University of New England launches certificate programs to train cannabis professionals

File photo The University of New England is launching four certificate programs intended for professionals in the cannabis industry.

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By Alexis Wells

The University of New England is launching four online certificate programs to help students develop professional skills for use in the cannabis industry.

UNE is the first college or university in Maine to collaborate with Green Flower, a California-based cannabis education program that has worked with more than 50 schools across the country.

The UNE certificate programs will cover business, health care and medicine, law and policy and agriculture and horticulture — all related to cannabis.

The certificates are designed for entrepreneurs, health care providers, legal professionals and growers who want to learn more about opportunities in the emerging field of cannabis. But enrollment is open to anyone.

The programs start in September, and each certificate track consists of three eight-week courses. UNE said the education programs are developed by doctors and lawyers, along with experts in engineering and agriculture.

Maine was among the first states on the East Coast to legalize recreational cannabis, and both recreational and medical sales totaled nearly $500 million in 2023.

According to the state’s Office of Cannabis Policy, there are recreational licenses for 220 retail stores, 133 cultivation operations and 106 manufacturing operations across Maine, while the state’s medical market comprises 780 licensed medical providers, 4,200 employees and 1,600 caregivers

“The cannabis industry is one of the fastest growing market opportunities here in Maine and across the country,” said Beth Taylor-Nolan, dean of UNE Online. “As an institution committed to providing accessible, relevant, and affordable professional development and career education opportunities, UNE is excited to partner with Green Flower to train individuals interested in entering this dynamic industry.”

UNE is home to Maine's only medical and dental colleges, in addition to offering other health care degree programs. The university is currently relocating its College of Osteopathic Medicine from the UNE Biddeford campus to the one in Portland, where a health sciences center is being built.

More than 4,000 UNE students attend classes at the campuses in Biddeford, Portland and Tangier, Morocco, and online.