Matthew Alvarado sells cannabis by the book now, but he sold pot illegally and paid the price.

He was incarcerated multiple times, and says the Cannabis Reentry Employment Assistance and Training Experience, also known as “CREATE,” changed his life.

What You Need To Know

  • CREATE is a partnership between the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, NYC Small Business Services and the nonprofit Housing Works

  • The program connects New Yorkers who have been arrested or convicted — typically for cannabis — with specialized classroom and on-the-job training in the legal cannabis industry

  • It aims to establish financial security for people trying to re-enter society after serving time, which the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice says leads to lower recidivism rates and safer communities

“It’s changed dramatically. Mainly, I’m more peaceful. That’s the main thing, because I’m not looking over my shoulder. Worried about getting locked up, worried about any street problems or anything,” he told NY1. “It’s my first time having a job and not selling drugs on the side.”

CREATE is a partnership between the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, NYC Small Business Services and the nonprofit Housing Works.

The program connects New Yorkers who have been arrested or convicted — typically for cannabis — with specialized classroom and on-the-job training in the legal cannabis industry.

Alvarado currently works at Superfly Dispensary on the Upper West Side, and his boss, Dino Krezovikj, says he is excelling.

“His progress is unbelievable. He’s been a great asset to the team. He’s been promoted to captain recently,” Krezovikj said. “So, he’s been performing really, really well.”

The program aims to establish financial security for people trying to re-enter society after serving time, which the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice says leads to lower recidivism rates and safer communities.

Peter Roman, the job coach at CREATE, says this gives people a second chance.

“A lot of people made mistakes in rough times in their lives, or when they were kids, and they shouldn’t be held accountable for that for the rest of their lives,” Roman said. “So I think second chances are what makes society even better.”

Paid training includes a two-week workshop to learn about cannabis and customer service skills, followed by a four-week internship.

As many as a dozen people participate each month, and the program has trained more than 100 people so far.

“I have interns that’ve never had a job to now working full-time with benefits. So it’s been very impactful,” Roman said. 

It’s impactful for Alvarado, because now he gets to share all he’s learned, helping others as he helps himself.

“It feels great, because I’m also educating other people the same way that CREATE educated me. I took every order and info that they gave me and I’m just passing it down to others — not only customers, but to some of my coworkers,” Alvarado said. “It’s definitely happiness.”