This course provides an overview of fundamental information about the history, law, and culture of cannabis cultivation and consumption.

The course will not only familiarize students with legal issues surrounding the cultivation, production, and use of cannabis today, but also provide a backdrop of knowledge to help students understand the stigma and previous status of cannabis in the U.S. as well as its functions abroad.

This course will also give students an overview of regulations and legal issues regarding cannabis cultivation and use throughout the U.S., and students will be able to distinguish between local, federal, and state laws. Students will review federal policies on prescribing and dispensing cannabis and focus particularly on the laws concerning medical marijuana. Important terminologies related to the production/processing of cannabis will be utilized.

Students will understand the distinctions between different varieties of cannabis products (e.g., hemp, CBD oil, and marijuana).

The course will also emphasize potential career paths within the industry and what requirements may be necessary for different specializations.

This course will provide students with a foundational understanding of how cannabis can be utilized as treatment in the medical field as well as relevant modern topics in cannabis research.

Students will learn about how the body reacts chemically to cannabis usage through both benefits and side effects. Legislation specifically regarding the usage of medical cannabis will be covered, and students will become familiar with safe and reliable medical cannabis practices.

The course will also seek to address misinformation about cannabis, and students will explore the latest findings from industry experts and research programs in regards to proper cultivation, processing, and usage.

The course will not only cover researched benefits, but disadvantageous effects, including misuse, addiction, and social consequences and cultural implications as well.

Discussions about ethics in medical and non-medical cannabis usage will also be emphasized.

In this course, students will be exposed to a variety of industry perspectives and will explore different tracks within the cannabis industry, including entrepreneurship, dispensary operations, hemp production, CBD oil processing, medicinal plant chemistry, and greenhouse cultivation. Furthermore, students will apply their knowledge of cannabis dispensary practices, familiarize themselves with daily management and processing techniques, and enhance their understanding of compliance through study of laws, rules, and policies and procedures.  The course will include information about how cannabis careers can be supplemented with further education in related fields, such as agriculture, business, horticulture, and health sciences..

This course provides a basic understanding of cannabis plant biology and cultivation practices, including psychoactive and non-psychoactive constituents. Students will be introduced to the cultivation of cannabis and hemp plants focusing on the agricultural aspects and biology of the plant. Students will work hands-on using hemp as the model plant and apply various applications of cultivation techniques throughout its life cycle. This course will familiarize students with innovative cultivation methods commonly used in cannabis production. Students will learn how to propagate plants from seeds and vegetative cuttings via hydroponic and aeroponic systems. This course also introduces concepts related to the organization of the plant body and the related factors necessary for cultivation in soil and soil substitute growing medium.

This course will examine the benefits, safety, adverse health effects, and dosing standards of phytocannabinoids found in cannabis. Students will explore the physiological changes created by cannabinoid exposure and recognize the mechanisms of action that have been shown to have potential therapeutic possibilities. This course will provide insight into factors that influence drug metabolism within the body, and why this determines the intensity and duration of cannabis’ known pharmacological effects. Desirable and undesirable effects from cannabis are exceedingly variable; therefore, students will also learn how cannabis use should be personalized for each individual patient.

This course introduces students to standards, regulations, and practices related to cannabis product processes and their uses. Using hemp as a model plant, students are introduced to isolation of bioactive compounds of the plant using chemical extraction techniques. This course will cover different types of solvent and solventless extraction techniques, and their applicability to manufactured infused products. Students will learn the basics of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), food safety and management, and proper product handling techniques with an emphasis placed on large-scale production practices. Students will learn how different business and financial models surrounding cannabis manufacturing are employed within the industry.