UConn Offering Online Cannabis Cultivation Courses

The University of Connecticut this summer will offer non-degree online courses in basic and advanced cannabis cultivation. The offering comes after the university launched an introductory online cannabis horticulture class in 2019.

Gerald Berkowitz, a professor of plant science in the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, said the UConn students “see career potential and want to gain experience” in the field, while “businesses need highly trained scientists to support the growth” of the industry.

“By offering more and more targeted courses, we can help both groups. It’s a win-win. … It’s a great opportunity for UConn to capitalize on an area of academics that’s really just developing. We’re blazing new ground.” – Berkowitz, in a press release

Indrajeet Chaubey, dean of the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, said there was “tremendous demand from students and industry” for the courses, noting that the university’s faculty have “expertise across the cannabis spectrum.”

Matthew DeBacco, the lead instructor of UConn’s courses and an adjunct plant science instructor, described the program as a “choose your own adventure” model that allows students to dig deeper on the aspects that most interest them, give them greater insight into certain parts of the process, including allowing how to propagate from seeds or clones, and aspects of growing indoors versus outdoors.

The Advanced Cannabis Horticulture: Production and Industry course will be offered during the summer session from July 12 to August 13. They require no pre-requisites and are accessible to anyone in the world.

The Connecticut Legislature’s Judiciary Committee last week approved an adult-use proposal offered by Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont, who had called for the reforms during his January State of the State address.

Connecticut is bordered by Massachusetts, which legalized cannabis for adults in 2016, and New York which approved the reforms last month.