Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Which Universities are Preparing Students for Cannabis Careers?

Many Universities and online programs offer training for future cannabis jobs. College credit for weed courses? Sign me up!
Many Universities and online programs offer training for future cannabis jobs. College credit for weed courses? Sign me up!


Most colleges and universities are now back in session, and some of their students will constitute the first wave to receive a university education in cannabis. With weed-related jobs growth outpacing more traditional fields and interest in cannabis careers soaring, it’s no surprise that universities are beginning to prepare students for a future in the industry. Applicants armed with degrees specific to the field could be at a significant advantage.


Here’s our back-to-school special report on which universities let you matriculate in marijuana.


Cannabis Coursework


Several universities have dipped a cautious toe in the water of formal cannabis education, offering a few select classes to students as part of broader degrees.


Legal and regulatory subjects are a common point of entry. The University of Denver offers its law students an elective on “Representing the Marijuana Client” that covers topics like the tax implications of a legal weed biz, staying within the lines of government compliance, and the ethics of canna-business. Ohio State University offers an elective in their Criminal Law department called “Exploring the ‘Legalized’ Cannabis Industry” (their quotes). Clark University, a small private university in Worcester, Massachusetts, launched a three-course graduate certificate program which focuses on pot and public policy with this fall semester.


The health applications of cannabis are also becoming a popular addition to the curriculum. The University of Washington’s two-tiered “Medicinal Cannabis and Chronic Pain” course is aimed at medical professionals looking to expand the range of solutions they can offer patients to alleviate a broad range of suffering. The University of Vermont gives students pursuing medical degrees the chance to earn professional certificates in cannabis science or biology through seven or eight-week online courses. There aren’t many options for students in the country’s biggest legal weed market but The University of California-Davis has a couple of choices, including “The Physiology of Cannabis.” UCLA has research initiatives in cannabis driven by student involvement, but no officially accredited courses.


Northern Michigan University, in the newly weed-legal state, may be the first American college to provide a full major degree in a cannabis-related field. The university describes its offered major in Medicinal Plant Chemistry as “the only 4-year undergraduate degree program of its kind." Cannabis isn’t the only plant covered, as cannabis is situated within the broader context of the many herbal extracts sold under the umbrella of health and wellness. But the rare opportunity for intensive cannabis study is the main factor driving press interest and booming enrollment. The degree’s been offered for only two years, and there are 230 students are already on their way to earning it. New Jersey’s Stockton University offers a minor in cannabis studies that encompass both legal and health classes, but no major just yet.

Graduate Level Ganja

Even fewer universities have developed in-depth cannabis degrees, and then offered only at a post-graduate level.



This year, the University of Maryland’s School of Pharmacy, launched the country’s first Master of Science program focused on medical cannabis. Students pursuing a degree in “Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics”, are given a two-year deep-dive into the medical side of the industry, going beyond scientific data to cover topics like state law, and product manufacturing. Crucially, U of M seeks to add the own first-hand research on cannabis, a crucial piece for a plant that’s been notoriously under-studied on a federal level, due to illegality and stigmatization.


For the 2020 school year, McGill University in Montreal will introduce a graduate program in Cannabis Production to students who’ve already completed an undergraduate degree in botany or related agricultural fields. In the Canadian market, where cannabis jobs have tripled over the past calendar year, more schools will likely follow.

New School Schools


And then there are the non-traditional vocational schools who’ve sprung up to fill in for the lack of comprehensive training for aspiring cannabis industry professionals.


Oaksterdam University, located in Oakland, has operated as a training ground since 2007, almost a decade ahead of even fledgeling efforts at most state or private schools. It offers a mix of in-person and online courses in business or horticulture for cannabis, though not the on-site housing and student life experience found on most college campuses. It offers certification to graduates, as well as job counseling and opportunities for professional networking.


