Pubdate: Mon, 17 Aug 2015
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2015 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Author: Matthew Robinson
Page: A3

HIGH INTEREST IN POT SPARKS NEW COURSE AT KWANTLEN UNIVERSITY

Dazed and confused about growing and selling medical marijuana?

Metro Vancouver's Kwantlen Polytechnic University has just what 
you're jonesing for - a 14-week course for prospective pot pedlars 
called Introduction to Professional Management of Marijuana for 
Medical Purposes in Canada.

The online course starts this fall and is divided into two parts - 
one covering plant production and facility management, and the other 
marketing, sales and drug development, according to the university website.

"Medical marijuana is in the news every day, and it's an industry 
that is just starting to grow, and is growing very rapidly," said Jim 
Pelton, executive director of continuing and professional studies at Kwantlen.

The course is not cheap - $1,249 for each part - but the university 
already has a few dozen takers, including international applicants.

The classes may not be for everyone. They are built around Canada's 
new regulatory scheme for medical marijuana and a good deal of the 
coursework deals with understanding municipal bylaws and the 
country's legal parameters.

But students start from the ground up, beginning with identifying the 
difference between healthy and unhealthy plant roots. From there, 
students will be taught about hydroponic and irrigation systems, pest 
management and crop cycles. By the end of the first course, students 
will be primed on growing, harvesting, drying and storing.

They'll also get the rundown on how to avoid running afoul of local 
bylaws, regulations and legal constraints.

The courses are instructed by Tegan Adams, a business development 
manager at Experchem Laboratories Inc. The company tests products for 
the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries and also provides help 
for companies looking to enter the medical marijuana industry.

Horticulturalists, lawyers and marketing specialists help round out 
the teachings.

The second course is slated to start in late October. At this point, 
students are taught how to market their hypothetical harvest and will 
learn what medical conditions are treated with marijuana.

Adams could not be reached for this story.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom