UConn expands cannabis education course offerings

Hartford Business Journal File Photo A cannabis plant.

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By Sean Teehan

The University of Connecticut is expanding its cannabis education offerings, adding online cannabis horticulture summer courses open to the public as well as UConn students.

UConn instructors will teach an introduction to cannabis horticulture course online from June 1 to July 2, and an advanced cannabis horticulture class focusing on production and industry July 12 to Aug. 15, according to the university. Neither course requires completion of prerequisite courses.

Connecticut's flagship public university began offering the intro course taught by professor Gerald “Gerry” Berkowitz and other professors to students enrolled at UConn two years ago. The advanced course is new, and represents an important step toward a possible degree program for cannabis.

“Our students see career potential and want to gain experience. Businesses need highly trained scientists to support the growth of this industry, and they are seeking talented graduates to enter their workforce,” Berkowitz said.

Berkowitz and Matthew DeBacco -- both resident experts within UConn's College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources -- will teach the summer cannabis classes. Each course is worth three credits at UConn. UConn's three-credit on-degree courses cost about $2,200.

UConn is expanding its cannabis course offerings as Connecticut's General Assembly is currently debating bills that would legalize the recreational use of marijuana.

During a press conference last month, state House Speaker Matt Ritter (D-Hartford) expressed optimism that lawmakers would pass a legalization bill this session, as Majority Leader Jason Rojas hedged, saying passage wasn't close, but also not far.