Cannabis Continuing Education Courses

• All short courses this summer are in-person only on the Roanoke College campus unless otherwise noted.
• Registration is open to the general public.
• Continuing Education courses do not award any academic credit, however official records of completion are provided for individual courses or certificates that include courses completed and the number of hours for each course (CEUs).

Introduction to Cannabis Education: Gaining an Understanding of a Quickly Changing Scenario

The world of Cannabis is one that often feels overwhelming and confusing. We created this course to help you navigate the ever-changing Cannabis landscape and to provide a strong grounding of reliable and accurate content. This course is designed to bring a student up-to-date on the following topics: 

• The History of the Plant’s Uses and Its Legal Past,
• Cannabis Botany,
• The Endocannabinoid System,
• Phytopharmacology, 
• and Clinical Applications. 

Throughout the course, short quizzes will provide the necessary assessment of a student’s learning. This course is not a substitute for medical training and is only offered as an educational opportunity. 

Total time: 6 hours
Cost: $250/person
Course Code: CE.CANN-100
Register online 

Dates Offered: 

• June 15: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• July 20: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• August 10: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Instructor: Dr. DorothyBelle (DB) Poli is a plant evolutionary biologist who has worked at Roanoke College for 18 years studying plant hormones, bryophyte evolution, and natural history and ethnobotanical connections of the plant kingdom. When she is not at Roanoke College, Dr. Poli is a research assistant at the Virginia Museum of Natural History in Martinsville, Virginia. Dr. Poli has taught plant diversity and evolution and several courses that examine how plants have impacted rock 'n' roll, religions, and even dragon lore. Dr. Poli runs Blue Bear Natural Skin Care, a business that introduced her to aromatherapy. Today, she is a Level 2 certified aromatherapist. Dr. Poli became a certified Cannabis educator to ensure that her courses were as cutting-edge as possible and her business was too. 

Introduction to Cannabis Extraction, Tinctures, and Body Application

Cannabis has been used around the world for thousands of years as a medicinal herb, an aid to spiritual enlightenment and as a recreational drug. This course will be broken into four sections as follows:

• Understanding The Plant Cannabis Sativa
  
  • Structure of the Cannabis plant
  • Chemical compounds that are found in the plant and their uses
  • Different ways the human body processes Cannabis (smoking vs. ingesting)
  • Indica, Sativa and Hybrid
  • THC, CBD, and other useful cannabinoids
  • Terpenes and their effect on the body
• Extracting Cannabinoids (hands-on lab portion of the course)
  • Decarboxylation and the chemical transition of cannabinoids when heated
  • Oil extractions - hot and fast vs. slow and low
  • Cannabutter production and uses
  • Making Cannabis gummies the easy way (and the hard way!)
  • Alcohol tinctures, benefits and uses
• Dosing, Effects And Expected Outcomes
  • Using an edible dosing calculator
  • Dosing effects and side effects
• Salves for Body Application
  • Solid vs. liquid oils – and beeswax
  • Use of essential oils and other herbal extractions

All-natural products used in this course will be hemp products that have less than 0.3% THCA within them. Due to legal restrictions, this will be a demonstration class. 

Total Time: 4 hours
Cost: $100/person
Course Code: CE.CANN-105
Register online 

Dates Offered:
Coming in September

Instructor: Jesse Griffin is a local cannabis cultivator and breeder who has spent over 15 years honing the craft of plant cultivation, cannabinoid extraction and cannabis strain development. He holds a B.S. in Biology from Warren Wilson College and a M.S. in Community Counseling from Radford University. He also holds a certificate in Hemp Breeding and Genetics from eCornell University. Prior to moving to the Roanoke Valley, Jesse worked for the United States Peace Corps in Nicaragua, assisting communities in sustainable agriculture project development. Jesse currently works in higher education, developing programming that engages college students with community nonprofit organizations.  

Introduction to Medicinal Cannabis 

The use of medicinal cannabis is rapidly increasing. Patients are using cannabis but lacking in the knowledge and assistance from medical professionals. This course will give health care practitioners and caregivers a chance to learn the basics of medicinal cannabis. Discover the history of cannabis as medicine, as well as explore the endocannabinoid system and cannabis as a potential treatment modality. Methods of cannabis administration as well as dosing strategies will be reviewed. We will discuss the side effects of cannabis use and in what patient populations cannabis use is contraindicated in. We will also touch on safe cannabis use and safe storage practices. By the end of this course, you should feel comfortable having conversations with your patients regarding cannabis use and hopefully be more open to incorporating these discussions into your practice.

