lives,” states Discern’d Chief Executive Officer Allan Villatoro, MBA. “A competitive differentiator at Discern’d is the stress we place on education as the key that enables consumers to truly appreciate the innate nuances, subtleties and characteristics of cannabis. Our mission is to create a comfortable, approachable retail space where knowledge can be shared by our in-store purveyors with our customers—thereby optimizing the benefits of the experience, while simultaneously enhancing overall safety and responsibility among adult users.”

Discern’d Cannabis Purveyors is scheduled to open in the summer of 2022.