As part of a growing trend, California State University, East Bay and Green Flower are offering certifications in cannabis educational courses.
In partnership with cannabis curriculum provider Green Flower, California State University, East Bay is now offering online, non-credit certificates in cannabis studies programs (1). The programs are each six months long, are open to anyone over the age 18, and no prior education or enrollment in Cal State University, East Bay is required (2). Prior experience in the cannabis industry is also not required (2).
Green Flower is a California-based creator of cannabis education platforms and has two dozen partnerships with educational institutions in the US, as well as local governments and businesses (3). “Northern California has been the literal mecca for forever, and to have a state institution in Northern California deciding to offer cannabis education really tells us how far the industry has come and how much more legitimate this is as a career path,” said Max Simon, CEO and co-founder of Green Flower (1). The platform also recently partnered with Ganjier to create a cannabis sommelier certification (4).
Taught by “top experts in the industry,” the four available certificates are in Cannabis Healthcare & Medicine, Cannabis Agriculture & Horticulture, The Business of Cannabis, and Cannabis Compliance & Risk Management. The university offers payment plans for the $2950 programs (2). Scholarships and federal aid are not currently available, but there is a veteran discount offered (1).
According to a recent job report, during a nation-wide hiring pause in 2022, California lost over 12,000 jobs, and the legal cannabis industry currently supports about 83,000 jobs in the state (1).
The first set of students enrolled in the programs earlier this month, and the next enrollment period for all programs begins January 8th, 2024 (1).
Read more of our news coverage on cannabis education opportunities.
References
Collaboration, Gender Diversity, and Progress: Julie Kowalski on Advancing Cannabis Science
December 10th 2024In this interview with Cannabis Science and Technology, Julie Kowalski, an experienced analytical chemist, discusses her path into the cannabis industry, starting with early work in gas chromatography. Kowalski reflects on her perspectives as a female scientist, highlighting biases she’s experienced and the benefits of gender inclusivity in the cannabis space. Greater unity and professionalism could benefit the industry as a whole, she explains. She also encourages collaboration and more women in leadership positions in order to build a stronger scientific community, and also urges women to advocate for themselves, noting that women in cannabis face unique obstacles but often demonstrate consensus-building strategies and solutions.
Ep 24, Part I: Data Transparency in Cannabis Testing with Yasha Khan
November 21st 2024Evan Friedmann interviews Yasha Khan, co-founder of MCR Labs, about his journey into the cannabis industry and his efforts to promote transparency and integrity in laboratory practices. Yasha discusses the origins of MCR Labs, which began in Massachusetts to meet the needs of the soon-to-be legal medical cannabis market. He explains the challenges faced, including result manipulation by labs and the impact on public health. Yasha's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) project aimed to gather testing data from 37 states, revealed significant discrepancies in potency and mold results. Despite some states' reluctance to share data, Yasha has made much of this data public, leading to collaborative research and publications on various aspects of cannabis testing.
Gender Diversity and Innovation in the Cannabis Space: Insights from Tess Eidem, PhD
December 9th 2024Cannabis Science and Technology sat down with Tess Eidem, PhD, PCQI, member of Saturn Scientific, LLC, to discuss her journey from antibiotic research to cannabis microbiology and her observations throughout her career. Dr. Eidem highlights challenges women face in this male-dominated industry, including limited representation in leadership roles and frequent experiences of bias and discrimination. She emphasizes the importance of gender diversity in fostering innovation, improving product safety, and addressing women’s health needs in cannabis applications. Her advice to women scientists is to build strong professional relationships and carefully evaluate work environments to advance their careers in this evolving and often challenging space.
Ep 23, Part III: Accreditation in the Cannabis Industry with Susan Audino
October 24th 2024In Part III of this episode, host Evan Friedmann is joined by Susan Audino, PhD, founder of S.A. Audino & Associates, LLC, and co-founder of Saturn Scientific, LLC, to examine the complexities of sampling in the cannabis industry, emphasizing the need for proper sampling plans, and methods.