Olds College introduces cannabis retail course

The response to post-secondary pot programs has been so overwhelming that schools are starting to spark up new courses ahead of the drug ’s recreational legalization this October.

In May, Olds College announced it had partnered with Alberta pot producer Sundial to offer a cannabis production program — that program’s enrolment reached beyond capacity within hours of its registration opening and the first three intakes are now sold out.

It prompted the school to expand on its previous offerings by adding a cannabis retail course — the first of its kind in the province that will launch this fall.

Partnering with 420 Clinic, the school is set to introduce a course focusing on a scientific and biological framework for understanding cannabis, and regulations required to run a retail cannabis store.

Olds College vice-president of development and strategy Patrick Machacek said they were excited to be bringing the new courses to the school.

“We recognized that cannabis is a dynamic new industry here in Alberta and across the country and Olds College has always been a career-focused institution, so our responsibility is to provide really great career opportunities for students,” he said.

“With this new industry coming on board, we started working with local producers and retailers here in Alberta to build programming that would help support the growth of the industry.

“The response to the initial program has been really strong. The employment sector out here is very interested in connecting with the new cannabis industry.”

The course’s first offering runs from Oct. 1 to 26, and the registration deadline is Sept. 17.

The program costs just over $800 and offers access to an industry-based instructor.

Mount Royal University opened a cannabis plant production and facility management program, and has seen such a great response they are adding a second one.

“We’ve experienced such strong demand for the first course we’re offering that we’ve added a second cohort, which also starts Sept. 17,” said Brad Mahon, interim dean of the faculty of continuing education and extension at the university.

“It’s offered online, as are the other two courses in our Cannabis Education Program. The flexibility of online learning is quite appealing to our students.”