Cannabis courses in Canada struggle with promotion

With cannabis having been legalized in Canada in 2018 and the sector predicted to be worth $5 billion by 2021, the popularity of cannabis-related courses is spreading across Canadian universities and colleges. However, some institutions are struggling with how to accommodate international students into a ‘controversial’ market. Cégep de l’Outaouais is among these institutions.

A nine-month cannabis course in Canada, involving production and processing at Cégep de l’Outaouais (their biggest public college), was scheduled to start last October. The start was postponed to December with less than 10 students enrolled.

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High interest in cannabis courses in Canada

When the program was presented to the public, “the enthusiasm was high,” recalled spokesperson Simon Desjardins. “We received dozens and dozens of interested people.” 

Graduates of this college may work as technicians in cannabis processing laboratories or check the quality of products.

At the University of Quebec Three Rivers (UQTR), a new cannabis profile within the bachelor’s degree in biochemistry was indeed created in September. Only six out of the 32 students joined the course.

For professor Hugo Germain, part of the defection of potential students can be explained by “the stigmatization that still exists around cannabis, with parents being reluctant when children say they want to study cannabis.”

“We feel like we’ve lost about half of our students to this,” he said, “Quebec is in full employment, which encourages workers to stay in the labor market rather than return to school,” said Francine Bouchard, director of continuing education at the Cégep de l’Outaouais.

Some interested students were “disillusioned” when they realized the seriousness of the program, with requirements in chemistry, physics, and biology. 

Employers are impatient for cannabis courses in Canada

The irony is that companies in the cannabis industry are eager to hire these future graduates. The program managers interviewed are therefore confident that students will be able to attend in due course. 

“Cégep Gérald-Godin will focus on evening and weekend courses to attract people who are already employed,” explained Valérie Gosselin. 

McGill University announced in 2018 the creation of a certificate in cannabis cultivation, which had to begin last winter. Instead, the program will offer its course in June 2020.

Cannabis research continues to grow

Cannabis research is booming thanks to companies and governments that are raining subsidies on academics to better understand the plant and its products.

“About 60 researchers from a variety of disciplines have been gathering since February in a new center to study cannabis,” said Professor Carolyn Baglole. 

Carolyn Baglole believes that Canada is well-positioned to become a world leader in cannabis research.

“It’s now easier to talk about it and it’s a fascinating plant, on which we know so little,” she said.

Funding research for cannabis courses in Canada

Since legalization, companies that produce or process cannabis have had a strong interest in funding research chairs for scientists to further knowledge. 

Research that will not benefit companies in the short term is also emerging. For example, professor Hugo Germain will travel to northern India this summer to collect cannabis plants that have different properties from those known. 

“What about cannabidivarin, a 100% natural substance that can protect against cardiovascular disease? What is the Omega3 content and disease resistance of some plants?” asked Germain. 

The researcher hopes to help develop a genetic map” of cannabis.

“Like the one that already exists for tomatoes, whether red, black, cherry or Italian,” said Germain. “Creating cannabis even stronger is not what we want to do. Research is done for the good of communities.”

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(Featured image by Changbok Ko via Unsplash)

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