Cannabis Education Blog

Cannabis Education Blog | Industry Insights, Tips & Training from Oaksterdam

Explore expert-led articles on cannabis business, cultivation, law, and education. Stay informed and grow your skills with Oaksterdam’s trusted blog.

  • cannabis business training

  • cannabis certifications

  • online cannabis courses

  • learn cannabis online

  • cannabis laws and policy updates

  • cannabis industry insights

  • cannabis cultivation tips

  • how to start a cannabis business

  • cannabis workforce development

  • medical cannabis education

Tips for Flowering Indoor Cannabis Plants

by Stoney Tark The flowering stage is the most exciting. During this time, your plants will grow and develop those frosty, dense, and absolutely dank flowers that usually become our head stash for the next two to three months! In this article, I will provide 12 tips...

4/27 Oaksterdam Legal Department Rescheduling Virtual Press Conference 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, April 24, 2026 On Thursday, April 23, the Trump Administration formally moved “marijuana,” defined as cannabis plants producing more than 0.3% THC, from Schedule I to Schedule III, immediately reclassifying all products in regulated...

High Times: The Legends Who Built Cannabis Culture Are Finally Certified. It’s Called Oakland Legendary.

The Oakland Legendary Campaign was covered by Javier Hesse for High Times Magazine Oakland built the cannabis culture before there was a legal market. Now the city has a certification mark to prove it. The City of Oakland launched the nation’s first cannabis equity...

Create an in-house cannabis breeding program and protect your intellectual property

Commercial breeding requires a profit model and a business plan to secure the necessary investment to start the operation and turn a profit. Equally important is having access to high-quality genetics, adequate infrastructure,...

Phenohunting Unicorns

Breeders are always in search of unicorns—those magically unique plants that check all the boxes of desirable traits and are so rare as to be nonexistent. Finding unicorns is the thrill behind the “phenohunt,” a term introduced by cannabis breeders to describe the...

Why you should start a cannabis genetic library

Although building a cannabis genetic cultivar library requires space, time, and financial investment, it is critical to the survival of any cultivation operation. Not only does it allow growers to adapt to market demand and remain competitive by quickly bringing new...

Most of the cannabis industry’s genetics comes from the West Coast. That’s a problem. 

Over the last 15 years of state-by-state legalization, when a new state comes online, cannabis plants magically appear within state lines to serve the newly legal market. In the industry, we laugh as we call this “immaculate conception,” because we all know those...

Cannabis polyploids, genetic modification, and inbreeding, oh my.

In the past, breeders often relied on inbreeding to stabilize desired traits in cannabis plants. This generally meant breeding new plants back to their parents over successive generations. While inbreeding can stabilize specific traits, it can also weaken the organism...

You probably have the wrong idea about cannabis landraces.

If you ask most cannabis enthusiasts what a landrace is, they are likely to tell you the same thing: they are the original cannabis “strains” that are native to different regions. This falsehood is perpetuated even on major websites that provide information about...

OU Selected to Provide Free Minnesota Cannabis Farmer Training

The Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) announced that Oaksterdam University has been selected to administer the state’s CanGrow grant program. This program provides free Minnesota cannabis farmer training for operators entering into or expanding their...
Phenohunting Unicorns

Phenohunting Unicorns

Breeders are always in search of unicorns—those magically unique plants that check all the boxes of desirable traits and are so rare as to be nonexistent. Finding unicorns is the thrill behind the “phenohunt,” a term introduced by cannabis breeders to describe the...

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Tips for Growing Indica Plants Indoors

by Stoney Tark Cannabis plants traditionally referred to as "indica" adapted to harsh, mountainous regions such as the Hindu Kush in the Himalayas and parts of Afghanistan. These environments shaped hardy landrace genetics that flower quickly, stay compact, and...

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Leonel Villasenor

This course has impacted my life in many ways. First understanding the industry Second all the details they go into each section or branch that makes everything work. Third falling in love with helping people or coaching them to find their specific ingredients,...

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How Phylos is Using Genomics to Breed Novel Cannabis Varieties

How Phylos is Using Genomics to Breed Novel Cannabis Varieties

High Times Magazine recently released an article How Genomics is Shaping the Future of Cannabis Genetics by Oaksterdam’s Director of Academics, Angela Bacca. We conducted many in-depth interviews with experts on cannabis genomics and genetics, which are fascinating reads in their own right that we wanted to share. Below is a Q&A with Alisha Holloway, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer at Phylos Bioscience, about their groundbreaking cannabis genomic research and how it is shaping the industry today. 

