Michigan’s Marijuana Regulatory Agency (MRA) recently created a new license type that allows universities to purchase or produce their own cannabis for educational purposes. However, since cannabis is still federally illegal, and universities often depend on accepting federal funding, they’re hesitant to implement courses, degrees or certificates focused on marijuana. MRA director Andrew Brisbo told MLive he’s been thinking about how the state agency can contribute to cannabis education.
The license allows schools to procure, grow, process, and study cannabis products but needs to be approved by the DEA. Brisbo said the MRA is working with the federal agency on the potential registration of post-secondary schools as long as there is an underlying state license.
Brisbo explained that if that were the case, cannabis programs would allow students to touch plants, engage with products that are actually available in the market, and contribute to positioning Michigan as a leader in cannabis education.
“The reason academic institutions lean that way is to avoid some federal pushback related mostly to financial aid,” said Benjamin Southwell, assistant professor of Bio-Analytical Chemistry and Superior Analytics Manager at Lake Superior State University. “We don’t want to interfere with our students being able to receive grants and loans from the federal government.”
Meanwhile, a DEA spokesperson Brian McNeal said that any institution that wants to…
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Michigan’s Marijuana Regulatory Agency (MRA) recently created a new license type that allows universities to purchase or produce their own cannabis for educational purposes. However, since cannabis is still federally illegal, and universities often depend on accepting federal funding, they’re hesitant to implement courses, degrees or certificates focused on marijuana. MRA director Andrew Brisbo told MLive he’s been thinking about how the state agency can contribute to cannabis education.
The license allows schools to procure, grow, process, and study cannabis products but needs to be approved by the DEA. Brisbo said the MRA is working with the federal agency on the potential registration of post-secondary schools as long as there is an underlying state license.
Brisbo explained that if that were the case, cannabis programs would allow students to touch plants, engage with products that are actually available in the market, and contribute to positioning Michigan as a leader in cannabis education.
“The reason academic institutions lean that way is to avoid some federal pushback related mostly to financial aid,” said Benjamin Southwell, assistant professor of Bio-Analytical Chemistry and Superior Analytics Manager at Lake Superior State University. “We don’t want to interfere with our students being able to receive grants and loans from the federal government.”
Meanwhile, a DEA spokesperson Brian McNeal said that any institution that wants to…
