Outstanding Program Award Granted to Saint Louis University's Cannabis Science Certificate
Saint Louis University’s (St. Louis, Missouri), Cannabis Science and Operations program received the 2023 Outstanding Program by the University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA).
This award is given to honor outstanding professional and continuing education programs allowing students to earn academic credit (1).
The Cannabis Science and Operations Certificate began in the fall 2020 semester in Saint Lous University’s (SLU) School for Professional Studies. It is the school’s most successful program in their history. The program has been offered for the last three years and currently enrolls 300 students and more than 140 graduates. It was the first of its kind in St. Louis.
Courses for this certificate program are taught by industry professionals and cover all aspects of cannabis operations. This includes (1):
- The fundamentals of growing, manufacturing and dispensing cannabis
- Plant science and cultivation
- Cannabis extraction and product production
- Compliance and dispensary operations
- Pharmacological properties of cannabis
The certificate program is 16 hours and includes a research project.
“While this program is 100% online, there are hands-on opportunities in each course that are successfully preparing our students to work in every aspect of the cannabis industry, providing well-rounded employees,” said program director Stacy Godlewski (1).
Due to the program instructors being industry experts, students completing the certificate have opportunities to network nationally with those across a variety of fields.
“A high percentage of students are receiving job offers and reporting higher salaries due to the fact that they are enrolled in this program,” Godlewski added.
Students who have graduated from the program have been offered positions in cannabis sales, dispensary management, marketing, laboratory technology, and quality assurance.
SLU continues to expand their offerings for those interested in the cannabis industry. In January 2022, the School of Professional Studies created a Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutic Management Certificate (2). This program is targeted for individuals who care for others by providing science-based education on cannabis-based therapy options.
References
Ep 24, Part III: Data Transparency in Cannabis Testing with Yasha Khan
December 26th 2024In the final part of this episode, Evan Friedmann and Yasha Kahn discuss the need for a national entity to centralize cannabis data collection, moving from snapshot data to continuous updates. They emphasize the importance of accurate lab data and adverse event tracking, suggesting QR codes on packaging to report issues. Yasha suggests harsher consequences for result manipulation and suggests collaboration between state departments and federal entities to support underfunded regulators. They also discuss the potential benefits of off-the-shelf testing and the importance of stability testing. Finally, Yasha shares his top three reading recommendations for the audience.
Ep 24, Part II: Data Transparency in Cannabis Testing with Yasha Khan
December 12th 2024Evan Friedmann and Yasha Kahn, co-founder of MCR Labs, discuss the discrepancies between current regulations and data on mycotoxins and pesticides in cannabis products. They highlight the need for updated regulations based on new data, emphasizing the importance of accurate testing and labeling. They also discuss the issue of result manipulation, particularly in THC content, and the need for public health officials to address this. Yasha suggests making testing data public to enhance oversight and suggests a national entity to manage this data for better consistency and public safety.
German Medical Cannabis Market Has Yet to Reach Its Full Potential
December 25th 2024Germany’s Cannabis Act (CanG) is beginning to transform the country's medical cannabis market, with potential opportunities to expand telemedicine, improve physician training, and enhancing accessibility in this rapidly growing industry.
