Getting a marijuana degree is nothing to brush off if you really want to work in the cannabis field. Marijuana is an industry that is finding its way through a maze of legalities and standards while growing at an extremely fast pace. Degrees in cannabis studies are taken seriously by more and more professors, colleges and universities as the industry becomes more legitimate.
Is a marijuana degree worth the time? Yes. Definitely. The right degree can not only open doors to employment opportunities but can lead to higher pay and the ability to rise through the ranks of cannabis-focused companies.
Career opportunities in the cannabis industry are growing as regions relax marijuana laws with some fully decriminalizing or legalizing it medically and recreationally. Getting a degree in the field gives you a boost over other people who may be competing for the same industry positions. Degrees are not just in the area of growing but other industry required jobs as well. Get your marijuana degree and you will find a job in the field quickly.
The Top Marijuana Degrees
1. Cannabis – This is an obvious degree that will help you in the field of cultivation. You can major at schools around the United States and be fully recognized as qualified in your field. Northern Michigan has one that focuses on plant chemistry and health applications of cannabis. Other places offer Physiology of Cannabis and Policy and Reform just to name a few. There are also trade schools like Cannabis college and Humboldt Cannabis college that focus on cannabis alone. These are proven and accredited schools where you will work just as hard to get your degree as you would for any other program. Classes such as chemistry, statistics, genetics, and chromatography are just a few that will challenge you.
Once you have that marijuana degree, you will be able to find a good job and make great money in this budding industry. You may take a few years for school, but your job prospects will increase once you are finished.
2. Biology – Getting a bachelor’s degree in biology is great in the cannabis field. It is the study of plant life and gives the student the ability to focus on botany, horticulture and other great courses that will help you work in the cannabis industry. Learning about strains of plants and how to work with them gives you the ability to work on hybrid strains of marijuana as well as how the body can use and process it. Looking at medicinal applications as well as recreational marijuana from a scientific point of view is a good way to get into the field. Biology degrees can be taken at most colleges and universities around the country with some specializing in the biology of cannabis such as the one at Southern Colorado University.
3. Marketing – With the decriminalization and legalization of cannabis, marketing is now needed for companies who are producing and selling products. With the legitimization of the marketplace, competition has begun and getting a brand name out there needs a professional. Getting a bachelor’s degree in marketing means you can introduce yourself to a cannabis company and use that degree to the fullest. Creating a positive brand association, creating marketing campaigns, and finding the company’s consumer targets are all part of the new world of cannabis. Grow ops, dispensaries, accessories, and products all will want someone who can sell their brand to the marketplace. A marketing degree can be done as a certificate, a BA or a Master’s in the classroom or online.
4. Business Administration – Cannabis companies that are planning to move into the marketplace aggressively will need someone who knows the ins and outs of the business. Understanding taxes, insurance, zoning by-laws, AR, AP, state, and federal regulations all need to be dealt with. A business degree can get you hired on the office side of the industry rather than the growing. A business degree is helpful but even better if you have a major in accounting, business law or organizational management. All these areas need to be addressed in any company that is going to hit the marketplace and not only be viable but be profitable.
5. Agriculture – A degree in agriculture seems obvious but you need to find a specialized degree. You want one with the focus being the cultivation of marijuana looking at soil, lighting, sexing, and harvest. While we often think agriculture is outdoors, it is indoor as well when it comes to cannabis. You need to understand and be able to work with every part of a grow op and lead a team to create a way of planting, irrigating, and building a sustainable farm with top of the line technology.
6. Criminal Justice and Law – The laws and regulations throughout the United States vary between jurisdictions. Where marijuana is legal in one state, you could go to jail for it in another. Legal researchers, lawyers and law enforcement all are in high demand if they have specialized in cannabis law. Having someone within a company that knows the ins and outs of marijuana regulation is important not only for the state the company resides in but other states as well since other laws can affect shipping and distribution.
7. Chemistry – Along with a degree in Biology, a degree in chemistry is going to help anyone who wants to work in company labs or grow ops. Understanding the properties, complexities and benefits of the marijuana plant is important when dealing with how the product works for individuals and why it works the way that it does. Understanding the chemical elements of marijuana helps both the medical and recreational industries target certain demographics of people and the most beneficial way to use cannabis.
Working with chemistry means there are ways to make sure usage and grow conditions are is safe and correct for the best grow outcome. Chemistry opens the cannabis field up to greater potential through research and development. While a degree in chemistry is available at most universities, Southern Colorado University offers one that specializes in cannabis.