Oaksterdam University Business of Cannabis Overview
Even those who aren’t regular consumers of marijuana or advocates of its legal reform have likely heard of Oaksterdam University, which is North America’s first-ever college focused specifically on cannabis and the cannabis industry.
Since 2007, the university “has been setting the bar for academic rigor and applied learning in cannabis education”.
According to its website, the university is “Recognized industry-wide for its rigorous academic learning environment”, and it “has something to offer cannabis professionals at every experience level.”
From the earliest days of the medical cannabis movement in North America, “Oaksterdam University has been committed to our mission of providing students with the knowledge and skills they need to lead and succeed in the industry.” Today, with more than 40,000 alumni worldwide, the university is “the most recognized name in cannabis education.”
Their “cross-disciplinary curriculum covers the most recent developments in cultivation, business, and policy but is grounded in the legacy of the cannabis legalization movement.” They offer students “a historical perspective, examining how prohibition has shaped the industry and how it continues to influence it today.”
In this article we will take an overview of the university’s course on the Business of Cananbis:
Summary of Program
According to their website, Oaksterdam University’s Business of Cannabis program “enables students to become responsible patients and employees, educated voters, prepared advocates & able business owners.”
Whether you’re looking to find a job, begin a career, start a business or invest in one, “students who complete this program will have a better understanding of the needs and concerns of patients and consumers, and a solid grasp on the overall business behind the plant.
The program is designed to offer ways to engage in this emerging new industry and get you prepared for the risks and responsibilities you will face.”
Potential Career Options
Some potential marijuana-related career options you can expect to be relevant to this course include:
Marijuana business owner
Potential Salary: $80,000 – $150,000
Dispensary manager
Potential Salary: $45,000 – $75,000
Marijuana policy advisor
Potential Salary: $50,000 – $65,000
Course Overview
Below is the full official course overview:
“The Business of Cannabis program enables students to become responsible patients and employees, educated voters, prepared advocates & able business owners. The program is designed to offer ways to engage in this emerging new industry and get you prepared for the risks and responsibilities you will face. The Business of Cannabis Semester is 14 weeks long, comprised of 18 individual classes. Classes meet once a week on Wednesdays.
Classes will cover topics from General Education, Politics & History, Science, and Law to Business Management, Extraction Processes, and Cultivation taught by expert instructors comprised of industry leaders, attorneys, business owners, professional growers, and extractors. Semester students will be provided ample time for Q&A interaction with our expert instructors.”