ABOUT THE MEDICAL CANNABIS CAREGIVER TRAINING PROGRAM
Liz McDuffie, Program Director
Hello, and Welcome to the Medical Cannabis Caregivers Directory and Training Program.
MCCDirectory.org and Training Program is a nonprofit Association founded in January 2006, with the support of CANORML and the help and leadership of Jeff Yablan.
The primary purpose of the Association is to provide information, resources and training to individuals who are currently providing services, or interested in providing services, under California's Medical Marijuana Program.
The MCC Board and teaching Associates are dedicated to building an educational environment that supports integrity, safety, creativity, community, and action. Classes are taught at the MCC Training Center located at 50 North Mentor Avenue in Pasadena.
The MCC Training Program emphasizes learning by doing. Observing or participating in the implementation of what is being taught, provides a valuable learning experience.
In developing the Physicians Orientation class, the MCC established a Physician’s Medical Cannabis Evaluation Office that allows class participants to observe, first hand, the operational standards and procedures taught in the Orientation.
MCC Cultivation classes are taught in a hydroponic cannabis garden with plants in each stage of cultivation starting with clones from the Mother plant to the curing and drying process.
MCC Committees and Internships give participants first hand experience in specific areas of the industry. An example is the Health Care Facilities Committee and its work with health care facility owners, administrators, and medical staff to establish protocols for providing cannabis to qualified patients within the facility,
The MCC policy, regarding the implementation of what is taught, includes the creation of a model “Medical Cannabis Information and Resource Center” in Pasadena. The “Information and Resource Center” concept provides an alternative in cities, like Pasadena, that have banned the approval of a storefront license for a medical cannabis Collective.
Because the “Medical Cannabis Information and Resource Center” does not distributed cannabis from the Center, a business license is easier to obtain. Streams of income for the Center can include working with physicians that provide medical cannabis evaluations, cannabis related training programs, books, publications, hemp products, and healthcare services.
The core class, MCC 121, provides an understanding of the implementation of California’s MMP in light of the Compassionate Use Act, SB420, the Attorney General’s Guidelines, and Court rulings.
Four years into teaching MCC 121, has served to emphasize its importance in laying the foundation for providing services legally and safely under California’s Medical Marijuana Program and discovering the many opportunities that it offers.
MCC TRAINING PROGRAM INSTRUCTORS/ASSOCIATES
Rolando Tringale, MD
Dr. Tringale is a Medical Board licensed Physician and Surgeon. He is a graduate of the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine. Dr. Tringale’s Primary Practice is Family Practice with a Secondary Practice in Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Dr. Tringale’s work and experience, in the medical cannabis field, includes teaching the therapeutic benefits of cannabis and cannabinoids at Harbor UCLA Medical Center and the MCC Directory and Training Program Center in Pasadena. In addition to providing medical cannabis consultations since 2006, Dr. Tringale works with CHAPS, a Pasadena based Community Free Clinic and Homeless Healthcare, an LA Harm Reduction Needle Exchange Clinic.
Bruce Margolin, Attorney
With over 40 years of practice as a criminal attorney, working to reform marijuana laws, Bruce Margolin, author of “The Margolin Guide to California and Federal Marijuana Laws”, needs no introduction. Bruce discusses the laws regarding possession, cultivation, sales, and transportation under California’s Medical Marijuana Program.
Stewart Richlin, Attorney
Stewart Richlin has extensive experience in litigation, transactions, corporate and business law having worked in several A/V rated law firms including Schulman & Davidoff (business litigation) and Ezer, Williamson, & Brown (real estate and complex litigation). Stewart Richlin is an ABOTA Member and was named Attorney of the Year by the Gregory A. Yates Civil Rights and Complex Injury Litigation Practice. He attended UCLA and Southwestern University School of Law, where he received an award for outstanding scholarship. Stew Richlin has represented over a 150 nonprofit Collectives under California’s Medical Marijuana Program. His extensive litigation and transaction experience uniquely qualifies him in providing services and representation under the laws that govern the MMP.
