The chemistry department at Northern Michigan University in the United States launched a specialist program covering chemistry, botany, finance and marketing in cannabis cultivation.
The article reported that laboratory technicians working in new roles created by the legal industry in states such as California could earn up to $200 an hour.
University professors suggested that such careers could offer annual pay of around $70,000. Chemistry professor Brandon Canfield said attending a cannabis industry conference had made him aware of an urgent need for staff capable of testing product quality.
Other universities, including Dakota, Colorado, Denver, Harvard and Ohio State, were also reported to be introducing specialist courses in legal, administrative, horticultural and accounting subjects as the industry became more professional.
Cannabis-focused research company Arcview Market Research projected that the industry could create approximately 467,000 jobs by 2022.
