The University of Rhode Island’s College of Pharmacy is home to a minor in cannabis studies which prepares students to work in the growing cannabis industry.
The program offers four cannabis-specific classes along with two free elective courses, according to the program director, Stephanie Forschner-Dancause.
Forschner-Dancause is a professor of biomedical pharmaceutical sciences and works as both director and advisor to the cannabis studies program. She holds a doctorate in pharmaceutical sciences with a focus in natural product chemistry.
As someone who has an interest in how nature can be harnessed to benefit human health, Forschner-Dancause claims this is as important as ever, since the public perception on marijuana continues to shift in favor of recreational use.
Forschner-Dancause mentioned that this had begun originally as a certificate program offered online to the public, but due to an influx of interest from students, the format was adopted into a minor, offered to students on campus.
The entry-level course, Foundations of Cannabis Studies, has been offered both in fall 2022 and fall 2023. The classes have reached full capacity in both occurrences.
Cannabis studies courses are offered under the department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Science. Other courses offered are Cannabis Product Development, Cannabis Chemistry and Pharmacognosy and Cannabis Therapeutics.
This education is also important because it can act as a safe entry-way into the cannabis industry, Forschner-Dancause said. The course curriculum, which can be found on the p harmacy department’s website , goes over the history and regulation, as well as product development and extraction of the compounds and therapeutic potentials.
As for what benefits students can get, Forschner-Dancause said students from the certificate program have gotten jobs all over the spectrum in the industry.
“Students are prepared to work in dispensaries,” Forschner-Dancause said. “Some may work behind the scenes.”
Students can also be found working in the analytical side, which includes testing, growing and helping to create a chemically sound, safe and effective product.
Forschner-Dancause said that due to the timeline of the minor’s existence, there won’t be an accurate representation of employment statistics for a year or two. However, those who completed the certificate have found success within the Rhode Island cannabis industry.
The webpage also provides insight as to what skills students can expect to have upon completing the minor. Students will be able to “identify and evaluate sources of evidence-based information to make informed decisions related to cannabis production and therapeutics,” and “Conceptually design reliable and safe cannabis products within the framework of an existing regulatory environment.”
For more information, students can reach out to Forschner-Dancause at [email protected].