While “learning” about cannabis often used to mean skipping school, the University of Nevada, Reno now is offering lessons about cannabis in school.
Extended Studies at the University of Nevada, Reno is offering four first-of-their-kind noncredit certificates in cannabis education in the state. Each certificate program includes three, eight-week online courses offered through Green Flower, a cannabis career training company.
The four programs cover: the business of cannabis; agriculture and horticulture; law and policy; and healthcare and medicine. These certificates complement existing credentials and advance the knowledge and practice of cannabis for professionals across multiple sectors. The first session begins Nov. 15.
“With the impact of COVID-19 being displaced, and people looking for new career paths, we thought this might be the right time to try this program,” said Jodi Herzik, interim vice provost for Extended Studies. “Jobs in that area are growing like gangbusters. They’re high-paying jobs too.”
Nevada alone has 10,000 workers in the industry, according to the Nevada Dispensary Association. The association also reported that Nevada’s legal cannabis industry reached a major milestone as sales exceeded $1 billion in fiscal year 2021.
UNR’s new program is 100 percent online, which ensures that there is no argument to be made about whether the program violates federal law. Marijuana is still illegal at a federal level, and that includes direct research, consumption and any other direct use.
A majority of states, however, have legalized marijuana in some capacity. Nevada was the third state to approve cannabis for medical use with the adoption of the Nevada Medical Marijuana Act in 1998. Nevadans voted to legalize cannabis for adult recreational use in 2016.
“We’ve been very careful to stress that this is strictly education about the industry because there’s a need,” said Herzik. “How do I say this nicely? The industry is changing. You can’t just have former potheads running the counter, you have to have educated professionals.”
Herzik said the university hasn’t promoted the program heavily so as to have a soft launch this month, allowing the school to ensure it’s a good fit and doesn’t need any tweaking. About 30 to 40 prospective students have expressed interest so far, many from the Las Vegas area and a few from other parts of the country, said Herzik.
The expanding cannabis industry is creating a demand for qualified workers with a broad range of skills. According to Business Wire, cannabis is the fastest growing industry in America. Legal cannabis supports 321,000 full-time jobs, growing faster than any other industry in the country, according to the Leafly 2021 Jobs Report.
“Such growth has created a large and growing job market, and a tremendous opportunity for people in Nevada to find rewarding careers,” said Daniel Kalef, Green Flower’s vice president of Higher Education.
Courses are designed using online learning best practices and are scheduled to accommodate working professionals. Students will develop a portfolio of case studies and projects that can be used to demonstrate sector-specific cannabis knowledge. Upon successful completion of the program, students will earn a certificate of completion from UNR.
There are six start dates a year. The first cohort begins Nov. 15, and enrollment is open at https://cannabiseducation.unr.edu. The cost is $2,950 per certificate, but the University is offering a special one-time $500 discount for students who enroll in the November cohort. Payment plans are available.
Questions about the new online certificates can be emailed to cannabiseducation@lists.unr.edu.
“It’s a new era,” said Herzik.
Jenny Kane covers arts and culture in Northern Nevada, as well as the dynamic relationship between the state and the growing Burning Man community. She also covers the state’s burgeoning cannabis industry (Check out her podcast, the Potcast, on iTunes.) Support her work in Reno by subscribing to RGJ.com right here.
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