Marijuana Industry

You Can Now Get College Degrees in Cannabis-Related Fields

October 17, 2019 By karlicobuzzi Leave a Comment

The cannabis industry is becoming serious business. People are devoting a lot of time and money to make the new niche as profitable as it is. It’s growing fast, and it’s going to need a lot of qualified people in the future to keep making it successful. If you’re interested in joining the field, you may want to get a cannabis degree. That’s right, it’s now possible in the U.S. to get college degrees in cannabis-related fields.

What exactly are “cannabis-related fields?”

Well, degrees that will allow you to be successful in the cannabis field vary greatly. Here are some examples.

Chemistry:

Northern Michigan University has begun to offer a four-year bachelor degree in Medicinal Plant Chemistry.

Biology:

UC Davis taught a class called “Physiology of Cannabis.”

Business:

The University of Denver created a course in the “Business of Marijuana.” Harvard University even offered a master’s class in cannabis business.

Law:

Vanderbilt’s law school taught “Marijuana Law and Policy.” Similarly, Ohio State University’s law school offered “Marijuana Law, Policy and Reform.”

Medicine:

University of Vermont’s online medical school taught a course on “Cannabis Science and Medicine,” and University of Washington has a class on “Medicinal Cannabis and Chronic Pain.”

There are also cannabis-specific schools that have started to see a boost in enrollments recently. These schools include places like Oaksterdam University, Cannabis Training University (CTU), and Clover Leaf University.

According to Leafly’s 2019 cannabis job report, “The cannabis industry is the largest job creation machine in the country.” Apparently, last year the industry increased by 44%, which created over 64,000 new jobs. Since the field has a lot of areas, it was able to employ people from different age groups, social standings, and levels of education.

Cannabis Degrees: Beyond Undergraduate

Getting an undergraduate cannabis degree is pretty cool. It can definitely give you a leg up on the competition within the cannabis field. But now you can go even further, because several U.S. universities are now offering graduate cannabis degrees.

University of Maryland, for instance, has created a cannabis-related graduate program in their School of Pharmacy. The program focuses on the science, clinical use, and policy of medical cannabis. It’s a Master of Science (MS) in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics degree, and it’s a two year program. Students can take class online ad well as in-person. Those completing the degree will be equipped to support medicinal cannabis patients, perform cannabis research, and contribute to cannabis-related policy.

Furthermore, Clark University has added a graduate certificate in “regulatory affairs for cannabis control.” This degree will give students knowledge of public policy issues in the medicinal cannabis field. This includes issues within cultivation, distribution, sales, and regulation.

U.S. Marijuana Industry Could Do $60B in Sales by 2023

October 2, 2019 By karlicobuzzi Leave a Comment

A recent report from the Marijuana Business Factbook revealed that marijuana sales in the United States have been soaring. By 2020, the sales could beat the National Football League’s (NFL) $15 billion.

In 2018, the U.S. revenue from both recreational and medicinal marijuana was close to $10 billion. But by the end of year 2023, officials believe that the industry could hit $60 billion.

To put that into perspective, as of now, the marijuana industry has higher sales than Taco Bell. It beats the sales of e-cigarettes, Fortnite video games, and Goldfish cracker snacks all put together.

By 2023, it could beat out America’s total spending on annual gym memberships, according to Eli McVey, MJBizDaily’s Research Editor.

So how is the marijuana industry doing so well in sales?

Well, the clearest reason for the rise in sales is that many states have now legalized the drug.

Beginning with Colorado, 36 states passed laws that allow for the legal sale of marijuana. The laws helped to increase consumption of the drug, both for recreational and medicinal use.

But what’s interesting is that the legal sales make up only a small portion of the demand for the drug in the U.S, which is closer to $60 billion. This demand includes sales from the black market.

According to the McVey, at least 20% of American adults are using cannabis plants for pain management, medical therapy, or recreational purposes.

The more states begin to reduce restrictions on the plant, the more the industry will grow.

Will marijuana be added to the food industry as well?

A recent FDA hearing convened on May 31 to discuss the possibility of adding CBD into food products. The hearing included researchers, scientists, health professionsals and advocates.

Although the 2018 Farm Bill allowed for industrial hemp production for hemp-based products like CBD, it isn’t enough to allow CBD into food, drinks, and dietary supplements. The FDA alone is in charge of regulating those items.

The forum on May 31 was a huge step towards determining a plan for adding CBD into food and drinks.

These Skills Will Earn You a Place in Puerto Rico’s Cannabis Industry

September 30, 2019 By karlicobuzzi Leave a Comment

Puerto Rico’s booming cannabis industry promises to offer residents more job opportunities. Are you hoping to jump on the train? Then take a look at the skills you’ll need to land a job in the medicinal cannabis world.

