UNLV launches cannabis career certificate programs

A career in cannabis has become easier to pursue through several new UNLV certificate programs, the university announced Tuesday.

UNLV will offer six online programs that prepare students to enter and succeed in the cannabis industry, according to a news release. Students can register now for the first cohort of classes, which begins Sept. 1, and new start dates will be offered every eight weeks, UNLV said.

One program, lasting eight weeks and costing $850, gives students “a comprehensive foundation to enter the industry, making students job-ready for entry-level roles,” the release said.

The other programs, all 16 weeks and costing $2,200, explore topics including cannabis cultivation, sales, and product development, as well as the drug’s medical uses and industry compliance standards, according to UNLV.

Interested students can learn more and enroll at cannabis.lifelonglearning.unlv.edu.

“As a public research university in one of the nation’s most dynamic cannabis markets, UNLV is uniquely positioned to bring together academic expertise, industry perspectives, and policymakers to help shape thoughtful, evidence-based approaches to the complex issues surrounding cannabis,” UNLV Interim President Chris Heavey said in the release.

More than 50 cannabis industry leaders and subject matter experts helped create the programs and are featured in the courses, which were developed in partnership with the cannabis education company Green Flower, the release said.

“We’re proud to collaborate with Green Flower to deliver high-quality, workforce-aligned cannabis education to our students,” said Riana Durrett, director of UNLV’s Cannabis Policy Institute. “This partnership allows learners to gain the knowledge and skills they need to join the cannabis industry and provides a vital workforce pipeline for employers in this new and growing industry.”