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Cannabis Business and Horticulture studies. What is the future of cannabis related degrees?
by APSense News Release AdminOaksterdam University was founded in 2007 in Oakland, CA and since then, has been setting the bar for quality cannabis education, becoming the most recognized cannabis course, mainly due to their faculty which is composed of cultivators, business owners, and advocates who are on top of their game and have helped institutions and businesses to evolve while qualifying more than 40,000 students from all over the world.
Having “cannabis degree” not only implies that you’re entering the legal cannabis market but also that you’ll be helping set the tone of the cannabis industry in your country of origin. In my case, I started growing cannabis in Brazil, back in 2013-2014, and before even hearing about Oaksterdam University, I already knew I wanted to work with cannabis.
The main goal was to learn more about cannabis, get a certificate that accredited the knowledge gathered throughout the years, know people that were already working with cannabis legally, and maybe get a job in the cannabis industry, transitioning from the black market into the legal market. So, after saving up money, I enrolled in the Business of Cannabis and Horticulture semester in May 2019.
I truly didn’t know what to expect because I had never been to a place where you could talk, let alone learn about cannabis or a Cannabis legal state but as soon as you get there, you’ll know it was the right decision; It’s evident that everyone there is super qualified and have years of experience and work in the cannabis industry.
These are two separate courses that’ll teach you about different aspects of the cannabis market but complement each other more than you would think; Both semester courses are 14 weeks long and consist of field trips, slide presentations, lectures, and hands-on classes with cannabis plants, which makes it easier to understand what you’re studying; Having 10 plants filled with buds in front of you will make a difference for those who have never seen a real cannabis plant so I think it is important to offer that to the students and it is what makes them stand out in my opinion.
One of the best classes in my opinion was about the different types of light fixtures, the main difference between HPS and LED and why chose one over the other with a couple of grow tents inside the classroom so you could see how a real cannabis plant grows day after day under each light fixture.
This way you’re not only seeing the difference between them, but a highly qualified professional is also explaining why that transitions happen.
In the Horticulture Semester you’ll learn everything you need to know, starting from equipment, plant anatomy, and germination going through the different stages of plant growth, nutrients, and pH, and ending with harvesting, drying, and curing; Basically, everything you need to know to grow cannabis successfully as a hobby or as a commercial grower.
Now, on the other hand, the Business of Cannabis Semester goes over the whole industry of Cannabis, from politics and scientific research to business licensing and financial management; Enabling you to begin a career, either by getting a job or starting your own business, with everything you need to know about the cannabis industry, preparing you for everything you’ll encounter along the way.
On top of that and, what really makes it worth it and an all-around unique experience is the fact that you’re in California and you’re surrounded by cannabis culture, it wouldn’t be the same if OU was in Florida, for example.
Attending cannabis related college really made a difference in my life because, in 2020, I moved to Spain and got a job in a cannabis seed bank Fast Buds where I write about growing, and I’m 100% certain that the experience acquired in OU was the reason why I got hired, as said before, without certificates or degrees it’s impossible to accredit your experience so most people continue working in the black market.
But every case is different and not everything always goes as expected; Despite being relatively easy to find a job in cannabis in California it’s quite hard if you’re not a US citizen
During my trip there, I’ve found a lot of cannabis workshops and success centers sponsored by cannabis businesses that promote cannabis education and will hire you if you’re qualified but just like most foreign OU students who don’t have a green card, companies couldn’t hire me due to cannabis not being legal at a federal level.
It’s definitely worth attending cannabis-related courses, the sooner you get a degree, the easier it will be for you to get a job or to open your own cannabis business; Just have in mind that it’s not easy, especially now that it’s not legal in the majority of the countries so you have to plan ahead and take each step carefully.
It’s highly recommended you first know where it’s possible to get a job in cannabis, for example, Uruguay, US, Canada, Spain, among others; Then think where you would like to live and what you can afford, either because of a visa, language barrier or any other challenge. And after you have everything figured out, just do it.
An OU certificate will give you an advantage but the decisive factor is your knowledge so it’s important you continue studying in any way you can; It’s most likely that you won’t start as a grower, but you’ll get there if that’s your goal.
Some people I’ve met started with low position in a company, like a Weedmaps driver for instance, then became a trimmer, and so on until they’ve reached their objective either as a breeder or grower for a big company; The most important thing is that you don’t come out knowing everything, but you’ll have a solid base to start and really understand where you want to get.
The
cannabis industry is super competitive and as it grows, more people will get
into it, if you’re 100% sure this is what you want for your future, now is the
time to do it because, as time goes by, more and more courses will be available
and it will be harder to stand out whereas, despite being harder to get
qualified nowadays, it’s highly likely that you get a job as soon as you
graduate.
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Created on Feb 21st 2021 08:04. Viewed 360 times.
