In 2017 I created the first-ever Business of Marijuana course at an AACSB-accredited business school at the Daniels College of Business, University of Denver. The course was offered four times over three years and generated great interest and involvement from DU students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the Colorado community. In the summer of 2019 I left DU to join the McIntire School of Commerce, University of Virginia. Although I was disappointed to have to end my DU course, the move has provided a variety of new opportunities and I am working towards offering a Cannabis business course at UVA soon. A variety of other academic institutions are also developing educational programs as described below. Last Updated: October 3, 2022.
Specific Educational Programs and Organizations (Institutions by Alphabetical Order)
- Clark University (Massachusetts) – Certificate in Regulatory Affairs for Cannabis Control
- CSU Pueblo – BS – Cannabis Biology and Chemistry
- Humboldt State University (California) – Cannabis Studies, Bachelor of Art (starting Fall 2022)
- Lake Superior State University – Cannabis Chemistry Degree Program and certificate in cannabis production, BS in Cannabis Business
- Lewis & Clark University – Cannabis Law & Policy course
- Niagara College (Canada) College – Commercial Cannabis Production Program (Article, Welland Times, Mar 23, 2018)
- Northern Michigan University – Medicinal Plant Chemistry degree program
- Students can now major in ‘medical plant chemistry’ — or marijuana — at a Midwestern university (Business Insider, Sept 25, 2017)
- Michigan school offering a degree in marijuana — but it’s not for stoners or slackers (Chicago Tribune, Oct 23, 2017)
- Rowan University – First MBA Concentration in Cannabis Commercialization at an AACSB-accredited university
- Stockton University – Minor in Cannabis Studies New Jersey University Makes A Major Marijuana Play By Letting Students Minor In Cannabis Studies (Civilized, August 31, 2018)
- Temple University – MEDS M275. Cannabinoids (Medicinal Marijuana) Course – (Article, Spring 2017)
- Thomas Jefferson University (Philadelphia) – Graduate Certificate Programs in Cannabis Medicine and Cannabis Science
- Rider University (New Jersey) – Cannabis Studies Certificate Program – Launching Fall 2022
- University of Arizona Continuing Education – Cannabis Certificate Program
- University of Connecticut – CAHNR Cannabis Programs focused on cultivation, research and testing and led by Prof. Gerald Berkowitz.
- University of Denver –
- Business of Marijuana – My former course (2017-19), later taught by Prof. Bud Bilanich before being discontinued.
- Representing the Marijuana Client (L4416) – Offered regularly by Sam Kamin, former Vicente Sederberg Professor of Marijuana Law and Policy at DU’s Sturm College of Law. The course has been covered in the The Cannabist (Nov 2014), Denver Post (Jan 2015), and Lawweek Colorado (Jan 2015), and DU Clarion (Feb 2015). Kamin was also interviewed by the DU Clarion in Jan 2016.
- Cannabis Journalism (MFJS 3900/4012) – Offered by Prof. Andrew Matranga. Cannabist article on course.
- Center for Professional Development Certificate Program – The Business of Cannabis, Cannabis Healthcare and Medicine, and Cannabis Agriculture and Horticulture (online)
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign – Cannabis Certificate Program and a Cannabis Data project led by the Gies College of Business Disruption Lab under the direction of Prof. Justin Leiby.
- University of Maryland Master of Science (MS) in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics
- University of Rhode Island – Undergraduate certificate program in cannabis studies (High Times article, May 2020)
- The University of the Sciences – MBA Program Philadelphia university creates new MBA program focused on the business of cannabis (TheGrowthOp, August 20, 2019), USciences creates first MBA program centered on cannabis industry (PhillyVoice, August 19, 2019)
- University of Vermont Continuing Education – Multiple Programs
- Western Illinois University – Cannabis Production Minor
For-Profit Educational Programs
- Clover Leaf University – Not a “university” but a for-profit institution founded in Denver but offering courses in various locations
- Cleveland School of Cannabis – A for-profit workforce training institution in Ohio.
- Trichome Institute – Provides a variety of online cannabis training programs for those interested in working in the industry as well as those just interested in personal learning.
Student Cannabis Organizations
- Ivey Business Cannabis Club (Student Organization)
- Rotman Commerce Cannabis Council (Undergraduate Student Organization)
- Business of Cannabis Club at Harvard Business School
- Yale Business of Legal Cannabis Club (Student-Led Conference held in Feb 2019 and Feb 2020) (Videos of 2018 Conference on YouTube), December 2020 article
- Stanford Cannabis Business Club (Student Organization)
- Green Wolverine (Student Organization started at University of Michigan, Ross School of Business, now has chapters in multiple universities)
- Berkeley Cannabis Industry Club
- NYU Stern CannaBusiness Club
- UCLA Cannabis Business Association
- Wharton Cannabis Business Club
- USC Marshall Cannabis Association
Articles Summarizing Educational Programs at Various Institutions
- The Green Rush: Cannabis Ignites MBA Interest (Find-MBA.com)
- Cannabis PhD takes higher education to a new level (Toronto Star, Sept 8, 2018)
- The Weed Wave Hitting B-Schools (Poets & Quants, May 18, 2018, features my Daniels course)
- Want a job in the budding Canadian marijuana industry? These schools have courses for you (Toronto Star, Feb 4, 2018)
Business of Marijuana 