St. Cloud State is offering online cannabis education courses beginning this fall, the school announced.
SCSU’s Professional and Continuing Education (PACE) division will partner with Green Flower, a California-based cannabis training company, to offer classes as part of a 24-week, non-credit certificate program. The classes will cover four topics: Cannabis Agriculture and Horticulture, Cannabis Healthcare and Medicine, Cannabis Compliance and Risk Management, and Business of Cannabis.
Students must be 18 or older to participate in the certificate classes, which cost $2,950 each and have two start dates this fall Sept. 11 and Nov. 6, according to a news release.
SCSU’s cannabis education offering follows Minnesota having legalized adult-use cannabis on Aug. 1, becoming the 23rd state to do so.
“When we knew that the law was going to be passed and signed by the governor — we heard about that in the spring — we thought to ourselves how can we be innovative?” PACE Executive Director Abram Hedtke said, per CBS News. “What bold approach can we take to help offer not just to the St. Cloud community, but really to the entire state, an opportunity to really advance themselves in the cannabis industry.
“If you’re looking to get into this industry, you have that certificate to prove what you’ve learned and the skills you’ve gained. If you’re already in the industry, this is going to help you advance even further,” Hedtke added.
SCSU’s online cannabis education program is the first of its kind in Minnesota, according to the release.
“The cannabis industry is growing at an unprecedented rate and the demand for skilled professionals is higher than ever,” SCSU President Robbyn Wacker said. “Our endeavor is to meet workforce demand to provide educated professionals in this quickly evolving industry.”
In addition to its partnership with SCSU, Green Flower works with more than 20 institutions across the U.S. to offer cannabis training and education, according to the release.
“As we worked with the leaders of PACE, we saw the commitment by the University of expanding offerings for working adults and lifelong learners as an obvious sign that the University wants to serve all types of students in every stage of their growth and careers,” Green Flower CEO Daniel Kalef said. “With the cannabis industry continuing to grow, we applaud the leadership of the University for their foresight in wanting to be the first institution in the state to offer certificate programs designed to prepare people for careers in what is now the fastest growing job market in the country.”