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Celebrate 30 Years of Patients Out of Time

The Sixteenth National Clinical Conference on Cannabis Therapeutics 📍 Charlottesville, VA | September 14–16, 2025 Theme: Cannabis: From Prohibition to Recognition 📅 Sunday, Sept. 14 – Pre-Conference Workshops by Oaksterdam University Home Grow: Cannabis & Hemp...

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Francky Bouquet

“France is in the Middle Ages when it comes to restrictions on cannabis. I have so much love for Oaksterdam. It was like a light for me because I’m quite alone here. I’ve followed you since 2011. I wanted to come to the school but because of time, work, money, I...

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Keith Justin Anderson — Founding Partner of Aim Law, Member of the Narragansett Indian Nation Legal Professor for Oaksterdam University

“Teaching Tribal Law for Oaksterdam University has provided me with invaluable insights into the cannabis industry and school operations. Oaksterdam’s proven framework and commitment to providing quality, practical education on industry standards have been...

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Dillon Noble

"The knowledge I gained from taking this course has been invaluable! The online self-paced modules were engaging & I never lost interest throughout. I was able to finish it within a few hours, but it was taught in such a way that I was able to "retain" the...

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Learn to Grow Cannabis

Let’s get growing! Want to learn to grow cannabis at home, get a job in legal cultivation, or start your own licensed cultivation business? Oaksterdam has courses and resources for you!  We have updated our legacy Commercial Horticulture course to be more interactive...

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Improve Your Writing with Unlimited Cannabis Education

Improve Your Writing with Unlimited Cannabis Education

There is a wealth of cannabis education on the internet, but quality, vetted, expert-crafted information is scarce. Even the best journalists, writers, and researchers lack context or miss critical details. For the first time since its founding in 2007, Oaksterdam...

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Daniel Vela

“My dream goal has been to open an indoor facility and this project has helped me gather all the information I needed to piece it together. My teachers provided me with great knowledge and guidance through everything. I’m very thankful to Oaksterdam University.”

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Enrique Gutierrez

“I came to Oaksterdam to sharpen my growing skills. It made me want to go deeper into everything that’s going on in the soil, the biology of everything. I also enjoyed being linked up together with a lot of people who grow. It worked out that we were doing it through...

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Kashif Lang

“I thank God for Oaksterdam University for the simple fact that it’s refining my skills right now. It’s just fine-tuning my skills. It’s actually helping me narrow down my path in the industry, knowing all the different avenues in a clear and concise way. I’m taking...

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Aaron Hiner

"Oaksterdam has given me full on understanding exactly how the Cannabis industry Works. Which was very amusing, but came with important considerations that were difficult to swallow. For those who are wanting to apply their entrepreneurship or business into cannabis,...

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Nehemiah Cole

“What led me to enroll in Oaksterdam was a plethora of reasons — to understand in-depth how to build my brand and business within the cannabis sector, to immerse myself around cannabis professionals, diverse thoughts towards pro-cannabis investment, and to increase my...

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Mark Piersante

“I’ve learned a whole bunch about growing. The Horticulture Live Semester at Oaksterdam has led me down some other great paths and I’ve made some great connections. I love the class. I can’t wait to take the business class … I’m so sad it’s ending.”

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Christine Stenquist

“The business course at Oaksterdam University offers participants a thorough and beneficial introduction to the cannabis industry, emphasizing both the value of activism and the industry's rich history. As a former student, I appreciated the comprehensive curriculum,...

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Mai-Lan Richards

Words cannot describe the incredible experience I had at OU. This place has helped me understand the quality of the medicine and how it can benefit the world to a stress free mentality. It has inspired me to educate others on what strain or method is best for certain...

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Steven Hobart

“It was a great networking experience and a good opportunity to advance my knowledge in the cannabis industry. It helped me understand the best practices in communicating with people who are outside the industry in terms of speaking pro cannabis.”

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Locklin Newman

“Like many young adults, I have a background in cannabis exposure. But I realized that consumption does not equate to education. I furthered my knowledge by attending Oaksterdam University online. Oaksterdam offers certificate programs in cannabis studies. Through my...

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Diego Burza

“Oaksterdam was a life-changing experience … I could and maybe will write a book about it. I barely arrived from Brazil to study in the U.S. when I heard about Oaksterdam. I took the semester training and I not only had a blast but had all the doors of this amazing...

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Manuel Madriz

“I have a Budtender certification from Oaksterdam University, I did the self-paced certification. It was an amazing experience. Costa Rica is currently in process to legalization. I took the course so I can be prepared when cannabis businesses arrive. Oaksterdam...

