Cannabis and Natural Medicinals (BS)

Affiliation: School of Sciences & Mathematics

THE MAJOR

The Bachelor of Science in Cannabis and Natural Medicinals is an interdisciplinary degree that integrates the science behind cannabis and medicinal plants, the business and regulatory aspects of medicinal plants, and the social and cultural aspects of medicinal plant use. Graduates of the program will be prepared for a variety of jobs, including graduate study. Students completing this program might seek employment in the burgeoning medicinal plants industry - either as scientists or business leaders. They may seek careers as medical ethicists or health care advocates. They may apply their agricultural knowledge to other aspects of plant cultivation, including hydroponics. They may pursue graduate study in law, the sciences, public policy, or other topics. Because of the degree’s interdisciplinary framework, students graduate with such a diverse background of knowledge that they will be well-positioned for an even broader range of careers. Critical thinking, problem solving, communication, ethics, cultural literacy, and scientific methods are fundamental to this degree experience.

Students share a core set of courses spanning science, law, business, and ethics, along with four yearly seminars addressing various aspects of the field. There is a strong emphasis on transferable skills that can be applied equally as effectively inside and outside the industry.

As of 2022, cannabis is legal for medicinal and recreational use in 19 states. An additional 20 states have legalized medicinal cannabis. Of the remaining states, only four make cannabis strictly illegal and seven permit the sale of CBD oil. In states where any level of legalization is present, the cannabis industry is growing at a phenomenal rate with significant job growth and high demand for skilled technicians. Where it is legal, cannabis is one of the most heavily regulated industries in the country, requiring businesses to have a firm understanding of the law, record keeping, quality control, and ethics. Medicinal plant research and sales, however, is not limited to cannabis alone and includes products such as essential oils, medicinal herbs, teas, and fungi. Many of the cultivation and extraction principles are cross-applicable across products. This program only offers scientific instruction on legal substances and, to the extent cultivation and extraction is practiced in the laboratory setting, it is only done with fully legal substances, such as hemp. The program does not advocate for, nor instruct students in, the illegal production or distribution of controlled substances. The program contains a strong legal and ethical component designed to teach students to evaluate the arguments on both sides of emergent medicinal plant markets, understand the complex cultural, social, and religious aspects of medicinal plant consumption, and to strictly comply with government regulations in their future workplaces or businesses.

COMMUNICATION IN CANNABIS AND NATURAL MEDICINALS

CNM majors will develop their skills as speakers and as writers in the core curriculum and in the electives they choose. As part of the core curriculum, students will develop writing skills in the History of Natural Medicine course as they research and produce written works addressing the practice of natural medicine in different cultures and historical periods. The Natural Medicinals Seminar will require students to find, read, interpret, and discuss scientific literature on research examining the efficacy of natural methods and plant-based extracts in treatment of acute and chronic conditions. Students will have an opportunity to present results of experiential learning through the Medicinals Practicum and/or Internship.

DEPARTMENTAL HONORS IN CANNABIS AND NATURAL MEDICINALS

In order to earn Departmental Honors in Cannabis and Natural Medicinals, the student must meet the following criteria:

1. Earn a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher or score at the 75th percentile or greater on their senior test.
2. Complete an original research project in consultation with a faculty member in the program or complete an approved internship for credit in Cannabis and Natural Medicinals.
3. Make a public presentation of research findings or internship experience at the Truman Student Research Conference or another program-approved venue.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS: