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High times at Michigan medical marijuana college

New cannabis program includes horticultural and legal how-to's.
By Katherine Butler
Sun, Nov 29 2009 at 8:06 PM EST
Read more: AGRIBUSINESS, ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

Photo: John Pavelka/Flickr
 
Marijuana is not a novel concept on most college campuses. But at the just-founded MedGrow Cannabis College in Michigan, the particulars of pot are part of the curriculum. 
 
In reality, the “college” is a business that operates out of a few rooms. Opened last September with new classes starting every month, it is a six-week course on medical marijuana that covers the diverse aspects of the business. 
 
MedGrow provides agricultural extension classes on the basics of cannabis cultivation, from the growing cycle to nutrient and light requirements. It offers classes led by Todd Alton, a botanist who includes cannabis recipes such as crockpot cannabutter, chocolate canna-ganache and greenies, the cannabis alternative to brownies. Another instructor takes students through the growing and harvest cycles while addressing the curing techniques to increase marijuana’s potency.
 
The $485 course also serves as a gathering of “serious potheads,” who share stories of their best highs. There is required reading, but only from one text: Marijuana Horticulture: The Indoor/Outdoor Medical Grower’s Bible by Jorge Cervantes.
 
Nick Tennant is the 24-year-old founder of the college. Tennant envisions the school as the hub of a larger business that will sell supplies to its graduate medical marijuana growers, offering workshops and providing a network for both patient and caregiver referrals. As he told the New York Times, “This state needs jobs, and we think medical marijuana can stimulate the state economy with hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars.”
 
The Michigan program is representative of what is happening in other states that have recently legalized medical marijuana. Here’s how it works: patients whose doctors certify their medical need for marijuana can grow up to 12 cannabis plants themselves or name a “caregiver” who will grow the plants and sell the product. A caregiver can tend to up to five patients and can be anyone over 21 with no felony drug convictions.
 
The students at the college are diverse — they are white, black, young, old, employed or unemployed. Growing medical marijuana has been legal in Michigan since 2008, but most of the students do not want to be identified. As one student says, “My wife works for the government, and I told my mother-in-law I was going to a small-business class.”   
 
Nonetheless, the Department of Community Health has registered about 5,800 patients and 2,400 caregivers. Student Scott Austin is unemployed and 41 years old. He says that he and two partners are planning to go into the medical marijuana business together. Student Sue Maxwell drives each week to attend classes from her home four hours north of Detroit. As Maxwell says, “It’s a big investment, and I want to do it right.” 


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Comments(8)

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Posted By Anonymous - Mon, Dec 21 2009 at 5:42 AM EST

Marijuana Education

So it seems this college has been around for awhile, what has been learned about marijuana and its effects on all ages and pregnancy and can people really be addicted to marijuana? and since it comes so pure from the ground and uses so purely why do so many believe it is a drug?

Posted By Tgrr - Thu, Feb 04 2010 at 9:43 AM EST

better than a PILL

I myself would MUCH rather smoke marijuana than take PILLS every day....I wonder how many "prescribed" drugs in pill form, shots, liquids, etc have KILLED ppl from overdose, or caused internal issues after taking certain things for a period of time...liver, kidney damage, heart attacks, stroke, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES from depression medicine?? They need a study on how much of this has happened in the past 10yrs, compared to "weed induced" overdose, suicide, or damage to internal organs after.... More

Posted By Tgrr - Thu, Feb 04 2010 at 9:41 AM EST

better than a PILL

I myself would MUCH rather smoke marijuana than take PILLS every day....I wonder how many "prescribed" drugs in pill form, shots, liquids, etc have KILLED ppl from overdose, or caused internal issues after taking certain things for a period of time...liver, kidney damage, heart attacks, stroke, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES from depression medicine?? They need a study on how much of this has happened in the past 10yrs, compared to "weed induced" overdose, suicide, or damage to internal organs after.... More

Posted By larry burns - Thu, Dec 10 2009 at 4:40 PM EST

Next Class

Enter your comments here Next class Dates larrygina56@yahoo.com

Posted By shane - Thu, Dec 03 2009 at 11:17 PM EST

how to apply for school?

Can someone please email me at sstanford86@gmail.com and let me know where I can find more info on the marijuana college in detroit. Thank you.

Posted By duh - Wed, Jan 06 2010 at 3:42 PM EST

Here's the information

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=med+grow+cannabis+college

Posted By Anonymous - Mon, Nov 30 2009 at 3:01 PM EST

Michigan Medical Marijuana College

does the school offer to help find a job in that field for their students?

Posted By edwards - Mon, Nov 30 2009 at 11:06 AM EST

Medical Marijuana Will Be BIG Business

This “school” has gotten a head start, so to speak, on the business of educating marijuana growers and future marketers, but there clearly are major money-making opportunities budding here. As marijuana growers and legal stores multiply across the nation, there will be serious competition among them for business. That means that serious money will be spent on advertising, marketing, packaging, customer service and more. Take internet marketing… using a domain like.... More

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