Northern New Mexico College (NNMC) has launched a new online program that focuses on preparing students for the cannabis industry.
The eight-week Cannabis Establishment Technician course starting March 22 has been created by the college in partnership with SeedCrest, a state-based cannabis education provider.
The course is meant for students, entrepreneurs, and professionals who want to gain fundamental knowledge in order to tap into the expanding cannabis industry.
NNMC President Rick Bailey says the course will help those who do not have an adequate understanding of local and state laws relating to the medical use of marijuana. “As the state explores the direction of the industry, Northern will be ready to offer the educational and workforce development component of that strategic direction,” he said.
The course was developed over the last two years and will abide by the regulations of the state’s medical marijuana program.
Tapping Into ‘Budding Industry’
According to a 2020 Leafly report, the cannabis industry supports nearly 250,000 full-time jobs in the US. Hence, it comes as no surprise that a growing number of colleges are now introducing drug-related programs into their curriculum.
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A bunch of colleges has already launched certification programs in cannabis growth and research. This includes Nebraska-based Doane University, Massachusetts-based Clark University, Chicago-based Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, and New Jersey-based Stockton University.
“It’s an industry that is developing and certainly there are a lot of possibilities and new jobs,” coordinator of Stockton’s cannabis program Kathy Sedia said.
Many public and private schools in California including the University of California Irvine, University of California Los Angeles, and University of California San Diego have dedicated cannabis research centers. The University of California Riverside even has an extension program centered on cannabis.
With medical marijuana legal in over 30 states in the country, more and more universities are steadily joining the bandwagon to cash in on the expanding cannabis industry.
