A BA in MMJ? How American universities are attracting new students with marijuana degrees

This article originally appeared on Cannabis.net and has been republished with permission.

Thousands of students across the United States are looking to study cannabis-related programs at top universities across the country. Getting a degree in cannabis may seem strange to some, but the truth is that cannabis job openings are popping up faster than ever. It was recently reported that US cannabis jobs would increase by 161% by 2029.

With everything going on in the world, this development comes as no surprise. The cannabis industry is one of the mature industries that is growing rapidly. From 2019 to date, the sector has grown by 47%. It also appears to be an economic engine in many emerging markets around the world today. In 2020, total annual sales were approximately $18 billion. The US cannabis industry is currently worth over $60 billion and is projected to be worth at least $100 billion by 2030.

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Looking at the statistics currently available on the industry, cannabis could be the new gold in a few years, so why not get the upper hand and get trained in cannabis beforehand?

The legality of cannabis degrees

The lack of federal legislation on cannabis substances has cast doubt on the legitimacy of these programs. Not to mention the lack of federal accreditation bodies for cannabis degrees. The ANSI National Accreditation Board’s Cannabis Testing Lab Accreditation Program has accredited laboratories across the country to study important properties of cannabinoids and terpenes. Relevant testing for pesticides, microbial contamination, heavy metals and residual solvents can also be performed by these laboratories.

Cannabis degrees are not just limited to research; The space has prepared students for opportunities in engineering, math, technology, chemistry, and engineering. The industry still has a lot of room for expansion. Students who are passionate about plants need to be armed with knowledge of lucrative business opportunities in the industry and how to focus on medicinal cannabis innovation.

This means that colleges have rules and regulations that guide degrees. Once federal legislation is swiftly passed, appropriate accreditation agencies will be established and funded.

Cannabis in major American schools

Colleges and universities in America now offer three to four year cannabis education. Some cannabis companies offer scholarships to employees to study cannabis studies at one of the country’s major schools. At the forefront of this movement are Veriheal and Steadfast Labs. They have offered annual stipends worth $1,200 to employees interested in studying cannabis-related.

RELATED: A look at cannabis education offerings at American colleges

Not all of these accredited universities offer full degrees in cannabis. Some offer part-time and full-time tuition, while others only offer a few tuition hours. This offers students the opportunity to select preferred courses that match their interests and vision. Here is a list of accredited institutions that invest money and time in teaching cannabis to students. The following are undergraduate degrees, while places like Thomas Jefferson University also offer postgraduate degrees in cannabis.

Lake Superior State University (LSSU)

LSSU began offering cannabis studies in 2019. The course focuses on cannabis chemistry. Recently they added another degree in the cannabis business. Other courses offered at the University’s Cannabis Center of Excellence include Cannabis Law and Policy, A Cannabis Business Survey and Cannabis Economics.

University of Denver (UoD)

UoD focuses on cannabis law courses.

Sturm College of Law offers courses on cannabis policies and regulations. A recent course teaches us the challenges of representing criminals related to cannabis. The course covers the frequently changing rules and regulations in the rule of law states.

Northern Michigan University (NMU)

The program offered by NMU focuses on experimental horticultural practices and advanced analytical chemistry in cannabis. There is also an additional option focused on the entrepreneurial track for students.

The course, introduced in 2017, lasts four years.

The school’s news director, Kristi Evans, announced that NMU is now offering degrees in multidisciplinary indoor agriculture for students interested in medicinal plants or agricultural food production.

Western Illinois University (WIU)

WIU offers two cannabis-related courses. The first is a cannabis production minor that focuses on plant physiology and horticultural practices. Classes such as plant biotechnology are taught to students.

RELATED: Surprise! Kids desperately want to study marijuana in college

The other course is a cannabis culture minor. It focuses on the various ways that cannabis prohibition has negatively impacted the lives of the country’s black residents. Students take courses on popular cannabis cultures and contemporary moral issues.

Photo by Ryan Jacobson via Unsplash

University of Stockton, New Jersey

Stockton University is one of the few schools to offer online cannabis certification courses. The curriculum consists of six courses. These courses are an introduction to the business world, cannabis cultivation, and research in the field of medical and recreational cannabis.

The school also offers students a minor in cannabis studies. Registered students take courses on medical marijuana and cannabis laws.

Ohio State University (OSU)

OSU offers a seminar on marijuana law. The school’s Moritz College of Law also offers a course on marijuana laws and policies.

Students will be taught about business-first approaches to legalizing the cannabis industry. The presentations also emphasized existing marijuana laws and policies. Cannabiz: Exploring the “legalized” cannabis industry from a corporate transaction perspective is a popular course.

University of California

It would have been a huge oversight to exclude this institution from the list as it is one of the hottest locations for cannabis production and sales. The course offered focuses on medicinal cannabis and chronic pain. The course is only offered in the Davis section of the university.

Colorado State University, Pueblo

In 2016, the Institute of Cannabis Research was established in the Pueblo Division of Colorado State University. It is the premier multidisciplinary cannabis research center in the United States and offers degrees in cannabis biology and chemistry. In addition, a minor in cannabis studies is offered.

bottom line

Universities play a crucial role in preparing thousands for careers in the cannabis industry. There is an urgent need to train students to deal with legal, financial, marketing, product development, medical and technological issues related to the cannabis industry.

At current growth rates, the cannabis industry will support over 400,000 jobs this year, so it’s best to fill those jobs with competent individuals who have been appropriately trained.

This article originally appeared on Cannabis.net and has been republished with permission.