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William Brown

"Oaksterdam was instrumental to me, from getting into the budtender awards and being a budtender to being in the industry in general. One of the main things that I think I took away from Oaksterdam University is the community. The staff that Oaksterdam has and the...

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Alex Almadova

“Shout out to Oaksterdam, you guys kill the game when it comes to education. If you're new to the industry, and you don't have any connections or friends that are already a part of the industry, you can have that route of learning from people who are doing it, who are...

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Thomas Noyes

“OU is the reason I have the job I have now, which has changed my life and made me happier than I've ever been in 23 years. I have confidence like I never have before. Working in the cannabis industry has been my dream for years, and now I'm finally in”

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Christopher

Hello my fellow colleagues and fellow American's I'm glad that we could connect and continue to forge the future of Cannabis on a global scale of course etc. I've been advocating for Cannabis for years now since early 2012 but any ways I love Cannabis and HEMP and...

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Free Advocacy Class: Learn How to Drive Change

In the ever-evolving landscape of cannabis, advocacy remains one of the most powerful forces shaping the industry. From local policy reform to federal legalization efforts, advocacy has been central to every major step forward. Oaksterdam University invites you to...

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Christie

Wow, the Budtending Certificate Program exceeded my expectations. So much information and greatly organized to learn at my own pace. I throughly enjoyed taking this class and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for in-depth knowledge into the wonderful world...

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“Nectarball” World Premiere

From our friends at Nectarball.com comes the world premiere of the movie NECTARBALL: The Story of Cannabis.  Filmmakers Mark Schulze and Patty Mooney spent seven years interviewing 165 luminaries for the documentary, including Oaksterdam Horticulture Expert, SCOTUS...

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Vote for OU in The Emjays

Vote for OU in The Emjays

Oaksterdam University has been nominated for the prestigious 2023 Emjay International Cannabis Awards in the category of Best Cannabis Training and Education Services of the Year. Visit The Emjays to cast your vote for OU! Voting ends at midnight on Sunday, October...

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Andre Thom, Esq.

“Receiving education from OU provided me the knowledge and tools to supplement my formal legal education from the University of North Dakota School of Law. I have a better understanding of the issues and their solutions to effectively assist activists and companies in...

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Ron

This experience was my first, I knew about Oaksterdam and bulldog cafe. Having more knowledge in this business is going to help in all sorts of ways. Connecting with people is another important resource. Building real allies is something I believe in. The work is on...

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How To Become a Cannabis Extraction Technician

If you are looking for careers in cannabis, you will see plenty of job postings for cannabis extraction technicians.

Cannabis extraction is a complex, lab-based scientific process to separate cannabis into components used for various products. Cannabis extraction is how specific cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavanoids can be isolated from the plant to produce profitable manufactured products.

If you dream of combining your love of science with a passion for cannabis, this might be the career for you. Learn more here …

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Oaksterdam Launches Mississippi Medical Cannabis Dispensary Worker Training

As medical cannabis dispensaries open for the first time across the state of Mississippi, Oaksterdam University (OU) is excited to offer Mississippi Medical Cannabis Dispensary Worker Training. The self-paced online training is approved by the Mississippi State Department of Revenue and meets all requirements to certify medical cannabis dispensary workers.

The course provides the most comprehensive education for pursuing a medical cannabis dispensary worker career in the $27 billion global cannabis industry. Individuals who finish the course may download a verifiable certificate of completion that qualifies them to work in a state-licensed dispensary.  

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OU x Plant EDG: A Focus on Cannabis Education

OU x Plant EDG: A Focus on Cannabis Education

Oaksterdam University prides itself on providing the highest quality training in the cannabis industry. Our newest educational partnership has OU “training the trainers” with Plant EDG. 

Based in Los Angeles, Plant EDG teams up with brands to provide cannabis education to consumers at dispensaries and cannabis-related events. 

Loely Burgos, the founder of Plant EDG, says she is eager to join forces with Oaksterdam to help spread the word about OU’s programs, co-host educational events, and hire OU alumni. 

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Amber

I loved all the help I received at OU even though I was a self-paced student. I learned so much about the inner workings of a dispensary. I feel I'm equipped to enter the cannabis space when that time comes in my state (North Carolina). I'm so excited about my...

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Jobs In Cannabis Cultivation Explained

Learn How To Fix Cannabis Nutrient Deficiencies

Even though cannabis is known as “weed” and has a reputation for growing quickly and easily, cultivating high-quality cannabis plants can be quite challenging. One of the most common challenges is maintaining the correct balance of nutrients throughout the growth cycle. 

