Course Title: Hemp & Medicinal Cannabis Course
What you’ll learn
- The History of Cannabis
- Cannabis and the Body Systems
- Growing Hemp & Medicinal Cannabis.
- Best Practices for Cannabis Use
- Best Practices for Cannabis Extractions, Labs, and Edibles.
Course description
The first class will cover the history of cannabis and hemp, as well as federal and state laws, starting a business, and investing in the industry. Taught by existing industry professionals, the following weeks will cover a number of cannabis-related topics, including how to successfully cultivate hemp and medical marijuana, how cannabis affects the central nervous system, and the chemical composition of the plant.
Course outline
The History of Cannabis
This course will provide students with an understanding of the origin and basic history of hemp and cannabis over thousands of years and how this plant was used in various cultures throughout the world and in dispensaries. Additionally, students will investigate and analyze why cannabis was ultimately banned in America by analyzing and discussing the legal, economic, and social reasons such a ban was allowed.
Course Objectives/Outcomes:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the history of cannabis
- Demonstrate an understanding of why dispensaries are important
- Differentiate the legal differences between hemp and cannabis
- Evaluate and discuss reasons cannabis was banned
Cannabis and the Body Systems
This course will provide students with an understanding of how the endocannabinoid system and nervous system works with cannabis within the human body.
Course Objectives/Outcomes:
- Demonstrate and explain the main endocannabinoids in the body
- Evaluate and explain the function of the endocannabinoid system
- Demonstrate what unlocks the function of endocannabinoids
- Demonstrate an understanding of how cannabis works with endocannabinoids
- Evaluate and explain the function of the nervous system
- Evaluate the role of terpenes and flavins (flavonoids) in cannabis
- Explain the benefits of terpenes and flavins for the human body systems
Growing Hemp & Medicinal Cannabis
The course will examine the relationships between the hemp and cannabis plant, and explore the potential economic and social impact these plants might provide, while providing students with a basic understanding of how to grow, cultivate, and harvest a successful crop of hemp and medicinal cannabis.
Course Objectives/Outcomes:
- Evaluate and explain the agricultural benefits of growing hemp and cannabis
- Demonstrate an understanding of the legal definition for hemp and medicinal cannabis
- Evaluate what is required for a successful crop from seed to sale
- Demonstrate an understanding of germination and the growing cycle
- Create a digital representation of an inside and outside grow system (area)
- Participate in planting and cloning plants (Hands-on at farm or grow house)
Best Practices for Cannabis Use
This course provides students with an understanding of how medicinal cannabis differs from traditional medicines while providing a critical view into best practices for using hemp and medicinal cannabis as alternative medicine.
Course Objectives/Outcomes:
- Evaluate and explain the most remarkable facts of the medicinal history of cannabis
- Explain the relationship between traditional medicine and medicinal cannabis
- Explain the benefits of and how cannabis is used in alternative medicine
- Demonstrate an understanding of dosing and potential benefits of cannabis
- Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of various cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids found in hemp and cannabis
Best Practices for Cannabis Extractions, Labs, and Edibles
This course provides a basic insight into various methods used to extract various cannabinoids, terpenes, and oil from hemp and cannabis plants, best practices for maintaining quality labs and edibles infused with hemp and medicinal cannabis.
Couse Objectives/Outcomes:
- Evaluate various methods used to extract hemp and cannabis oil
- Demonstrate an understanding of safety concerns during extractions
- Analyze and discuss best practices for laboratories and facilities
- Demonstrate an understanding of legal requirements and best practices for high quality edibles infused with hemp and medicinal cannabis
- Evaluate, discuss, and explain how make edibles and how they affect the body
Hands-On Component for Week 3 – Growing & Cultivating HEMP
- Understanding the HEMP plant in your location (Texas, other states)
- Inspecting feminized seeds and various seedlings
- The best environment for growing HEMP (Outside-farm tour or Inside-grow house tour)
- Reviewing the grow cycle for developing a Grow Calendar
- Why is lighting so important when growing HEMP?
- Which soil is best for growing HEMP (Soil samples needed)
- Clay, Sand, Silt (Which soil is best for inside/outside growing)
- Where should I plant? (Raised bed, pot, ditch, farm, etc.)
- The truth about growing organically
- Best fertilizers and nutrients (Inspection of various products)
- Hands-on inspection of plants, leaves, condition (Log required)
- Examine and discuss possible solutions for various issues
- Yellowing of leaves, curved leaves, brown/white spotting, etc.
- Differences in Growing from germination or directly in the soil
- How much water does my plant need?
- What should be used in the stage of growth (Which nutrients are needed)
- Understanding the importance of lighting during vegetation
- Starting my plant – Selecting seed, soil, pot, and method
- Explain my purpose and intended to grow operation
- How long should this stage be and why?
- How and when to clone from a HEMP plant?
- My purpose determines when my plant should begin to flower
- What is auto-flowering? Why should it matter?
- Plant inspection – Should vegetation be prolonged or not?
- What’s the big deal about lighting NOW?
- Understanding terpenes and their importance in HEMP
- Inspecting for potential problems (mites, bud rot, etc.)
- Knowing when to harvest HEMP
- What does flushing my plant mean? (How to flush a HEMP plant)
- Inspecting the plant for potency (Terpenes, CBD, THC, CBG, etc.)
- Acquiring a COA (Certificate of Analysis)
- Best practices for trimming the flower before or after the drying process
- Students will participate in trimming flower from a harvest-ready plant
- Logging and discussing what you notice about the bud
- What can I do with the trimmings? Is it usable at all?
- Why is density important during this stage?
- The drying process for harvested plants
