As marijuana has become legalized, the expectation for market expansion and increased demand has led to an opening of job opportunities. In response, universities are starting to offer more marijuana and cannabis related courses.
"Colorado State University offers a cannabis studies minor focusing on social, legal, political and health impacts. Ohio State University, Harvard, the University of Denver and Vanderbilt offer classes on marijuana policy and law."- https://www.foxnews.com/health/cannabis-investor-donates-9m-harvard-mit-marijuana-research
What are your thoughts on this? Should universities be offering these courses, despite federal illegality of marijuana?
This is a bizarre idea. Relating cannabis to alcohol or tobacco, it's strange to think that there are educational pathways that focus specifically on the connotations of one drug. I think education around marijuana may be a valuable idea to consider, but I'd be surprised if there were careers/long-term projects that would come out of such a path of study. The biggest thing to avoid would be the glamorization of a drug habit that may be harmful to long-term health.
On a related note, a few months ago, I heard about an institution called Oaksterdam University on the news. Founded in 2007, it's known as the US's first "cannabis college". As far as I know, it is very real.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oaksterdam_University