Wish You Had Been a Cannabis Major? Consider Getting Your Master’s Degree in Cannabis

Over the past decade, cannabis has continued to be legalized in more and more U.S. states for medicinal purposes and, in many states, adult use as well.

As the industry grows, so will the need for people who can fill the jobs that the cannabis industry will create. This may make you wish you had been able to be a cannabis major in college. Continue reading to learn about the history of cannabis and if pursuing a master’s degree in cannabis could be right for you.

A Very Brief History of Cannabis

Cannabis has been around for a very long time. In fact, the plant itself evolved around 28 million years ago. The cultivation of the plant dates back to Asia around 2500 B.C., or perhaps even earlier. Early colonists in Central Asia grew hemp to create textiles and rope. Hemp was then used in Africa, Europe, and North and South America to create clothing, paper, and sails. Cannabis has also been used as medicine for thousands of years.

Fast forwarding to the 1800s in the U.S., cannabis extracts were often found in pharmacies and doctor’s offices for medicinal purposes to treat various ailments. During the 1900s, the use of cannabis became more commonplace. Yet this was seen by some in society as “evil” and it was subsequently outlawed by 29 states by 1931.

The Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 criminalized all cannabis nationwide, taxing all sales, possessions or transfers. And in 1970, the Controlled Substances Act was signed into law as a part of the “War on Drugs,” making cannabis federally illegal. 

As of May 2022, things look a lot different.

Legalized Cannabis and its Effect on the Economy

As of May 2022, 36 states have legalized medical cannabis and 18 states have legalized cannabis for adult use. States with medical and adult usage have seen a large increase in tax and license revenue from cultivation facilities and retail stores. In fact, since 2014, Colorado’s economy has brought in over $12 billion from the legalization of cannabis.

According to Forbes, the legalization of cannabis can play a key role in economic recovery for the United States. This finding mirrors what happened with Prohibition and how the legalization of alcohol helped the United States bounce back from the Great Depression. 

The Rapidly Growing Field of Cannabis Industry Jobs

The cannabis industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the world. An expanding industry means an increasing number of career positions that need to be filled. Currently, there are over 428,000 full-time jobs supported by legal cannabis. In 2021, an average of 280 new jobs were created each day. 

There are many different career opportunities in the cannabis industry. Some roles include:

• Director of Operations
• Supply Chain Manager
• Compliance Officer
• Marketing Manager
• Retail Director

College degrees will be required for many of these positions. The types of degrees you can earn if you want to get a cannabis industry job range from accounting, to human resource management, marketing, communications, or even the business of cannabis. LIM College has started the nation’s first Master of Professional Studies degree in The Business of Cannabis. 

The Benefits of Earning a Degree in Cannabis

With such vast opportunities, earning a degree in cannabis can provide many benefits, such as:

• The ability to begin a new career in a sustainable industry
• Starting at an early stage of one of the fastest-growing industries
• Gaining specialized cannabis knowledge that employers in the cannabis business are looking for

By earning a master’s degree in cannabis, you can place yourself at the forefront of the rapidly expanding cannabis industry and all it has to offer. 

Jumpstart Your Career with a Master’s Degree in Cannabis from LIM College

Whether you're longing for a career change or looking to take the next step in your cannabis journey, you'll learn about the industry from the ground up, exploring cultivation, supply chain, social and economic justice, marketing, retail, and compliance issues.

Our Master’s Degree program in The Business of Cannabis is:

• Fully online
• A one-year program
• Created and taught by industry professionals

Learn from the best in the business, including, as of Fall 2022: Dasheeda Dawson, City of Portland Cannabis Program Manager; Branding Bud Consulting Group founder David Paleschuck; Marianne Cursetjee, founder of Alibi Cannabis, Wei Hu, Esq., founding partner of MRTA Law, P.C., Michael Zaytsev, author of The Cannabis Business Book, and several more.

Interested in learning more about our MPS degree program in The Business of Cannabis?