I think GateWay Community College expanding its cannabis certificate lineup is a smart, overdue move for the Valley. Arizona’s weed industry is competitive, and when a local college starts giving people a clearer on-ramp, that matters.
According to the college, the new offerings begin in early March and will be online, which makes the whole thing a lot more accessible for Valley residents trying to break into the industry without blowing up their schedules. GateWay has campuses around the Phoenix area, and it’s now growing its cannabis certificate selection from four to six this year. That’s a real sign the school sees demand here, not just a passing trend.
The college has offered cannabis courses since 2020, and it started its certificate programs through Green Flower in October 2025. To me, that says this isn’t some flashy one-off. It looks more like a program maturing with the market.
If you’ve been watching Arizona cannabis for any length of time, you know the people who get in early with real training usually have a better shot than the folks trying to wing it. This feels like one more practical step in the right direction.
— Sonny Blaze