Participants will be able to discuss:
History of Medical Cannabis and Law

In this module, we will examine the history of cannabis as medicine as well as touch on how cannabis became a Schedule 1 drug.

• The Endocannabinoid System: Dive into the endocannabinoid system and learn about the system's receptors, endocannabinoids, synthesis and degradation.
• Cannabis Biology and Chemistry: This module will explore the cannabis plant's biology as well as the chemistry of cannabinoids and cannabis' other non-cannabinoid constituents.
• Cannabis Pharmacology, Methods of Administration, and Dosing: Learn about cannabis pharmacology and how cannabis can be administered for a patient's individual care plan. Dosing strategies will be discussed
• Side Effects, Substance Abuse, Contraindications, and Safety: Examine the common side effects of cannabis so that you can inform patients on what to look out for. Substance abuse will be examined. We will also examine patient populations that cannabis use is contraindicated for. Lastly, we will discuss safety regarding safe cannabis use (avoiding street dealers, what is spice and delta 8, meds that can't be mixed) as well as safe storage practices (keeping away from kids/how to discuss cannabis with kids, proper storage).

Total Time: 3 hours
Cost: $200/person
Course Code: CE.CANN-110
Register online

Dates Offered:

• June 25: 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
• July 16: 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
• August 6: 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Instructor: Casey Johnson is a Registered Nurse in Roanoke, Virginia, with nearly a decade of nursing experience. She received her Bachelors of Science in Chemistry from Radford University and an accelerated Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Winston Salem State University. Her belief that health care practitioners should be knowledgeable on emerging scientific data and potential new treatment modalities has led her into the field of medicinal cannabis. She has seen the benefits of medicinal cannabis and is passionate about furthering its research, education, and practice. She is a member of the American Cannabis Nurses Association as well as the Society of Cannabis Clinicians.

Cannabis for Caregivers and Patients 

Curious about medical cannabis but don't know where to start? Do you or someone you care for have a medical cannabis card but aren't sure what to do with it? Join Roanoke College's Cannabis for Caregivers and Patients lecture. This course will discuss the differences between "indica" and "sativa," THC and CBD, as well as look at different consumption methods. We will cover dosing, cannabis side effects, and safety. 

Total Time: 1 hour
Cost: $50/person
Course Code: CE.CANN-115
Register online

Dates Offered:

• July 2: 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. or  7 p.m. - 8 p.m.
• July 23: 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
• August 13: 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Instructor: Casey Johnson is a Registered Nurse in Roanoke, Virginia, with nearly a decade of nursing experience. She received her Bachelors of Science in Chemistry from Radford University and an accelerated Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Winston Salem State University. Her belief that health care practitioners should be knowledgeable on emerging scientific data and potential new treatment modalities has led her into the field of medicinal cannabis. She has seen the benefits of medicinal cannabis and is passionate about furthering its research, education, and practice. She is a member of the American Cannabis Nurses Association as well as the Society of Cannabis Clinicians.

Introduction to the Endocannabinoid System 

The endocannabinoid system is known as the homeostatic regulator in our bodies, but it is not a body system typically covered in education. This course will examine the endocannabinoid system in detail. Dive into the endocannabinoid system and learn about the system's receptors, endocannabinoids, and clinical endocannabinoid deficiency syndrome. 

Total Time: 1 hour
Cost: $50/person
Course Code: CE.CANN-120
Register online

Dates Offered:

• June 18: 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
• July 9: 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
• July 30: 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
• August 20: 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Instructor: Casey Johnson is a Registered Nurse in Roanoke, Virginia, with nearly a decade of nursing experience. She received her Bachelors of Science in Chemistry from Radford University and an accelerated Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Winston Salem State University. Her belief that health care practitioners should be knowledgeable on emerging scientific data and potential new treatment modalities has led her into the field of medicinal cannabis. She has seen the benefits of medicinal cannabis and is passionate about furthering its research, education, and practice. She is a member of the American Cannabis Nurses Association as well as the Society of Cannabis Clinicians.

The Chemistry and Biological Activity of Cannabinoids and Their Derivatives

The cannabis industry has long departed from traditional D9-THC. Now derivatives of THC are more important and popular than ever. The differences in structure, activity, and legislation surrounding these derivatives can be nuanced and difficult to understand. This session will focus on the various derivatives of cannabinoids, the chemistry involved in making them, and their known biological activity. Specific emphasis will be placed on why the synthetic processes to make these derivatives matter and how the processes and regulations surrounding these derivatives can be improved. Participants should walk away with a better understanding of the subtle differences between cannabinoid structures and how these differences affect biological activity. They will also be better equipped to identify and address safety concerns regarding chemical processes and consumer safety.  