Nutrient deficiencies can be disastrous for a cannabis crop, but growers with the proper training can usually reverse the effects. Oaksterdam University offers courses to help you troubleshoot your cannabis crop and ensure a high-quality yield every time.  

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Oaksterdam’s Easy Guide to Extracts

Oaksterdam’s Easy Guide to Extracts

Cannabis extractions result in various end products with different colors, textures, consistencies, flavors, and phytochemical profiles. Some extractions are niche and connoisseur products, and some are the base for finished products made with lower-quality flowers that produce higher profit margins.

To help consumers navigate extract types, prices, processes, characteristics, and the extraction method used to produce them, Oaksterdam University has created this downloadable infographic.

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West Coast Premiere of Oaksterdam Documentary

West Coast Premiere of Oaksterdam Documentary

American Pot Story: Oaksterdam celebrates its West Coast premiere at the prestigious DANCES WITH FILMS Festival on June 29 at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre in the heart of Hollywood, Calif. 

The film revolves around Oaksterdam University (OU), the world’s first cannabis college, and tells the unknown origin story of the people who took monumental risks to make cannabis legalization possible. It celebrates the courageous heritage of the legacy industry and the movement that started at OU and would go on to impact the world. 

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Cannabis Unite Brings Industry Together

Cannabis Unite Brings Industry Together

The Los Angeles Department of Cannabis Regulation is gearing up to host the biggest business and professional development event of the season.

LA Cannabis Unite Summer Edition will take place 3-9 p.m. Saturday, June 17 at the historic Mayfair Hotel in downtown Los Angeles.
Everyone is invited to network, learn about cannabis careers and discover business opportunities.

The event is free, and complimentary valet parking is available.

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West Coast Premiere of Oaksterdam Documentary

‘American Pot Story: Oaksterdam’ East Coast Premiere

American Pot Story: Oaksterdam celebrates its East Coast premiere at the Lighthouse International Film Festival located at Long Beach Island, New Jersey, June 7-11, 2023.

The film revolves around Oaksterdam University (OU), the world’s first cannabis college, and tells the unknown origin story of the people who took monumental risks to make cannabis legalization possible. It celebrates the courageous heritage of the legacy industry and the movement that started at OU and would go on to impact the world.

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Jonathan Diaz

Oaksterdam University has inspired me to get involved with the local laws and legislations. It has inspired me to work to the best of my abilities so I may help the prisoners of the drug war that should have never existed. After learning of the impact I can make by...

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Alex Stratienco

Studying at Oaksterdam has helped me in so many ways. Getting to work hands on with live plants makes all the difference when learning this field. Taking the semester class has shown me how involved the ins and outs of the industry are and gave me a deeper...

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Rachel Jacobson

Oaksterdam has both helped and inspired me in many ways. I’ve learned so much about cannabis and the industry as a whole all thanks to Oaksterdam because no one else would ever take the time and energy out of their day to educate me on all of these very real and...

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Michael V. Maestri

Not only did I learn more than I ever thought I would during my 14 week class period, I came into this school thinking I already had a decent background with the plant and boy was I mistaken! Not only have they taught me a lot about the cannabis plant but the...

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Michael Kise

I’ve gained a lot more knowledge on extracts and safer ways of producing them. Along with learning more about my rights and how to prevent illegal search and seizures from police. Overall Oaksterdam has inspired me to get more active in the advocation of marijuana and...

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Florent Buffiere

The OU team inspired me on the vision they have for the rebirth of hemp and cannabis industry. I learned a lot about the history and advocacy of cannabis, and realized that even a small group of well-organized people can change a lot for the community.

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Austin Mears

Just being in that environment of free thinking individuals who aspire to learn greatly influenced my direction. The school is awesome for networking and brain storming. After OU, I moved to Colorado to begin working for the industry. I am also working with analytical...

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Adam Scott

I attended Oaksterdam University because I wanted to make a difference in my home state North Carolina. We are known for Tobacco, a harmful drug but we aren't even medicinal yet. The first time I heard about OU was when I was in my 2nd year of college. I did a...

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Noah

I liked Oaksterdam University in particular because of the system that allows students to re-take quizzes and mastery checkpoints, so you can really absorb the information you're trying to learn. I also especially enjoyed the Live Business of Cannabis Capstone...