Colorado hosts a couple of recently established, but growing educational organizations. Clover Leaf University provides varied courses and certificates, with a mix of in-class and online courses. CLU touts the approval of the Occupational School Board of the state’s Department of Higher Education given to its curriculum as a first in the state. Denver’s Cannabis Training University provides perhaps the broadest range and number of courses available among all of these options, all of which are delivered online with no option for face-to-face learning.


It will be fascinating to see if these upstart institutes will be able to thrive once cannabis studies become an ingrained piece of North American academia and not just this semester’s novelty.


Are you still missing out on The Bluntness newsletter? Sign Up today to stay in the loop.

More For You

The Truth About THC Candle: Cannabis Candles & How to Make Your Own - The Bluntness

The Truth About THC Candle: Cannabis Candles & How to Make Your Own - The Bluntness

Cannabis Candle Facts & DIY

The Truth About THC Candle: Cannabis Candles & How to Make Your Own

There are several different ways to consume cannabis, and some of them don’t even involve actual consumption. Cannabis candles are beginning to take over the candle game, allowing cannabis enthusiasts to enjoy the smells they’re used to having to cover up and hide: the danky goodness of weed.

As cannabis becomes less stigmatized in modern culture, people are beginning to come out and admit to their cannabis use. While smoking weed used to be something people felt they had to keep on the down low, the culture is becoming increasingly mainstream and the scent is now sought after rather than condemned. Many cannabis candles feature complex scent profiles, including notes of amber, which contribute to a rich and layered aromatic experience.

Keep ReadingShow less
Trop Cherry Strain Review - The Bluntness

Trop Cherry Strain Review - The Bluntness

Balanced Hybrid: Trop Cherry


The Trop Cherry cannabis strain is a slightly Sativa-dominant hybrid (60% Sativa, 40% Indica), created from Tropicana Cookies and Cherry Cookies F3. This strain is known for its THC levels, which range from 16% to 24%, offering a blend of cerebral stimulation and body relaxation. Its terpene profile features beta-caryophyllene, limonene, linalool, humulene, and beta-pinene, giving it a unique flavor that combines sweet citrus, ripe cherries, and earthy undertones. Trop Cherry's resin production makes it popular among users exploring the benefits of cannabis concentrates.

Keep ReadingShow less
Coffee & Weed: A Modern Spin on the Hippie Speedball - The Bluntness

Coffee & Weed: A Modern Spin on the Hippie Speedball - The Bluntness

Coffee & Weed: A Modern Spin on the Hippie Speedball

The wake n’ bake strategy – a well known, stoner approved method for mornings when we need a little somethin’ to pick us up and level us out. When paired with coffee, this method is called the Hippie Speedball, providing a little boost to help you power through your day.

This creative way to describe the pairing of coffee and cannabis is a tried and true method of increasing popularity in our American society that consumes over 400 million cups of coffee per day.

Keep ReadingShow less
Store your psilocybin mushrooms properly for best results.
Store your psilocybin mushrooms properly for best results.
Photo by Marco Allegretti on Unsplash

Psilocybin 101: How to Store Magic Mushrooms to Maximize Potency and Shelf Life

Magic mushrooms, or psilocybin mushrooms, have been embraced for their transformative effects and potential therapeutic benefits. However, like any organic material, they are perishable and can lose potency—or worse, become unsafe—if not stored correctly. Whether you're healing depression or having trippy sex to hallucinatory entertainment, understanding how to properly store your mushrooms can help you preserve their effects for months or even years.

This comprehensive guide outlines best practices, advanced techniques, and essential tips for safely storing magic mushrooms to maintain their potency and avoid spoilage.

Keep ReadingShow less
Ranking Magic Mushrooms by Potency
Ranking Magic Mushrooms by Potency
Tripsitter

Shroom Showdown: Ranking Magic Mushrooms by Potency

From  Psilocybe azurescens to Psilocybe cubensis   — the potency of magic mushrooms varies greatly.

A single gram of one species is enough to shift reality on its axis — the same amount of another may be barely perceptible.

Keep ReadingShow less