The legalization of recreational cannabis isn't just about smoking weed without fear of fines or imprisonment—it also means we can start studying this healing, leafy plant freely as well.
As businesses scramble to get their pot shops open to the public, so too are Canadian colleges who are rushing to develop cannabis programs to meet the growing interest of students looking for jobs in this budding industry.
According to the Ontario Chamber of Commerce's recent report, thousands of weed-related jobs are currently operating out of Toronto (and plenty more are coming), but oddly, it's still pretty hard to enrol in a good cannabis course unless you drive out to Niagara or Durham Colleges.
One college offering weed-related courses right here in the city is the Academy of Applied Pharmaceutical Sciences (AAPS).
Operating out of a non-descript building on Consumers Road, AAPS was founded in 2003 as a school focused on the pharmaceuticals, food, and healthcare industries.
It first launched its 16-week marijuana certificate program in September 2017, making it the first in Canada to be approved by the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Development (the same body that oversees schools like U of T).
According to Jason Chu, the AAPS's program manager, the course covers everything from growing techniques to how to start your cannabis business or line of oils.
"With the cannabis industry, it's changing almost day by day, week by week," says Chu. "Luckily the instructors we employ, they're very in touch with the regulations."
According to Chu, more than 40 AAPS have gone to work in the cannabis industry since graduating, including at Ameri, Toronto's second legal pot retailer (for whom AAPS was a consultant).
Their Cannabis Management, Quality and Laboratory Certificate Program will soon cover edibles as well: by September, AAPS will be offering courses like Edibles Processing, to prepare students for when edibles finally become legal.
The transition to cannabis was a natural one for AAPS: the cannabis industry and the pharmaceutical and food fields have a lot of similarities, in terms of Health Canada safety regulations, and many licensed weed producers are looking for people who know about GPPs and GMPs.
While all it takes is a high school diploma to enrol in the school, Chu says the students from a wide variety of backgrounds want to get in on the action.
"We have students who have a lot of experience in other industries: pharma, cosmetics....they see the boom and want to be involved in it right now."
by Tanya Mok via blogTO
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