By Dr. Dank
Cannabis Columnist

While extensive jail time is handed out for possession of small amounts of cannabis here in Dallas, Oaksterdam University in Oakland, California, is thriving on cannabis production and education.

Founded in 2007, Oaksterdam is the first cannabis college in America, according to its website. Over 35,000 people worldwide have earned certifications in various degree programs offered at Oaksterdam.

In Dallas, we can only enjoy our recreational and therapeutic use of cannabis and cannabis oil products, which contain THC, the psychoactive compound in the substance, with sides of anxiety, paranoia and fear. This is because cannabis is very tightly regulated in Texas and is only allowed for medicinal purposes.

SPECIALIZED CURRICULUM

Cannabis education is vital in the process of dispelling rumors about the drug in an increasingly weed-tolerant country such as the U.S.

The Canna Business Program offered at Oaksterdam covers general education, politics, history, science, law and business management and operations, according to Oakasterdam’s website. Extraction processes and horticulture are among the most weed-centric topics. Courses are taught by expert instructors composed of industry leaders, attorneys, business owners and professional growers and extractors.

In the horticulture semester offered at Oaksterdam, students receive the most comprehensive hands-on training in cannabis education. According to the Oaksterdam’s Office of Government and Public Affairs, the college has a specialized curriculum on public health safety and heightened sensitivity to regional restrictions to help regulators understand the commercial market.

ECONOMIC IMPACT

According to the Colorado Department of Revenue, cannabis generated over $6 billion in revenue for Colorado since 2014. California brought in around $74.2 million in cannabis revenue during the second quarter of 2018, according to the Investor’s Business Daily.

Understanding the economic impact and value of the cannabis market will help people realize the plant can be used to stimulate local and state economies where it is legal.

The tide has turned as citizens and state officials around the country become more educated on the topic of cannabis. Today, more states in the U.S. permit cannabis use for medicinal purposes than those that don’t, according to NPR.

Texans are stunting the growth of their state by choosing to ignore and misconstrue the evidence that has been thrown in our faces for years. Arcview Market Research, which tracks the U.S. cannabis industry, estimates the legal and recreational market for the drug could hit $3 billion a few years after legalization has occured, according to culturemap.com.

A MEDICINE

More extensive knowledge about cannabis can help people understand how it can treat a number of ailments.

In Texas, only patients with epilepsy are allowed to legally use cannabis oil products, according to the Texas Tribune. But people with other illnesses and diseases, including anxiety, bone spurs, cancer and migraines, which cannabis and cannabis oil products have been scientifically proven to help, are left out. National restrictions on cannabis hinder people’s abilities to adequately research the drug.

Quentin Daufeldt, an Oaksterdam University graduate, said: “I have nothing but the utmost respect for doctors and their profession, but let us be real here, what practice is teaching and reintroducing the endo-cannabinoid system? This is beyond crucial in the human body, and without proper research due to restrictions as a Schedule 1 drug, we are limited to the true potential of this medicine.”

Cannabis education is important – not only for those involved in the cannabis community, but also for those with negative views of the substance.

The idea of learning and educating is instilled in us from preschool days onward. Taking the time to educate ourselves on the hot topic of cannabis is as important as any other form of education.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Dr. Dank is not a real doctor. It is the pseudonym chosen to protect the identity of the author of the column. Dr. Dank grew up in a state where marijuana for medicinal and recreational use has been legal for a number of years. The Courier does not advocate the use of marijuana or any illegal substance. Under current state law, possession is illegal in Texas and punishable with prison time and fines.