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Online courses have medical marijuana focus

Aug. 28, 2015, Vancouver — Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) will be the first institution in Canada to deliver much-needed education to professionals entering a budding industry.

August 28, 2015  By Dave Harrison


Aug. 28

Starting in September, the British Columbia university will launch two seven-week professional courses to guide students through the opportunities and challenges of the country’s rapidly expanding medical marijuana industry.

Delivered entirely online, the courses are available Canada-wide and open to students across provinces and around the world.

The continuing and professional studies courses are designed to provide the necessary understanding of production facility management, legalities and regulations, medical conditions and drug development processes.

“Medical marijuana is in the news every day, and it’s an evolving industry that’s growing very rapidly,” said Jim Pelton, executive director of continuing and professional studies.

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“KPU is certainly blazing a trail in terms of helping people navigate the business and professional landscape of managing medical marijuana in Canada.”

TWO COURSES LAUNCHED

The courses – “Plant Production and Facility Management” and “Marketing, Sales and Drug Development” – were developed with significant input from industry, including the Canadian National Medical Marijuana Association (CNMMA) and its executive director, Deepak Anand.

“Working closely with industry leaders on course material has ensured students will receive accurate information on this highly regulated industry,” said Anand.

“With its extensive understanding of the medical marijuana industry, the CNMMA readily agreed to help facilitate the curriculum development for the course, the first of its kind in Canada.”

The courses will be taught by Anand and Tegan Adams, the business development manager at Experchem Laboratories – a Health Canada-accredited testing lab and regulatory consulting company. Adams also played an important role in developing the curriculum and bringing it to KPU.

“It’s exciting to see a Canadian university take the lead in education and training for the emerging industry of medical marijuana in our country,” said Adams. “This course will bridge the agricultural production of marijuana with the pharmaceutical good production practices necessary to abide with Health Canada’s regulations – enhancing the credibility and effectiveness of the industry as a whole.

QUALITY ASSURANCE AND STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES

“Growers and investors both need people who understand regulated facility management, quality assurance and standard operating procedures. That’s what this course will provide.”

“Flexible for all learners, students can expect to actively engage in problem-based learning techniques, participate in online teaching and discussion forums, and access resources such as the CNMMA and Experchem Laboratories. KPU is in an excellent position to offer the course to anyone, anytime.”

The courses will cover many aspects related to the professional management of marijuana for medical purposes, including: plant production, facility management theory, becoming a licensed producer, marketing, sales, patient acquisition strategies, medical conditions and drug development processes.

Registration is now open. Each course will cost approximately $1,250.The courses will be taught online and each will be seven weeks in duration. The first course is set to start in September.

More information is available on the Medical Marijuana program website.


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