University of Maryland Graduates First Medical Cannabis Master’s Degree Class

The University of Maryland in May graduated its first class enrolled in its master’s program for medical marijuana studies, NBC Washington reports. The program, the first of its kind in the nation, is focused on patient care rather than cannabis cultivation.

The degree could be useful for healthcare professionals seeking more education in medical cannabis, individuals interested in laboratory science interested in improving medical cannabis, or those interested in public policy.

Leah Sera, the program’s director, said it focuses on the pharmacology and pharmaceutics related to cannabis medicine.

“We also provide education on what we know about the therapeutic benefits of the cannabis plant, and we also introduce students to the many different policies and regulations related to medical cannabis. … We are making the courses accessible to students who may not have taken a chemistry course since high school. But we are also making it interesting to our students who already are chemists or pharmacists.”—Sera to NBC Washington

Medical cannabis is legal in Maryland but efforts to pass adult-use legalization reforms stalled in the legislature this session.

A Goucher College poll in March found a majority of Marylanders support broad cannabis legalization in the state, including 77% of Democrats (with 18% opposed), 60% of independents (34% opposed), and half of Republicans (47% opposed). It represents the highest level of support since the college began asking the question in 2013.