DJ Short, Cannabis Breeder
A Breeder since the early 70's, DJ Short has produced some of the most unique strains found anywhere on the planet. His Blueberry strain placed first in the Indica category at the 2000 Cannabis Cup. As one of the most important Breeders of our time, DJ Short raises the bar for all cannabis breeders with his original mix of new and Old World genetics. He is the author of “Cultivating Exceptional Cannabis: An Expert Breeder Shares His Secrets”, the first book in the Marijuana Tips series.
Jeff Yablan, Activist and Consultant
Jeff is one of the founders of the Los Angeles Cannabis Resource Center, Southern California’s first medical marijuana patient Collective. He served as CFO, Program Director and member of the Board of Directors. The Center operated successfully from 1996 to 2001, when it was raided by the DEA. The LACRC property was the first building forfeited to the government as a result of a DEA medical marijuana raid. In 2002 Jeff helped launch and develop Medical Marijuana ProCon.org. He received the American for Safe Access Jane Weirick Activist of the Decade Award in 2007. He has served as a member of the LA County Medical Marijuana Task Force and has provided testimony to the California State Senate Health Committee regarding SB420, the Medical Marijuana Task Force Bill. Jeff received his BA in Journalism from California State University in Northridge. His Master’s Degree is in Marriage, Family and Child Counseling.
Chris Van Hook, Attorney and USDA “Organic Certifier”
Chris has over 30 years experience in farm development, agriculture and Mari-culture. He is the Director or Abalone International, Inc. a harbor based abalone farming company, and Global Culture, a consulting firm for abalone projects worldwide. Chris is an attorney and USDA “Organic Certifier”. Chris founded and developed the CLEAN GREEN CERTIFICATION PROGRAM, after the USDA “Organic” Certification Program refused to Certify cannabis producers or their processing and handling and distribution facilities.
Karen Pike, Hospice Nurse
Karen Pike is the founder of Main Street Patient Advocacy, a nonprofit Collective, specializing in alternative, non-smoked ingestion methods. Karen has worked as healthcare provider for over 30 years. She developed and patented "Float Magic", a flotation device used for rehabilitation therapy. Karen's studies have included herbal therapies, nutrition, acupressure and reflexology. She is Certified in food service safety and sanitation standards. As an instructor in the production of cannabis infused products since 2006, her focus is on product safety and "standardization".
Sunny Chan and Peter Giron, Cultivators
Sunny Chan and Peter Giron are the founders of Good Leaf Collective. They have been cultivating and teaching cannabis cultivation for over 10 years. Sunny and Peter are State licensed contractors for electrical and environmental control, they have consulted and assisted Collective operators in designing and setting up safe and efficient Collective gardens.
Liz McDuffie, Director. MCC Training Program
Liz is a post graduate in Public Administration at the University of Southern California and owner of Ritz Resale, a Pasadena based women’s resale clothing store she established in 1989. Liz received medical cannabis training in Duncan, BC with Eric Nash and Wendy Little, Canada’s first “Certified Organic" medical cannabis growers. She participated in Health Canada’s Medical Marijuana Access Training Program at Malaspina College. Her studies included on-site assessments of operational standards and procedures used in Compassionate Use Clubs in Canada and California.
Naomi Reyna, Activist and Consultant
Naomi Reyna has nine years experience in crop growing, harvesting, preparation, storage, transportation and marketing. As a consultant, she has assisted Patients’ Groups with licensing requirements, product inventory and purchasing. She is a member of Drug Policy Alliance and Students for Sensible Drug Policy. Naomi has completed the 2007 Master Gardener Training Program offered by the University of California Cooperative Extension Program, Los Angeles Agriculture and Natural Resources Department. She has also completed an Internship as Assistant to the Curator of the Herbarium. Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden.
Learn about our classroom and online training programs. All classes are single day programs.