Total time: 2 hours
Cost: $150/person
Course Code: CE.CANN-130
Register online 

Dates Offered:  

• June 25: 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
• July 13: 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.

Instructor: Dr. Daniel Nasrallah is an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Roanoke College. At Roanoke College, Dan loves how the small school environment leads to personalized education. This allows him to understand the interests of his students and highlight applications of chemistry that fit those interests. Before coming to Roanoke, Dan was the Donald J. Cram Assistant Adjunct Professor of Chemistry at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he taught organic chemistry laboratory courses and conducted postdoctoral research in the lab of Prof. Neil Garg. His research included investigating the synthesis and biological activity of THC derivatives. Before UCLA, Daniel received his Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of Michigan with Prof. Corinna Schindler. Before graduate school, Daniel obtained a B.S. in chemistry with a concentration in research from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro, and conducted research in the lab of Prof. Mitch Croatt. Dan uses all of his years of research experience to influence his love for chemistry and his passion for teaching. Outside of work, Dan enjoys playing frisbee, biking, and rock climbing.

Behind the Haze: The Logistics of Cannabis Production

Cannabis sativa is a resilient and vigorous species that has evolved alongside human cultivation resulting in an easy-to-grow plant. However, when we start to drastically increase the number of plants at different stages of life, the strain placed on personnel and machinery escalates. When operating at scale, the dynamics of controlling environmental, irrigation, pests, and inventory, have an influx point where they can no longer keep up with the crop’s photosynthetic capacity. This lecture will cover the core aspects of cultivating in a greenhouse as contrasted to an individual plant’s needs. These concepts will be expanded upon with experiential learning and industry reflections on major production hurdles in scaling up operations from indoor grow rooms to semi-closed hydroponic greenhouses.

Total time: 2 hours
Cost: $100/person
Course Code: CE.CANN-140
Register online

Dates Offered:

• June 27: 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
• July 11: 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
• July 25: 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Instructor: Ellison Heil is a horticulturist who has industry experience operating as a technical supervisor for a greenhouse in Pennsylvania’s Medical Marijuana Program. Before entering the cannabis industry, he worked as an ecological restoration practitioner after obtaining a Master’s in Environmental Horticulture from the University of Washington. When he’s not in the field, Ellison works in education and has taught students from elementary through graduate school. He greatly enjoys the spark of learning and creates a class that highlights various learning styles. As a Salem native, he looks forward to the privilege of sharing knowledge on the Roanoke College campus and is always on the hunt for a cup of coffee and a conversation!

Cannabis in Corporate America

This course is designed for your business in relation to cannabis and how it may or may not affect your day-to-day. We will educate on medical cannabis and how the laws that are established can be applied and implemented, all while keeping your protection as an employer. This course will educate you on all the facts needed to keep you safe as well as employees. This course is a “win-win” for both employees and employers.

Participants will learn:

• Virginia law and how it applies to employment and medical cannabis
• How to tell if an employee is impaired on the job
• What to do if an employee shows signs of being impaired on the job
• How to protect company liability regarding job protection laws and medical cannabis
• Legality of drug testing and results
• Being the responsible employee and not reporting to work impaired
• How to educate employees on what is appropriate and what is not acceptable while on the job

Total time: 8 hours (2 options: one 8-hour session or two 4-hour sessions)
Cost: $400/person (discount if corporations purchase blocks of classes)
Course Code: CE.CANN-150
Register online

Dates Offered: 

• One 8-hour Session Options: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. on June 19, July 27, August 21, or September 14
• Two 4-hour Session Options: 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 9, and Thursday, July 11; Tuesday, August 13, and Thursday, August 15; or Tuesday, September 17 and Thursday, September 19

Instructor: Rikki Ann McConnell, a Family Nurse Practitioner, embarked on her health care journey at the tender age of 15 as a volunteer with the local rescue squad. After high school, she shifted gears to law enforcement, serving as an officer for the Virginia Department of Corrections. Despite the change in her career path, Rikki's passion for caring never waned, prompting her return to health care after a decade. Rikki's academic pursuits are extensive. She earned her associate's degree in emergency management as a paramedic, followed by another associate's degree in nursing. She furthered her education with a bachelor's degree from Liberty University and a master's degree from Walden University, completed in 2014.

Driven by these personal experiences, Rikki founded her medical practice focused on alternative health solutions in 2019. Her practice emphasizes the therapeutic potential of cannabis, aiming to provide care devoid of judgment and stigma.

View additional cannabis courses by approved affiliates.