Across the globe, cannabis medicalization and legalization are having a profound effect on our daily lives. More than half of the United States has already legalized cannabis in some form, and the legal cannabis industry has been growing at a rate faster than any other industry over the past four years, becoming the single greatest job creation engine in America.
The potential for new pharmacotherapies working through unique mechanisms of action offer hope for many unmet clinical needs. Job creation and an ever-increasing demand for medical cannabis has created a noticeable need for an educated workforce with expertise in the therapeutic effects, science, and business of cannabis.
The Master of Science (MS) in Medical Cannabis Science & Business program is designed to prepare students to excel in the cannabis field as researchers, scientists, entrepreneurs, or healthcare providers that can better support patients in need of alternative treatment options. The MS degree program encompasses three stackable graduate certificates in the following areas:
- Cannabis Medicine (clinical applications, physiological impacts, therapies, and health effects).
- Cannabis Science (botany, chemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology).
- Cannabis Business (regulations, management, operations, financial analysis, and business model innovation).
Curriculum
Students in the Master of Science program will have the flexibility to choose which course to take each semester, the order, and the focus of the certificate(s) being earned. Students may enroll into the program in the fall, spring or summer, with a part-time or full-time schedule ro complete the required 33 credits (11 courses). All ccannabis courses are online and mostly asynchronous.
To earn the MS in Medical Cannabis Science and Business students must satisfy the following PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS:
- 2 courses with prefix CMD (choose from: CMD503, CMD506 (starting Fall Semester 2024), CMD504, CMD507 (starting Spring Semester 2025), CMD505)
- 2 courses with prefix CSC (choose from: CSC511, CSC512, CSC513)
- 2 courses with prefix CBU, CCT, or MBX (choose from: CBU501, CBU506, CBU 509, CCT508, or MBX604)
- 2 research courses: CRS600 & CRS610
- 3 remaining courses with prefixes CMD, CSC, CBU, CCT or CSO
| FALL COURSES |
| CMD 506 Cannabinoid Medicine and Nervous System Disorders (Replaces CMD 503 Pathology Potentially Responsive to Cannabis) |
| CSC 511 Botany and Chemistry of Cannabis |
| CBU 501 Emerging Issues in the Cannabis Industry |
| CBU 509 Industrial Hemp Materials, Process, and Products |
| CSO 521 Cannabis & Public Health |
| SPRING COURSES |
| CMD 507 Cannabinoid Medicine and Somatic Disorders (Replaces CMD 504 Conventional & Cannabinoid Therapy of Disease) |
| CSC 512 Forensic Analysis of Cannabis and Cannabis-Derived Products |
| CBU 506 Essentials of Cannabis Financial and Operations Analysis |
| CSO 522 Cannabis Policy, Politics, & Regulation |
| SUMMER COURSES |
| CMD 505 Health Implications of Medicinal Cannabis |
| CSC 513 Cannabinoid Pharmacology |
| CCT 508 Quality Control and Quality Assurance in Med. Cannabis Analysis and Dispensing |
| CSO 523 Cannabis Social Justice and Equity Policies: Evaluating Impact and Outcome |
| FALL, SPRING, SUMMER COURSES |
| MBX 604 Business Model Innovation |
| CRS 600 Applied Research Design & Methods |
| CRS 610 Cannabis Capstone Project |
As you complete the courses toward the M.S. degree you can also earn cannabis certificates in:
- Cannabis Medicine (CMD 503, CMD 504, CMD 505, CMD 506, CMD 507)
- Cannabis Science (CSC 511, CSC 512, CSC 513)
- Cannabis Business (CBU 501, CBU 506, MBX 604)
If you are not ready to commit to an MS degree or a full certificate, take a course or two as a non-degree student (non-matriculated option) – See information.
Thomas Jefferson University recognizes the term “cannabis” encompasses a wide range of products that are both inclusive and exclusive of tetrahydrocannabinol compounds. Hemp and other products void of any psychoactive elements are legal in a number of jurisdictions. While products containing psychoactive compounds have been legalized in some states and local jurisdictions, such remains illegal at the federal level. Thomas Jefferson University supports and adheres to the requirements of the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989 (DFSCA), and does not allow, promote, endorse, or condone illegal use, possession, or distribution of illegal substances. Thomas Jefferson University’s program teaches theories and principles of business related to the industry, along with a responsible perspective related to legal, medical, and other considerations. Upon completion of the program, the Career Services department will be able to assist the graduate with traditional career search preparation activities and employment opportunities that are deemed legal, according to federal guidelines; however, the department will be unable to assist with direct employment assistance in areas working with products or supply chain entities that do not meet federal regulations and approvals.