PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Pennsylvania's medical marijuana industry is exploding and is now finding its way into higher education as local universities begin offering a pathway to cannabis-related careers.
Saint Joseph's University is jumping on the weed bandwagon with four online certificate courses in business, agriculture and horticulture, law and health care. Each course takes about six months to complete according to Josh Power, St. Joe's executive director for graduate and extended studies.
"At the end of the program, students receive a certificate of completion from Saint Joseph's University, and also have exclusive access to an employer network," said Power, "which will hopefully help them get started in their new career."
Tower said all those career choices demonstrate the vast reach of the rapidly growing industry's tentacles.
He pointed out that in Pennsylvania, the medical marijuana industry currently has over 150,000 patients and is still growing. "That's a half-billion dollar industry in Pennsylvania alone," said Power.
Earlier this week, state officials celebrated a milestone with the opening of the Commonwealth's 100th operational dispensary.
St. Joe's announcement came only months after the University of the Sciences launched its own package of online weed certificate programs.