Learn the skills you need to enter the cannabis industry with a self-paced, flexible online cannabis industry course

Cannabis 101 is an online cannabis course that will give students a robust look into the cannabis industry in Colorado. Whether you’re new to the cannabis industry or are looking to expand your knowledge for career advancement or to start your own cannabis business, this course provides a well-rounded foundation in cannabis history, regulations, and applications. Explore the evolution of cannabis from a local, national, and global perspective while gaining a deep understanding of the differences between the medical and recreational use of cannabis. From cannabis cultivation to distribution, you’ll learn the key legal and regulatory aspects that shape the cannabis industry today.

 

What you’ll learn

Understand cannabis history from a local, national, and international perspective.

Recognize and explain the differences in medical and recreational cannabis.

Distinguish between various food and cooking applications with a variety of cannabis-related products.

Clarify sources and uses of cannabis, CBD, and hemp products through cannabis research.

Understand the regulatory requirements both within the State and through the FDA that are required for the sale or use of cannabis or CBD products.

Explore various legal aspects in cannabis, including cultivation, distribution, sales, packaging and possession, and use.

Demonstrate proficiency in understanding intoxication components and learn the legal impact on cannabis tourists and out-of-state employment contracts.

 

No prior cannabis industry experience needed

Designed by faculty at MSU Denver, this university-caliber course will expand your knowledge of the industry in preparation for cannabis career advancement, getting into the business of cannabis, personal education, and more.

 

Self-paced, flexible online course

Cannabis 101 is 100% online and self-paced, allowing you to balance your personal life while continuing your education in the cannabis industry.

Course information

Meet your Cannabis 101 instructor

Shannon Donnelly, cannabis expert

Shannon Donnelly is an affiliate professor of Cannabis in the School of Hospitality at Metropolitan State University of Denver. She developed a curriculum and started teaching Cannabis classes and courses like Cannabis 101 at the University in January 2022.

Donnelly is recognized as one of the Most Influential Women in Weed by Green Entrepreneurs and a Power Player by Merry Jane. She collaborates with like-minded entrepreneurs to use her 14 years of experience in successful business re-design to create impactful, inclusive, diverse, sustainable, and profitable solutions for the industry.

In 2007, she started her career in Cannabis retail management and has been an influential part of its growth. Donnelly is well known for her hands-on, idea-driven, and insightful approach to business design. As a cannabis specialist, she has worked with executive teams across legalized retail and medical facilities to rebuild operations, cannabis management practices, and training programs in both dispensaries and product manufacturing.

Working across these areas has provided her with a unique perspective of the legal cannabis industry; working with over 20,000 customers and clients has given her an incredible insight into what customers want and need. In addition to consulting work and teaching courses at MSU Denver, she channels her passion into other industry ventures to share the value of botanical product applications. In 2014, she created Health Honeys to make quality CBD products accessible to women and offer them a safe place to experience the natural relief, ease, and restorative properties of botanical ingredients for comprehensive health.

Donnelly received her bachelor’s degree from MSU Denver in land use with a concentration in environment and resources.

Learn more about Shannon.

Shannon Donnelly