MOCJ Programs
Cannabis Reentry Employment Assistance and Training Experience
Redirecting justice-involved New Yorkers away from jails and into community-based support.
The Cannabis Reentry Employment Assistance and Training Experience, or CREATE, addresses historic disparities in unemployment for formerly incarcerated people by connecting justice-involved New Yorkers with job opportunities in the emerging cannabis industry.
Partner PROGRAMS & ORGANIZATIONS
Services Provided & Focus Domains
Job Training & Long-term Employment
Impact & Highlights
Who it’s For
- Justice-involved Individuals
- Training opportunities are offered across all five boroughs
- Located citywide
Why?
New York City faces persistent jail overcrowding and disparities in sentencing. Traditional incarceration often fails to reduce recidivism—frequent re-incarceration worsens community instability.
Overview
In March of 2021, New York State legalized the cultivation and sale of recreational adult-use cannabis, ending years of widespread arrests for cannabis-related activities. When developing the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act, the State prioritized individuals impacted by criminalization to gain exclusive access to licenses during its initial implementation. As the legal cannabis industry ramps up, with justice-impacted entrepreneurs leading the charge, CannabisNYC, NYC Department of Small Business Services, and MOCJ collaborated to help bolster the industry while creating new opportunities for justice-impacted people.
Leveraging MOCJ’s existing Community Justice Reentry Network (CJRN), CREATE is a six-week paid training program that prepares participants for careers in the legal cannabis industry. During the first two weeks of the program, participants learn about key topics for building a strong foundation in the cannabis industry, including:
- A history of cannabis legalization
- Career options and job responsibilities
- Safe use, storage, and handling of cannabis products
- The endocannabinoid system and the characteristics of cannabinoids and terpenes
- Product management techniques, such as interpreting product lab results, using NYS product inventory tracking systems, and providing tailored customer guidance on available products
After successful completion of the introductory modules, participants will receive internship placements at a partnering legal dispensary for the remaining four weeks of the program cycle. The internships provide participants hands on experience and help create an ideal path for long-term career success. CREATE participants will also receive access to all wrap around reentry services, including housing, job readiness, and case management, offered through CREATE and providers from the CJRN. Participation in CREATE is reserved for individuals who are at least 21 years old and were involved with the justice system during the past three years.
Partner Organizations
Frequently Asked Questions
If you or someone you know is interested in participating in the CREATE program, please use this intake form: CREATE Program Application Form (typeform.com). All referrals will be screened for program eligibility and wrap around reentry services.
If you want to become a dispensary partner, or have general questions about CREATE, please contact Housing Work’s Vocational Program Manager, Shirley Wong at [email protected].