Jacob Redmond
Well-Known Member
There's a new crop taking root in Illinois: medical marijuana. And with it, come new opportunities.
"This is not your mom and dad's ag. This is a new frontier," said Tim McGraw, Ace Revolution Cannabis CEO.
State wide, 18 licensed medical marijuana cultivation centers will soon produce thousands of viable marijuana plants and viable jobs.
"These aren't going to be low paying trimmer jobs. These are going to be jobs that are at the forefront of the industry," said McGraw.
Ace Revolution is managing the cultivation center In Delavan. The walls are quickly going up at the site, with the first plants not far behind.
Now there is a need for "pot professionals" to fill jobs that didn't exist until now.
"The industry is moving away from the basement growers, and hobby growers and towards more highly educated, and trained personnel that can work within a regulatory environment like we have in Illinois," said McGraw.
To answer that need, cannabis is creeping into the curriculum at some colleges and universities, including Illinois State University.
Dr. Rob Rhykerd chairs the Agriculture Department at ISU, and said they have started to weave some cannabis culture into current ag and horticulture classes.
"That's something that we really haven't encouraged in the past obviously in the university, since it's been against the law," said Dr. Rhykerd. "But as things have changed, this could be an interesting opportunity for some of our students."
While medial marijuana is gaining momentum and opportunities are opening, it's still a federal offense for students to grow cannabis.
It's a fine line for educators to walk, but some have hope for the future.
One of those educators is ISU Horticulture professor Dr. Dave Kopsell.
"I think as federally, hopefully some of the laws will loosen up in the future, and it becomes more common place, I think you will see specific programs for medical cannabis production actually develop."
And students are certainly interested. But medical marijuana still comes with a stigma that has some students hesitant to take on cannabis careers.
It's a stigma graduate student Katelyn Clement hopes will erode with time and education.
"Once the research is out there and we can show people the science behind it, i believe that people will embrace it and see that this is something that is going to continue to be here," said Clement.
As for now, professors are doing their best to prepare their students for whatever the future may hold, and the future for ag students is looking bright.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Illinois schools focus on cannabis curriculum | WEEK News 25 - News, Sports, Weather - Peoria, Illinois | Top Stories
Author: Web Staff
Contact: WEEK News 25 - News, Sports, Weather - Peoria, Illinois | Contact Us
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: WEEK News 25 - News, Sports, Weather - Peoria, Illinois
"This is not your mom and dad's ag. This is a new frontier," said Tim McGraw, Ace Revolution Cannabis CEO.
State wide, 18 licensed medical marijuana cultivation centers will soon produce thousands of viable marijuana plants and viable jobs.
"These aren't going to be low paying trimmer jobs. These are going to be jobs that are at the forefront of the industry," said McGraw.
Ace Revolution is managing the cultivation center In Delavan. The walls are quickly going up at the site, with the first plants not far behind.
Now there is a need for "pot professionals" to fill jobs that didn't exist until now.
"The industry is moving away from the basement growers, and hobby growers and towards more highly educated, and trained personnel that can work within a regulatory environment like we have in Illinois," said McGraw.
To answer that need, cannabis is creeping into the curriculum at some colleges and universities, including Illinois State University.
Dr. Rob Rhykerd chairs the Agriculture Department at ISU, and said they have started to weave some cannabis culture into current ag and horticulture classes.
"That's something that we really haven't encouraged in the past obviously in the university, since it's been against the law," said Dr. Rhykerd. "But as things have changed, this could be an interesting opportunity for some of our students."
While medial marijuana is gaining momentum and opportunities are opening, it's still a federal offense for students to grow cannabis.
It's a fine line for educators to walk, but some have hope for the future.
One of those educators is ISU Horticulture professor Dr. Dave Kopsell.
"I think as federally, hopefully some of the laws will loosen up in the future, and it becomes more common place, I think you will see specific programs for medical cannabis production actually develop."
And students are certainly interested. But medical marijuana still comes with a stigma that has some students hesitant to take on cannabis careers.
It's a stigma graduate student Katelyn Clement hopes will erode with time and education.
"Once the research is out there and we can show people the science behind it, i believe that people will embrace it and see that this is something that is going to continue to be here," said Clement.
As for now, professors are doing their best to prepare their students for whatever the future may hold, and the future for ag students is looking bright.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Illinois schools focus on cannabis curriculum | WEEK News 25 - News, Sports, Weather - Peoria, Illinois | Top Stories
Author: Web Staff
Contact: WEEK News 25 - News, Sports, Weather - Peoria, Illinois | Contact Us
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: WEEK News 25 - News, Sports, Weather - Peoria, Illinois
