The legal marijuana industry has grown so fast that the U.S. now has more than twice as many cannabis workers as dentists. Given its expected growth trajectory, colleges and universities are capitalizing on demand for a qualified, skilled workforce.
The first to program to launch locally was Saint Louis University’s Cannabis Science and Operations Certificate in 2020. It’s already the most successful program in the history of SLU’s School for Professional Studies, with 300 students and more than 140 graduates. And it was named the 2023 Outstanding Program by the nationwide University Professional and Continuing Education Association. Students can earn either a certificate or a minor in Cannabis Science and Operations via online courses.
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In 2022, SLU also added an online post-baccalaureate certificate program in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutic Management to provide professionals in health care, law enforcement, social work, education, and other fields with an understanding of the pharmacological principles of cannabis, emphasizing scientific evidence in the holistic treatment of medical conditions. The end goal is for those who complete the program to be able to develop procedures for managing health issues, gauge the effectiveness of cannabis in patient care, and professionally evaluate the role of medical cannabis in society overall.
The SLU faculty in both programs have backgrounds in disciplines ranging from sociology to business and nursing to communications. Horticulturists are especially well-represented.
And if it’s the agricultural aspects of cannabis that interest you most, St. Louis Community College at Meramec is the place to be. Its horticulture program—the largest in the state of Missouri—started offering courses on the production and study of cannabis in 2023. Students can earn an associate of applied science degree or a certificate of proficiency in horticulture with a Cannabis and Hemp Production Certificate of Specialization.
Courses cover the specialized processes necessary to grow, manage, and cultivate cannabis and hemp plants using industrial hemp in accordance with state and federal laws. Students also study the many uses for synthetic and biological products, determine levels of cannabinoids and potential chemical contaminants, perform various extraction methods, synthesize different types of products in a laboratory, and create growing plans for cannabis and hemp production in a greenhouse setting.
Illinois ranks fourth as America’s top cannabis job market behind California, Colorado, and Michigan, so it’s not surprising that Southwest Illinois College has a thoroughly developed program in Cannabis Industry Operations. This subset of the horticulture program prepares students to work in a wide variety of possible employment opportunities from retail and medical cannabis sales to indoor and greenhouse cannabis cultivation.
Courses include a cannabis industry and law class that provides a backdrop for understanding local, state, and federal regulations, learning about the status of marijuana historically in the U.S. and abroad, and understanding laws related to different varieties of cannabis products.
SWIC’s medical cannabis use and research course provides a foundational understanding of how cannabis can be utilized as treatment in the medical field, how the body reacts chemically, and how to adhere to safe and reliable medical cannabis practices. Students also explore disadvantageous effects including misuse, addiction, and social consequences and engage in discussions about ethics in medical and non-medical usage.
At the heart of SWIC’s program, the cannabis operations course exposes students to a variety of industry perspectives and by exploring different tracks: entrepreneurship, dispensary operations, hemp production, CBD oil processing, medicinal plant chemistry, and greenhouse cultivation, among others.
Because the cannabis industry supports more than sales and “plant-touching” jobs, all of these college and university programs connect with indirect, high-demand ancillary employment opportunities such as accounting, human resources, security, maintenance, and construction.
