PLSCI 5190

Last Updated

  • Schedule of Classes - December 10, 2024 7:37PM EST
  • Course Catalog - December 10, 2024 7:07PM EST

PLSCI 5190
Cannabis: Biology, Society and Industry

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2024-2025.

The medical marijuana industry in the US is estimated at $6.7B, and is expected to grow to over $10B by 2021. Hemp-based product sales are projected to rise from $570M in 2015 to over $1B for 2019. According to Indeed.com (2018), 25 out of every 10,000 jobs currently listed are related to the cannabis industry, and from April to May 2018, there was a 50% jump in the number of cannabis related job listings. The potential profitability of cannabis is clear, but the obstacles to its economic and industrial development are significant and include establishing better agricultural supply chains, breeding research to develop more vigorous and disease resistant varieties, refining/improving farming practices, and identifying new markets. This course will explore the history, culture, pharmacology, breeding, horticulture and legal challenges associated with cannabis in an effort to inform and stimulate new ideas towards solving these problems, motivating future plant breeders, horticulturists, farmers, pharmacologists, and entrepreneurs to be successful in the cannabis industry. This course is suitable for life sciences majors.

When Offered Fall.

Prerequisites/Corequisites Prerequisite: at least one college-level biology course or a plant production course, such as PLSCI 1101 or PLSCI 1900, is required.

Comments AP Bio credit does not fulfill the prerequisite.

Outcomes
  • Describe the historical importance of cannabis in the development of medicines, textiles, paper, construction materials, foods, as well as cultural, religious and recreational uses.
  • Identify, assess and utlize a wide variety of reliable sources of information on cannabis.
  • Articulate through writing and presentation assignments basic horticultural and farming best practices for cannabis cultivation.
  • Work in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment to develop an understanding of the opportunities and challenges in the cannabis industry today and in the future.

View Enrollment Information

Syllabi:

  •   Regular Academic Session. 

  • 3 Credits GradeNoAud

  •  2198 PLSCI 5190   LEC 001

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  • Instruction Mode: In Person
    Prerequisite: at least one college-level biology course required, such as BIOG 1140, BIOG 1350, BIOG 1440, PLSCI 1115; or a plant production course such as PLSCI 1101 or PLSCI 1900. AP Bio credit will not be accepted as a substitute.