A Michigan University is now offering a cannabis scholarship for its college students. This is an achievement for many people who have been pushing for cannabis education in higher education schools. In 2019, the first ever cannabis chemistry college program became available. The Lake Superior State University (LSSU) in Michigan established a chemistry program focused on cannabis. Now, this same school is offering the first ever cannabis scholarship for their college students.
The Center of Cannabis Excellence was established in 2019 as a part of LSSU’s cannabis chemistry program. There they have innovative industry equipment available for students to use. Since then, the center has worked to have its students at the forefront of the cannabis analytics industry. This has caused their, “enrollment in studying chemistry and cannabis [to] ‘grow exponentially’.” The school prides itself on having an advanced facility and degree program.
In addition to cannabis chemistry, Lake Superior State University also offers courses on cannabis law, cannabis business, and cannabis production.
Now, they’ve created an opportunity to help more students enter and succeed in this program. In partnership with Steadfast Labs, a research facility based in Michigan, they were able to create an annual $1200 scholarship for the cannabis chemistry students at LSSU. This scholarship will make the program more inclusive and accessible. This is a trend we’re starting to see in equity movements across the U.S.
About the Scholarship
In order to qualify, applicants must be sophomores or older. They must also have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Additionally, students who live in Oakland and Wayne Counties in Michigan will be given preference. This is because Steadfast Labs is located in the surrounding area.
Steadfast Labs is a proud sponsor of LSSU’s program and scholarship. Steadfast Labs dedicates itself to helping and supporting the best scientific efforts and talent. Their main focus is on cannabis research and development, specifically consumer safety. LSSU President Dr. Rodney S. Hanley expressed, “Our growing relationship with Steadfast Labs additionally furthers numerous parts of our strategic plan.” He adds that, “enhancing academic offerings, positioning cannabis studies as a national leader of academic inquiry, and bolstering community partnerships” is an aligned goal for both LSSU and Steadfast Labs.
Cannabis Education
Lake Superior State University is not the only school to offer cannabis related subjects.
Other schools in the U.S., and even Canada, are also starting to notice the value in establishing cannabis related programs. Many of them are offering specializations in different areas of cannabis. For example, in 2017 Niagara College began to offer a program in cannabis production.
Meanwhile, Loyalist College launched an eight month post-graduate certificate program. This certificate program focuses on Cannabis Applied Science. Loyalist College also works with B.C. Kwantlen Polytechnic University, where they offer a Cannabis Retail Consultant certificate. They also provide an overall cannabis career training program.
Moreover, Cornell University and the University of Maryland also introduced courses on cannabis cultivation, legal issues surrounding cannabis, and the use of marijuana. Courses on the business of cannabis and cannabis law can also be found at Ryerson University and the University of Ottawa.
Similarly, McGill University launched a graduate program on cannabis production. And lastly, students at St. Francis Xavier University are eligible to work at THC dispensaries for college credit.
Cannabis Job Market
All these higher education institutions have begun to include cannabis related courses and programs to their curriculum. This could be due to the fact that the cannabis industry is booming and there’s a high demand for different job positions within the market.
By providing these cannabis courses and programs, students and future professionals can receive the proper training to enter the field. The more education and research that goes into cannabis and its surrounding fields, the more we know about the benefits and properties of our weed. And it’s overall just better for the consumer and their safety. This new cannabis scholarship will allow for students to eventually work in many fields, such as clinical chemistry, food safety and quality check, and process development.
Eventually, this can also lead to the de-stigmatization of cannabis. We can see an example of that as more states begin to legalize recreational use of marijuana. Perhaps cannabis scholarships, courses, and degree programs will become more common as we move forward.
LSSU’s scholarship will make it possible for many students to enter their cannabis chemistry program and succeed in it. They’re helping prepare the future of the cannabis industry by creating more inclusive and accessible tools for higher education.
