Cannabis in the Focus of Research – Its Comeback at Universities

The Study "Cannabis"

Marijuana in the lecture hall? What seemed unimaginable years ago is slowly becoming a reality at the first universities. You can study "Cannabis," and that's a good thing, because with the rehabilitation of this valuable and versatile plant – whether with or without THC – countless questions arise that must be researched, answered, taught, tested in studies, and published: From cultivation to application, from legal questions to economic aspects, to a visible presence and broad acceptance of the hemp plant in the population. There is an urgent need for training opportunities in various fields for all those who are convinced of hemp and want to contribute to its old new popularity.

Science of Medicinal Cannabis - New Zealand Shows How It's Done!

The Auckland University of Technology (AUT), one of New Zealand's leading universities, has been offering the first Master's program in medicinal cannabis since July 2020 for students with a bachelor's degree. Based on ongoing research on the cultivation, extraction, and development of products from medicinal hemp, the course provides a general overview of chemistry and pharmacology. It covers the history and legislation surrounding medicinal hemp, its botany including breeding and cultivation of different cannabis strains. Students learn about cannabinoids, their extraction, analysis, medical and cosmetic use, as well as their effectiveness in conjunction with our body's endocannabinoid system and organs like the skin. They gain practical experience in how medicinal cannabis products are developed and dosed and get insights into the economic structures of the cannabis industry. The job prospects are promising; AUT's research partner ZeaCann is convinced that there is a great need for qualified professionals. As part of their research partnership, ZeaCann can provide its extensive network of industry partners, global experts, and industry players, including breeders and botanists, farmers, processors, and pharmacies. The program is set to be supplemented by additional courses in 2021, including modules that can be taken by students in the bachelor's program.

Cannabis Universities in the USA

In America, cannabis has long ceased to be a taboo topic at universities. The Cannabis Chemistry, which encompasses everything related to the chemical properties of substances contained in the hemp plant, is one of the fastest-growing industries in the USA, associated with a wide range of employment opportunities in technology and healthcare.
The University of Maryland in Baltimore launched a new master's program in "Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics" in the summer of 2019 through its "School of Pharmacy," where knowledge and practical skills for working in the medical cannabis industry, research, and patient treatment are imparted. With a bachelor's degree, one can apply for the two-year program, which takes place at the universities in Shady Grove in Rockville. This program is aimed not only at students but also at doctors, nursing staff, pharmacists, scientists, and authorities, as well as professionals from politics and industry. The legalization of medical cannabis in more and more states creates a significant demand for qualified "hemp experts" who are well-trained both scientifically and therapeutically. The program covers the entire spectrum of topics surrounding medical cannabis – basic research, clinical use and side effects, political and legal aspects, conveyed through expert seminars and case studies, and through student participation in scientific, medical, and health policy discussions. Upon completion of the program, they will be able to create therapy plans with medical cannabis for suitable patients, participate in research projects dealing with the health potential of cannabinoids, and engage in societal and political discussions regarding cannabis issues.
The Lake Superior State University in Michigan has been offering the first "Cannabis Chemistry" program in the USA since 2019, which deals with the quantitative analysis of cannabinoids such as CBD and THC, terpenes, and other components in the hemp plant. Students with a bachelor's degree can qualify for an American Chemical Society (ACS) diploma with this program. They receive a solid foundation in organic chemistry, biochemistry, and analytical methods and learn in numerous practical lab hours using fresh plant material the industrial standards for the analysis, extraction, and separation of the components in the cannabis plant. The qualification opens up excellent career prospects in the fields of law and regulatory administration, healthcare, and business. The versatile economic aspects surrounding the increasing legalization and growing industry of medical cannabis are addressed by Lake Superior State University with a further bachelor's program in "Cannabis Business." Future entrepreneurs, managers, and leadership and development personnel in business enterprises are trained, and the program imparts all the skills needed to establish, build, and run one's own cannabis business.

