Going Green: ASU’s Commitment to Cannabis Education

In 2021, the state of Alabama legalized marijuana for medicinal purposes only. While the recreational use of cannabis is still illegal in the state, it still has yet to stop schools like Jacksonville State University from putting in place cannabis education programs. More recently, Alabama State University followed suit and made history as the first HBCU to offer courses that will grant certifications in cannabis practice, cultivation, and development.

ASU gives you three specializations to choose from: Cannabis Cultivation, Cannabis Retail, and Cannabis Extraction & Product Development. Each program is a 9-week online course that promises to provide students with the skills and knowledge needed to be a cannabis professional. Ranging from online lecture videos to learning modules, the program ensures that students have all the resources they need to be successful. Upon completion, students will receive their certificate, a digital credential that can be shared on job sites like Linkedin, exclusive access to job openings, and the possibility of expanding your network of other cannabis professionals. The implementation of ASU’s programs is in partnership with a cannabis training and education platform called Green Flower. Based out of Ventura, California, Green Flower provides their services to business and individuals and are extremely passionate about cannabis education. They have partnerships with over 60 colleges and universities in the United States and hope to continue to partner with more in the future. The CEO and Co-Founder, Max Simon expressed his excitement for the partnership with ASU by stating, “The Alabama medical cannabis industry is just about to get started, so there will be jobs in cultivation, retail, and medical applications.”

How is this possible if the state hasn’t legalized marijuana? Fortunately, the law has nothing to do with it. The program is training students for entry level positions, and cannabis education is not a crime. For Alabama State University, it’s more than just offering another program. It’s about giving access to education in a field that is very profitable, despite the negative stereotype. In fact, the National Cannabis Industry Salaries in 2023 ranged from $40k to $70k for entry-level positions, depending on the area of focus. 

With this program in place, hopefully we see more HBCUs follow suit as the recreational use of marijuana starts to become legal in more of our states. There’s no doubt that the law behind cannabis has done more harm than good to our communities. According to the Marijuana Policy Project, Black people have been disproportionately affected by cannabis laws in both criminal justice and economic terms. They are more likely to be jailed and have the charge on their criminal record forever, resulting in the denial of housing, employment. etc. As proper education of cannabis continues to rise, states will have no choice but to adjust and adapt new laws to fit the growing demand for legal cannabis use and job market. 
The program is available to anyone over the age of 21. You can find more information about the program here.