New York College Launches Cannabis Science Program

The State University of New York (SUNY) at Cobleskill is launching a cannabis science program for the upcoming semester, News10 reports. The seven-credit specialization minor is open to current students. 

The program requirements include: 

• Cannabis Management (online class, two credits) 
• Cannabis Harvest & Analysis (hands-on class, two credits) 
• Cannabis Cultivation (hands-on class, three credits) 

The hands-on classes have been incorporated into the college’s plant science program, which introduces hemp production techniques, varietal trials in the field and greenhouse, and the agronomics of production.

Extraction, plant and extract analysis, and field and greenhouse work are being added to the curriculum. The college’s industrial hemp program launched in 2018 and partners with businesses that use cannabis for food, fiber, and fuel. Last year, SUNY Cobleskill was awarded $50,000 by the state to develop two acres of industrial hemp for CBD and other cannabinoids.

The cannabis science curriculum covers the cannabis production process, management and cultivation, breeding, laws and regulations, harvesting, and extraction. After completing the minor, students should be able to show an understanding of the cannabis industry, and a variety of production and processing techniques, and be able to evaluate market trends.

In July, Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) announced $5 million in funding for three SUNY colleges and one City University of New York (CUNY) for cannabis-related credential programs or course offerings that provide pathways to the cannabis industry.

The three SUNY campuses, which will receive $1 million each, include Schenectady County Community College (SCCC), Niagara County Community College, (NCCC), and Orange County Community College (OCCC), while the CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College will receive $2 million.