Cannabis jobs platform Vangst has entered into a government contract with Colorado’s Cannabis Business Office (CBO) to create CannaBusiness Growth, an educational program supporting social equity licensed cannabis entrepreneurs.

Established as a result of Senate Bill 21-111 and funded by the Marijuana Tax Cash Fund, the CBO supports economic opportunities, local job creation and community growth for Colorado's diverse population. 

Vangst's partnership with the CBO provides social equity licensees with the educational coursework necessary to run a profitable cannabis business. The CannaBusiness Growth program includes more than 50 modules covering topics relevant to industry verticals. Module topics include:


  • Compliance
  • Finance
  • Sales
  • Marketing
  • Human Resources & Hiring Best Practices
  • Manufacturing
  • Cultivation
  • Dispensary Retail
  • Delivery & Transport
  • Hospitality

"As a Denver-based company, Vangst could not be more proud to announce our first government contract with the Cannabis Business Office," said Vangst CEO Karson Humiston. "Bridging the knowledge gap between industry professionals and aspiring entrepreneurs is what we do best at Vangst, and it's clear that the industry needs to support organizations like the CBO to enhance equity in the cannabis sector."

Led by Natasha Lannerd, Vangst's VP of strategy who served as a mentor for The Color of Cannabis, BIPOCANN and IL Equity Staffing, the CannaBusiness Growth program was designed to be self-paced and easy to comprehend. The hope is to better prepare entrepreneurs to navigate both typical startup challenges and those stemming from historical cannabis prohibition, which disproportionately impacts communities of color.

"The Cannabis Business Office is thrilled to partner with Vangst to provide our clients with on-demand online learning content," said Emma Howard, CBO program manager. "Offering this type of growth-oriented training is a critical step to level the playing field for those who have historically faced barriers to entering and thriving in the cannabis industry."

Eligible social equity licensees can access the program for free by contacting Emma Howard at emma.howard@state.co.us and providing their name, business name and a copy of their social equity license approval letter. For more information on the program or eligibility please refer to the Cannabis Business Office.