Courses
01
Introduction to the World of Cannabis
This course will introduce students to the magnificent yet controversial world of cannabis. This course presents a 360 degree view of the cannabis industry including aspects of the plant’s history, horticulture, chemistry and processing. The cannabis industry is projected to generate billions of dollars in revenues over the next few years, as well as employment opportunities for more than half a million people. Cannabis science, pharmacology, commercialization, banking, laws, and a host of other topics of high interest will be explored. The course will also provide insights into social, public, and mental health impacts of cannabis.
02
Cannabis Social Impact
This course provides an overview of current socio-medical, socio-political, and socio-economic theory and research in the field of cannabis. Students will be directed to analyze various social backdrops of health care, medicalization, and recreation particularly as each pertains to cannabis. Societal impacts of the historical war on drugs and policing are explored. Students will analyze the efficacy of cannabis in providing relief to a substantial portion of physical and societal ailments.
03
Commercializing Cannabis Science
This course focuses on understanding current developments in cannabis science, technology, medicine and commerce and how those developments create new career and commercialization opportunities. Students will explore actions that successfully develop innovative solutions in this industry. Emphasis will be placed on analyzing existing strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats towards identifying unique opportunities for innovations. Students will also explore ways they can address some of these unique opportunities by establishing a conceptual idea of their own commercialization, or not-for-profit pursuit while positioning themselves to meet corresponding challenges as attractive employees to firms in this industry.
04
Best Practices in Cannabis Environmental Science
This course addresses major environmental issues in the cannabis industry involving cultivation, manufacturing, and processing. In response to recent policy changes that have led to an explosion in the cannabis industry, this course teaches students of innovative technologies that lower cannabis production costs while also minimizing environmental impacts. Best practices guidelines for conserving natural resources and reducing adverse environmental impact through sustainable technologies are presented.
05
New York Cannabis Dispensary 101
This course walks students through the required processes of becoming a registered business organization and applying for a New York State medical cannabis dispensary license. This course teaches students nuanced intricacies that are necessary to overcome when an organization decides to complete an application to become a registered organization and acquire a cannabis dispensary license. Students will experientially engage in a mock cannabis dispensary license application submission.
06
Environmentally Sustainable Cannabis Growing I
This course equips students with a scientific and technical background necessary to understand the cannabis plant and its many chemical components. Students learn much about different Cannabis sativa (C. sativa) varieties and how these varieties work together to produce a broad and diverse set of often remarkable economic products. Students will deconstruct interdependent relationships of chemistry and horticulture found throughout cannabis plant growth cycles. Fundamentals of plant growth requirements, and plant care techniques are also examined. This course comprises an examination of basic and critical knowledge elements on cultivating cannabis plant varieties to produce such products.
07
Environmentally Sustainable Cannabis Growing II
This course builds on Environmentally Sustainable Cannabis Growing I. Fundamentals of varying Environmental considerations when conducting Cannabis growing will be explored. Topics such as vertical and horizontal growing will be investigated. Likewise, a deep dive of integrated pest management and diverse hydroponics systems will be conducted. Successful completion of this course prepares students to become competent and environmentally friendly cannabis growers and/or employees in the different fields of cannabis horticulture. Furthermore, an emphasis on Urban horticulture, with a focus on New York City Cultivation, will be deconstructed and explored.
08
Cannabis Product Formulation
This course introduces students to cannabis product formulation for medical and functional use. Students will be introduced to a variety of cannabis product variations called formulations, and how to make such formulations stable and consistent using various types of current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) and quality control procedures. As chemical components of cannabis vary drastically, it becomes crucial to obtain accurate information to analyze the chemical composition necessary to produce safe and effective formulations. Students will also learn a variety of analytical methods and instrumentation that are used in probing the composition of cannabis raw materials and final products.
09
CANNABIS MEDICINE & HEALTH PROFESSIONS
This course is designed to familiarize students on both the research and clinical practice aspects of therapeutic usages of cannabis. Students will explore the endocannabinoid system, the interactions of cannabinoids in this system and the use of cannabis as a therapeutic in a number of health conditions. Students will be guided to study effects of various methods of delivery for cannabis therapies, as well as study parameters in dosage guidelines and recommendations. Students wishing to work in registered dispensing facilities or as cannabis medicinal caregivers will benefit greatly from taking this course given its treatment of training and certification opportunities in the medicinal cannabis field.
10
Cannabis Chemical Pharmacology
This course exposes students to cannabis chemistry and its pharmacological implications. Students are introduced to chemical compositions contained in cannabis and how they can pharmacologically combat patient ailments. This course also introduces students to effective drug delivery systems and protocols that currently deploy such compositions in effective medicinal treatments. Case studies and published medical literature are used to engage students in timely and recent developments.
11
Cannabis Product Testing
The course builds on Cannabis Product Formulation. Students are provided a more in depth treatment of various techniques and instrumentation used in cannabis product testing. One of the biggest challenges for the US cannabis industry is a lack of national standards for specifications and cannabis product testing. Nonetheless, product composition, reproducibility and specification guarantee are essential to numerous stakeholders in the cannabis industry. This course guides students to learn various techniques used to investigate cannabis product compositions. Students will also be guided on the use of various analytical instruments for product testing in the cannabis industry. Experiential learning opportunities are provided in collaboration with licensed producers and testing labs.
12
Dispensary Standard Operating Procedures
This course focuses on different standard operating procedures (SOPs) formalized in cannabis dispensaries. Successful cannabis dispensaries require consistency in compliance, quality control, business processes, and financial management. Students in this course will be guided through the steps of systemizing and standardizing processes in these functional areas. Students will explore how SOPs facilitate enhancements in firm performance.