Are you interested in a career working with cannabis patients, advancing cannabis science, or becoming a medical cannabis policymaker? Or maybe you’re curious about studying cannabis in college. Well, we’ve got great news because you can now earn an advanced degree in the medical cannabis field from an accredited university.
The University of Maryland School of Pharmacy (UMSOP) created the first master’s program in the US that focuses on the healing power of cannabis. Here’s everything you need to know about this huge leap in cannabis education.
MS in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics
UMSOP has created the country’s first graduate program focused on the study of medical cannabis. It’s designed to give students the skills and knowledge to support medical cannabis patients, add to the body of knowledge in the field, and to advance medical cannabis policy.
Courses will be led by faculty that are experts in both basic and clinical medicine cannabis science, and who are passionate about advancing the field. Students who complete the program will earn a Master of Science in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics from the School of Pharmacy.
A Cannabis Degree Designed for Everyone
The two-year degree is available to applicants from a wide range of backgrounds and career interests, including health care providers, scientists, researchers, dispensary owners, cannabis growers, and policymakers. It’s designed to educate the full range of the cannabis workforce.
Don’t live in Maryland? That’s OK because the coursework is primarily online. It’s accessible to a wide range of people, including non-traditional students and those who work full time. In addition to the online classes, the University will host an on-campus symposium every semester which students are required to attend. The event will provide opportunities for students to meet and interact with cannabis professionals, and give recruiters access to industry-educated applicants.
The degree will focus on the basics of cannabis science for medical and clinical use, as well as the patchy maze of state and federal policies that govern the industry. It will cover topics like cannabis history, culture, and regulation, as well as disease treatment. Students will also have the opportunity to adapt their education to their specific field of interest by choosing four elective courses.
Cannabis in the Classroom?
Due to the complicated legal framework of medical cannabis, students won’t actually be touching the flower as a part of the coursework. Instead, they’ll use a hands-off approach that takes advantage of photo technology to analyze the physical aspects of the plant. And while the curriculum won’t require a written thesis, students will need to complete advanced coursework, including expert seminars, discussions, and case studies.
While a few universities offer cannabis classes, UMSOP’s program will be the first fully accredited graduate program for medical cannabis education. Tuition is expected to be $20,785.20 for Maryland residents and $25,621.2 for those who live out-of-state. Applications are being accepted up until August 15, 2019, with classes beginning August 26th.
If you are interested in a degree that’s focused on medical cannabis, therapeutics, and policy, this could be the opportunity you’ve been waiting for.
If you are interested in learning more about medical cannabis, we’d love to help. Schedule an appointment today or drop by. We’re happy to answer all of your questions.