What skills do you need to enter the medicinal cannabis industry?

Puerto Rico now has 77,000 registered medicinal cannabis patients, and that number is only expected to grow. The government has granted nearly 80 licenses for dispensaries throughout the island. Many are already open and running.

Puerto Rico’s medicinal cannabis industry is expected to reach $100 million in tax revenue by 2020. Because of this steady growth, the island will be able to employ over 20,000 people.

The industry is booming, but how can you land yourself a job? Learn what hiring managers in the medicinal cannabis industry are looking for in their employees.

1. A degree or professional experience in cultivation

Yes, marijuana has only recently become legal, so you might be wondering how can you get “background” knowledge on the drug. Enroll in school. Many universities are already offering programs and degrees related to the cannabis industry.

People who have a background in a similar field also have an advantage. For instance, someone who has grown microgreens will have valuable skills to offer to the cannabis market.

2. Good technological skills

There is room for many kinds of technologically-savvy people in the cannabis field. Employers are looking for lab workers, scientists, engineers, and computer networkers.

3. Financial expertise

The rapidly growing industry needs financial experts to help them thrive. Accountants, controllers, CFOs and other business experts will be very welcome in the cannabis world.

4. Knowledge of advertising

There are a lot of dispensaries on the island, which means fierce competition. People with a background in marketing, sales, and advertising are going to be crucial in the medicinal cannabis industry.

5. Cultural awareness

The legal cannabis industry is new and exciting. As a result, it needs young, energetic talent to help it grow and reach customers. If you haven’t had much job experience or recently graduated college, the industry might be the perfect place for you. Employers are searching for “green” minds to help offer flexibility and energy to the field.

So what should you focus on if you think you want to enter Puerto Rico’s medicinal cannabis industry?

Learn.

If you’re able to take some classes, go ahead. Having professional education on medicinal cannabis and the industry is only going to give you a leg up on the competition. But if you can’t pay for official classes, learn all you can on the Internet about medicinal cannabis and what it takes to be in the industry.
Strategize.

Maybe you don’t have the exact job experience that’s listed in this article or even on the job description for which you’re applying. But that’s okay. Think about ways that your experience does align with the skills required for the job. Market yourself. Convince yourself — and the hiring managers — that your knowledge and experience makes you the best candidate.
Connect.

Just like in most fields, networking will be crucial in the medicinal cannabis industry. So stay aware of available positions on job boards. Make contact with people who are already working in the medicinal cannabis field. If you put yourself out there, you’ll reap the rewards.

Jay-Z to Join Caliva Cannabis Company as Brand Strategist

August 7, 2019 By karlicobuzzi Leave a Comment

Caliva, the California-based marijuana company, has just taken on a new Chief Brand Strategist: Jay-Z.

How will Jay-Z support Caliva in their marijuana business?

Jay-Z will be assisting the company with marketing strategies and customer outreach, but he’ll also doing something rather unique: advocating for social justice issues surrounding the legalization of marijuana. In particular, he’ll be trying to stop the exclusion of people who were previously incarcerated from participating in the legal weed industry.

Jay-Z told RollingStone that his position will include “advocacy, job training and overall employee and workforce development.”

Interestingly, it was Jay-Z who sought out Caliva about this position. He was searching for a long time to find a company the legal marijuana business with whom he could collaborate. According to Jay-Z, Caliva had the most experience and credibility in the industry, and he felt confident that they’d be able to “create something amazing” together.

Caliva’s CEO Dennis O-Malley says the company was flattered by Jay-Z’s desire to work with them. “For [him] to seek out Caliva as a partner is humbling and confirms our mission of being the most trusted name in cannabis,” he said.

Jay-Z’s Experience in the Criminal Justice World

Jay-Z is likely to thrive in this position, as he’s no stranger to social justice issues. He’s previously done work in criminal justice reform, including acting as executive producer on a documentary series about Kalief Browder. Browder was a teenager who committed suicide after spending three years awaiting trial for petty theft in NYC’s prison Riker’s Island. Jay-Z also spoke out for Meek Mill, showing the world the serious issues with unfair sentencing and probation standards. When Meek Mill was released from prison, he joined Jay-Z in establishing the Reform Alliance, a foundation for criminal justice reform.

Jay-Z is among many rappers who have been entering the legal weed business. Others who are currently thriving in the business include Snoop Dog, 2 Chainz, Wiz Khalifa, Freddie Gibbs, Juicy J, and B-Real. Many of these rappers have their own dispensaries, while others partner with companies like Jay-Z is doing with Caliva.