PROGRAM

Cannabis Dispensary Administration Diploma

THIS PROGRAM IS NOT ACCEPTING NEW STUDENTS INTO THE PROGRAM  AT THIS TIME

The Cannabis Dispensary Administration program provides you with the answers dispensary patients and customers have.

Cannabis is complex – legally, chemically and biologically. The Cannabis Dispensary Administration programs starts from seed to give you foundational knowledge on cannabis growth, different strains and product output. It helps you understand the state and federal laws around sale and consumption. And it provides the knowledge for you to best help customers, patients and dispensaries know what to buy, what it can do, and how to use it properly. This program is an excellent starting point, but also provides skills that many dispensary owners need most today. 

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Course Detail – 8-Month Diploma

The Cannabis Dispensary Administration program provides cannabis patient education and assists with dispensary operations in alignment with state and federal laws that regulate cannabis distribution to clients. The program prepares students to work in a licensed cannabis dispensary. Students should acquire skills to interact with and educate cannabis clients in a regulated environment and the foundational knowledge to pursue additional careers in the cannabis industry.

Students seeking employment in this field must be 21 years or older and comply with regulations regarding a criminal background check. Dispensary employees will need to meet State Department of Financial & Professional Regulations requirements to acquire an Agent Card.  In addition, the program could prepare students for employment in the transportation, logistics and supply chain management for the cannabis industry. This program should prepare transporters to apply state laws and regulations to securely transport and track cannabis between business licenses. To be employed as a cannabis transporter, employees must be 21 years of age, meet the requirements to obtain a Department of Agriculture identification card, and pass a federal fingerprint test.

In addition to attendance in all courses, students will be required to complete out-of-class assignments. These assignments include but are not limited to reading, exercises and problem-solving, projects, research, papers, and presentations. A student can anticipate out-of-class activities that equal to about two (2) hours for every one (1) hour of lecture.  Upon successful completion of the program (see graduation requirements section of the catalog), students could seek or obtain entry-level employment as a cannabis dispensary employee and/or cannabis dispensary transportation administration position. 

Students must possess a high school diploma or recognized equivalency certificate (e.g., GED), and pass a Digital Learning Readiness Assessment with a score of 60 or higher.

Students who will not be 21 years old by the time they graduate from the program are not advised to enroll due to a potential inability to find employment in the cannabis field in their state.

All students must be interviewed by an admissions representative to determine if they have the maturity, motivation, commitment and dedication to succeed in the programs they have chosen and the qualities of personality that will help make placement assistance effective.

Students who have been convicted of a crime which may affect their ability to be eligible for employment in their chosen field may be denied admission.

There is a non-refundable $50 application fee. Click here to apply online.

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Curriculum

Introduction to Cannabis 
This course will discuss the basic life cycle of the plant/plant properties, and the natural origins and evolution of cannabis. Course will also include topics related to how cannabis influenced commercial, medical, ritual and religious
practices in culture.

Cannabis and the Law 
The course will discuss current policy parameters, legal responsibilities and ethical issues of the medical cannabis industry.

History of Cannabis Regulation 
This course covers content related to the history of cannabis from the years between 1950 and 2022.

Cannabis Compliance Standards 
This course provides a foundation of compliance laws related to cannabis. Content includes advertising and marketing, general operation guidelines, and days supply calculations.

Cannabis Pharmacology and Medical Use 
This course provides a foundation of pharmacology topics related to medical cannabis. Content includes product knowledge, basic physiology, drug interactions and methods of administration. This course will also provide an understanding of how cannabis is used with animals.

Introduction to Cannabis Advocacy 
This course covers logistic concepts including cannabis stigma, societal perception and current research in cannabis medicine.

Managing Change 
In today’s business environment organizations face almost constant change. New governmental regulations, new technologies, competitive pressures, product and process innovations, and mergers and acquisitions all produce pressures for organizations to change and adapt. The modern manager will need skills in leading and managing change. This course analyzes the forces that drive organizations to change, examines impediments to change, and explores a range of approaches for making organizational change more effective. Participants will develop an understanding of change processes and develop practical skills for becoming an organization change agent. This course will also provide the student with practical skills and tools for handling issues related to change, such as dealing with resistance.

Ethics and Social Responsibility 
Becoming an effective manager takes a lot of business knowledge and experience in areas such as finance and marketing. However, it is equally important to have a real understanding that how you operate your business reflects not just on you, but impacts your customers, employees, investors, and the larger community as well. Having a reputation as an ethical and socially responsible organization can bring significant benefits to a business. The modern manager will not only need to behave ethically but also help create a culture that values ethical behavior and corporate social responsibility. This course provides terminology and conceptual frameworks that will help the student think and talk about ethical issues. This course will also help the participants weigh the potential consequences of their business decisions, and to make moral and ethical distinctions when making decisions. This course will cover areas such as: Ethical perspectives in business; integrity and ethical leadership; corporate social responsibility; employee ethical responsibilities and rights; ethics and the law; ethical issues in finance, marketing, advertising, and human resource management; and ethical issues in a global business. 

Business and Professional Communication 
This course introduces students to business and professional communication concepts. Students will learn strategies to manage the communication challenges they face. Topics include interpersonal communication skills, presentation skills, group communication, intercultural communication, communication conflicts, nonverbal communication, and listening skills.

Social Media Marketing & Promotion 
This class will explore multiple social media channels. Starting with Facebook marketing and advertising, boosted posts, Facebook events, analytics, and setting up a Facebook company profile. Students will evaluate the advantages of Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn, YouTube and other social media platforms for business, including cross-platform customer engagement, marketing, advertising, setting up company profiles and driving social media conversions. Attention will also be given to content marketing and managing content for social media as part of an overall digital marketing plan.

Student Success Strategies 
This course explores the basic principles to achieve success in various settings including time and stress management strategies, study skills, professionalism, policies and procedures. Learning and communication methods will be explored in order to promote student success in school and in the workplace. Additionally, the student will learn basic word processing, presentation, and spreadsheet software skills.

Professional Success Strategies 
This course is designed to prepare students for career success through a focus on professionalism. The course will emphasize the development of work and human resource skills and professional ethics. Students will learn how to portray professionalism in behavior, presentation, dress, and work ethic, and will also study the professional standards of their chosen industry.

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Grow Your Skills In:

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Inventory Management

Learn to advise dispensaries on what to buy and when.

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Compliance

Understand how state and federal laws can impact your or your employer’s business. 

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Usage

Understand the medical use of marijuana on people and animals.

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Business

Acquire the skills to run an effective, profitable cannabis business.

Start Your Career Path

Ready to get started on your new cannabis career journey? Apply Now

Tuition and Financial Aid

See our costs and find financial aid and scholarship information for those who qualify. Learn More

FAQ

Have questions? Of course you do. See if they’ve already been answered in our FAQ.  Get Info

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Featured Graduate

I chose the cannabis program to help further my education within my job and to get further ahead in my career. The learning experience was great! The program helped me learn knowledgeable information and how to help customers better. I feel amazing about my new career.

Megan Howard
Cannabis Dispensary Administration Diploma

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