An immersive cannabis retail certification program for Smart Choices

A four-course certification with 360-degree store environments, AI-voiced guides and video scenarios teaches retail staff the legal and safety requirements of selling cannabis.

360-degree image of a cannabis store with topic markers
  • 4

    courses in the certification program

About LGCA cannabis certification

The Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority of Manitoba (LGCA) provides licensing, enforcement and regulation for the liquor, gaming and cannabis industries in the province. It promotes the responsible use of liquor, gaming and cannabis products.

Responsible cannabis retail across Manitoba

To promote the safe and responsible sale of cannabis in the province, the LGCA introduced the Smart Choices Cannabis Retail Certification program. It focuses on legal and safety obligations such as checking ID, not serving intoxicated people and dealing with workplace safety and security risks.

The four-course program has full narration, AI personalities that guide learners, hundreds of images and music. Each course includes an immersive 360-degree image environment that learners explore in the order they choose. Learners who complete the program earn the Smart Choices Cannabis Retail certification.

What makes the program engaging

  • Self-enrollment

    Learners enroll themselves and study at their own pace.

  • AI voices and avatars

    Several AI voices and avatars guide learners and help them stay engaged.

  • Video-based scenarios

    Videos show safety and security risks in a store and ask learners to choose the right action, which builds judgment for real situations.

  • Practice and a final quiz

    Knowledge checks appear throughout, an automatically graded practice quiz ends each module, and the final quiz uses multiple-choice, multi-select, true or false and fill-in-the-blank questions.

Inside the course

  • 360-degree image of a cannabis store with topic markers
    A 360-degree store environment
  • How to Use This Course screen with an avatar guide
    An avatar guide explains the course
  • Click-to-reveal list of signs of cannabis intoxication
    Signs of cannabis intoxication
  • Four images for types of cannabis consumption: inhalation, ingestion, topical and extracts
    Types of consumption
  • Numbered tabs walking through Canada's Lower-Risk Cannabis Use Guidelines
    Tabbed guidelines
  • Module completion screen with an avatar guide and an acknowledgment of adapted materials
    Module completion
  • Project goals

    • Increase public safety in licensed cannabis stores across Manitoba
    • Teach the legal requirements and safety obligations of selling cannabis
    • Set consistent social responsibility standards for licensed cannabis stores
    • Teach retailers and staff to identify and refuse sales to intoxicated and underage people
    • Build learner confidence through interactive knowledge checks and quizzes
  • Challenges

    • Creating engaging content that accurately conveys legal requirements and safety protocols for cannabis stores
    • Designing for a diverse audience with varying levels of experience and knowledge
    • Using AI and 3D images while keeping the course smooth and easy to navigate

The result

The certification teaches retail employees the legal requirements of selling cannabis and how to identify and refuse sales to intoxicated and underage customers.

AI voices and avatars guide learners through the modules, alongside audio effects, 360-degree environments, video-based scenarios, timelines and knowledge checks. Learners who complete it earn the Smart Choices Cannabis Retail certification, which helps keep their coworkers and the public safe.

  • Types of interactivity

    • AI narration
    • Audio effects
    • Background music
    • Click-to-reveal activities
    • Immersive 360-degree images with hotspots
    • Video-based scenarios
    • Timeline interactivity
    • Knowledge checks
    • Video backgrounds
    • Learning tooltips
    • Graded quizzes
    • Automated test results
    • Glossary of terms
  • Where the content started

    Prepared: LGCA was already delivering training with existing documents and videos.

How can we help with a program like this?

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