Globally (Still) Unique – The First "Cannabis University" in California's Oaksterdam

At the Oaksterdam University, founded only in 2007, the possibilities of Cannabis in the Pharmaceutical Field are being intensively researched, and a wide range of courses covers all aspects of legal cultivation, use, and economic significance of cannabis. Its president is hemp activist Steve Lee.
The six-month online course "Business of Cannabis" is aimed at anyone who wants to work in the cannabis industry or start a business. The course covers a wide range of topics related to the hemp plant and its associated business aspects in numerous modules: From a historical overview of cannabis consumption to the current political and legal situation, from the extraction of cannabinoids, the production of cannabis products such as cannabis/CBD cosmetics and their application, as well as their effects in the human endocannabinoid system. Furthermore, the requirements for commercial cannabis cultivation and the economics of cannabis markets are conveyed, along with the creation of a concrete business plan, including business model, financing options, necessary licenses, and permits. The fourteen-week "Horticulture Semester" is led by industry leaders and professional breeders and offers comprehensive training in indoor and outdoor cannabis cultivation: It includes the anatomy and physiology of the cannabis plant, its seed propagation, the various strains with their growth conditions and soil requirements, nutrient and water needs, pest control, harvesting, and processing, as well as necessary lab tests.
The cultivation of medicinal cannabis is also the focus of the publicly accessible online course offered at the University of Connecticut: "Horticulture of Cannabis – from Seed to Harvest" provides an overview of the entire growth cycle of the cannabis plant and is based, among other things, on research conducted in the Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture at the University of Connecticut. Students are to be equipped with the knowledge, practical experiences, and skills needed in the rapidly developing cannabis industry. The lectures focus on indoor and outdoor cannabis cultivation with its different requirements, seed production, and propagation of clones from cuttings. Additionally, special production techniques for cannabis, among others, to maximize cannabinoid content, as well as harvesting and THC extraction are addressed. Students from various fields can complete internships in different areas and facilities.

Cannabis "Down Under"

The "Australian Cannabis University", located in the northern part of New South Wales, is committed to advocating for the decriminalization and legalization of cannabis and the acceptance of its diverse medical applications. Founded in 2017 as a non-profit private educational institution, it aims to provide students with comprehensive knowledge about cannabis, focusing on the various health benefits and medical applications of cannabis. Since the institution is not yet able to offer nationally recognized accreditation, interested parties can primarily benefit from in-person learning.

Cannabis as Medicine? – A Beginning Approach, Also in Germany and Switzerland

The University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart established an international cannabis research network in 2019, in which research institutions and companies in Germany and Canada are working together to develop cannabis without psychoactive properties for the market. The project is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy under the Central Innovation Program for SMEs (ZIM) and is coordinated by the University of Hohenheim. The potential of phytocannabinoids for medicine, nutrition, and personal care is being rediscovered today. However, there is still often a lack of knowledge and experience in Germany, for example, how different genetic strains thrive in our climate or what technical requirements are needed for larger harvests of medicinal cannabis. The research and companies aim for a win-win situation. Trade relies on the necessary knowledge and access to plant material, while research institutions need information from companies about which products are in planning and desired to develop suitable cannabis genetics. A significant increase in knowledge results from collaboration with Canadian partners, as cannabis has been a topic there for much longer, associated with a significant lead in experience.
The University of Hohenheim conducts research and experiments in the fields of cultivation, breeding, and the further development of cannabinoid-rich, THC-poor cannabis genetics that thrive in the Central European climate. This requires insights into how different strains respond to varying site conditions such as sunlight, irrigation, and fertilization, and how they differ in their contents. The goal is for researchers to be able to advise breeders and companies in the future on which strain is best suited for which product and to provide corresponding seeds.
The Chair of Economic Policy at the University of Saarland has been conducting a long-term empirical research project on the medical prescription practices of cannabis flowers in Germany since 2019, aiming to better assess the nationwide demand and thus the market for medical cannabis. The project aims to contribute to optimizing the current governmental approach to the topic of "cannabis as medicine" in Germany, as hardly any form of therapy is discussed as controversially as the treatment of severely ill patients with cannabis, which has been permitted since 2017.
The University of Bern in Switzerland is already involved in basic research on the effects of cannabis at two institutes, at the Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (health and social impacts of cannabis consumption) and at the Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine (basic research). Additionally, cannabis research falls under the field of pharmaceutical biology. As part of the development of a new pharmacy degree program, the establishment of a professorship in "medical cannabis research" or another research position in this field was examined in 2019. However, realization would have only been possible with the provision of additional financial resources by the cantonal government, which were not approved. For further expansion of cannabis research at the University of Bern, existing funds would have had to be redistributed, which would have led to losses in other research areas.

Sources:
www.news.aut.ac.nz
www.zeacann.com
www.umaryland.edu
www.pharmacy.umaryland.edu
www.lssu.edu
www.oaksterdamuniversity.com
www.uconn.edu
www.australiancannabisuniversity.org
www.agrar.uni-hohenheim.de
www.uni-saarland.de
www.unibe.ch

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