UArizona to launch 3 noncredit cannabis certificate programs

PHOENIX — The University of Arizona announced Tuesday it will offer new noncredit cannabis certification programs to educate students about various aspects of the robust industry that has emerged since legalization.

Certifications will be offered in the Business of Cannabis, Cannabis Law and Policy, and Cannabis Healthcare and Medicine, with each including three eight-week online courses that can be completed in approximately six months.

The courses will be taught by instructors of Green Flower, a leader in cannabis education, and feature cannabis entrepreneurs, board-certified physicians, attorneys and public policy specialists.

“We are delighted to partner with Green Flower to help learners gain skills necessary to be a professional in the burgeoning cannabis industry,” Craig Wilson, UArizona vice provost for online, distance and continuing education, said in a press release.

“Understanding multiple viewpoints like business, law and policy, and health care and medicine as it relates to the cannabis industry will help our learners establish a solid foundation.”

Registration for the program is now open with the first cohort starting on March 7. Each certificate costs $2,950, but a $500 registration discount is available for the first cohort.

The courses will be delivered online in an asynchronous format, the university said, which does not require students be online at a specific time to complete the work.

Arizona voters last year passed Proposition 207, which legalized recreational cannabis consumption for people age 21 and over after legalizing the drug for medical purposes a decade earlier.

The industry since legalization boomed and has already generated more than $150 million in tax revenue this year, the university said.

A workforce need of individuals trained in various aspects of cannabis has emerged as popularity grows, with a 2021 jobs report finding 321,000 jobs nationwide are supported by the industry where employment has increased significantly faster than many other jobs.

“The changing laws have created a tremendous need for credible cannabis education, not just for producers and distributors, but also for health professionals, legal professionals, law enforcement and many others,” Rebecca Cook, director of UArizona Continuing and Professional Education, said in the release.

“Our goal is to provide high-quality, relevant professional development opportunities that position our learners for professional success, and Green Flower’s comprehensive cannabis education program meets that standard.”

Green Flower has similar programs with a number of colleges and universities across the country, including the University of New Mexico, Syracuse University and University of California, Riverside.

“Green Flower is honored to be working with the University of Arizona and in particular the office of Continuing and Professional Education,” Max Simon, CEO of Green Flower, said in the release.

“With new rules and licenses beginning to take effect, we applaud the leadership of the university for their foresight in wanting to offer certificate programs designed to prepare people for careers in what is now the fastest growing job market in the country.”

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