Move over wine experts, stoners are now being certified as Ganjiers, or cannabis sommeliers, a move that could prove lucrative for bars and restaurants.
In recent years, the term sommelier has been extended across a multitude of products: wine, of course, but also beer, agave, tobacco, even water. Now, the booming cannabis industry is going beyond a standard ‘budtender’, and introducing the Ganjier, a cannabis sommelier, as reported by Shanken News Daily (SND).
The Ganjier certification was developed by Green Flower, a California-based cannabis education company. They’ve been working on the certification since 2019, drawing inspiration from more traditional sommelier courses. Their first training session opened in October, and seeks to elevate standards across the industry.
READ MORE: 2022 Slated to be the Year of Cannabis
The course consists of ten online courses and a two-day live training on a cannabis farm in California. It equates to about 40 hours of training and 31 lessons, taught by ‘cannabis luminaries’, like breeders, legal experts, and more. Their first generation of budding, pun intended, Ganjiers are mostly budtenders, retail managers and director of sales, according to Derek Gilman, Ganjier managing director. The idea is they will bring their training back to their companies to enhance the overall level of education across the industry.
In an interview with SND, Gilman explained, “Cannabis is an epicurean product”, used for medical, health and recreational reasons. “What makes cannabis desirable? Its flavor, its appearance, its aroma—the same things that make other epicurean products desirable—wine, for example, and coffee, chocolate, cheese, and cigars. In wine it’s not the alcohol content that dictates the quality of the wine, but the appearance, aroma, and flavor. It’s that ultimate experience that comes from interacting with the senses. And it’s the same with cannabis—it’s the flavor and aroma and the end experience.”
READ MORE: The Rise of Cannabis: What Bars & Restaurants Need to Know
By framing cannabis as an ‘epicurean product’, something meant to be enjoyed in the same ways as luxury indulgences like wine, spirits and chocolates, Gilman backs up what Bar & Restaurant has been stating for some time: savvy bar and restaurant operators need to embrace the industry.
It’s unclear exactly how future Ganjiers can contribute to bars and restaurants moving forward, but it’s a market to watch. 2022 is slated to be the ‘Year of Cannabis’ after all. With new cannabis markets constantly emerging, like Alabama, Connecticut and New Mexico, sales are expected to exceed $30 billion next year.
And as Ben Allmand, Vice President of Business Development and Compliance for Chalice Brands, LTD told Bar & Restaurant in October, “Federal legalization is an inevitability at this point, the only question is when?”
READ MORE: Cheech Marin Launches ‘Stoner Food’ Virtual Brand
Cannabis laws, even in legalized markets, remain confusing – and interested operators need to be familiar with their local laws. Even so, entrepreneurs have already started taking advantage of the booming industry. Most notably, Cheech Marin of ‘Cheech & Chong’ fame has teamed up with chef Zach Neil to launch Muncheechos, a virtual brand catering to stoners. Not only do they have elevated munchies-friendly dishes, like BBQ mac and cheese nachos, but they also offer CBD-infused edibles.
Bar & Restaurant will continue to cover the emerging cannabis market, and offer suggestions for interested operators.
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