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Zach

I liked the self paced course through Oaksterdam. That really makes it feel less overwhelming like some courses. I also enjoyed learning more about the early prohibition and politics that went into making cannabis a schedule 1 drug. As well as bringing new knowledge...

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James Bagnall

Work inventory at a factory, they paid for me to take this course. I appreciated them extending that to me and giving me that opportunity. I want to use the scholarship to make it easier for people to access cannabis as a form of medicine and to maybe break down this...

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Raina

I appreciate the subject matter experts who presented to us on a range of subjects. You can tell that they really care about the plant, the people, and their work. Learning with other students who are local and out of state was useful to understand the varying...

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You’re Invited – Los Angeles Cannabis Unite Summer Edition

You’re Invited – Los Angeles Cannabis Unite Summer Edition

The public is invited to attend the largest summertime business and professional development networking event to learn about cannabis careers, business opportunities, and meet industry leaders, manufacturers, cultivators, operators, licensees and employers at LA Cannabis Unite Summer Edition, hosted by the Los Angeles Department of Cannabis Regulation (DCR) on Saturday, June 17 at 3:00 PM at the historic Mayfair Hotel.

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5 Things to Look for When Shopping for Extracts

5 Things to Look for When Shopping for Extracts

Badder, budder, crumble, shatter, sauce, diamonds. What does it all mean, and how do you know what to select?

Choosing a cannabis concentrate can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. With a little research and planning, you can find the perfect concentrate for your needs.

Here, Dr. Stefanie Gangano, co-chair of Oaksterdam University’s Extracts and Manufacturing department, share five things to consider when choosing an extract …

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M

The network of instructors employed to lead the subjects involved in each course is what I enjoyed and appreciated the most. I took both the Business of Cannabis and Horticulture Live Semesters and the teachers in both courses were amazing! The wealth of knowledge and...

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Christine

The business course at Oaksterdam University offers participants a thorough and beneficial introduction to the cannabis industry, emphasizing both the value of activism and the industry's rich history. As a former student, I appreciated the comprehensive curriculum,...

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The Budtender’s Guide on KCBS Radio

The Budtender’s Guide on KCBS Radio

Dale Sky Jones recently sat down with Jim Taylor on KCBS Radio 106.9 to talk about The Budtender’s Guide, OU’s new reference manual for dispensary professionals and cannabis consumers.

Dale discussed how the book is not only for budtenders, but consumers who want to be their own budtenders — and not just rely on the person ringing them up at the dispensary counter for information.

The book educates people to understand cannabis beyond THC content.

“What we talk about in this book is everything from flavonoids and terpenes. The things that affect the uptake or the intake, the odor, the smell, the taste, but also other cannabinoids that you might want to explore. We really try to cover what effect you’re looking for, and then how you’re going to get the best results,” she says during the interview.

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OU Partners with OpenSpace

OU Partners with OpenSpace

Oaksterdam University is excited to partner with Cannabis OpenSpace, a groundbreaking online event designed to revolutionize collaboration and empower professionals in the cannabis industry.

Discover how to enhance your cannabis business or career by learning about the latest developments, trends, and regulations.

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You’re Invited – Los Angeles Cannabis Unite Summer Edition

Los Angeles Cannabis Unite Summer Edition

Mark your calendar for Los Angeles Cannabis Unite*, the summer’s largest event for business and development professionals. Join us 3-9 p.m. PT, Saturday, June 17, 2023 for networking, a rooftop afterparty with a DJ, no-host bar, hors d’oeuvres, and more.

Find supply chain speed dating, a DCR resources room, jobs board access for all attendees, business, licensing, and compliance assistance, and more.

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Iowa

I loved that the instructors were very knowledgeable. The instructors knew their stuff & relayed it to us in a great way. I learned about the different aspect of cannabis that I never knew. I loved the quizzes at the end of each lesson which helped me to retain...

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American Pot Story in Cannabis Now

American Pot Story in Cannabis Now

We are thrilled that our documentary American Pot Story: Oaksterdam continues to get favorable reviews. On April 29, 2023, Melissa Reid of Cannabis Now talked extensively about the film in a review called “Higher Ed.”

American Pot Story: Oaksterdam highlights the journey of cannabis advocates and concerned citizens in California during a time of significant change. It tells the full, untold story of the Oakland-based underdogs who risked everything to spark a global revolution in cannabis policy.

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Dale Sky Jones talks 4/20 on ABC7 News

Dale Sky Jones talks 4/20 on ABC7 News

In honor of 4/20, Oaksterdam University Executive Chancellor Dale Sky Jones speaks with Karina Nova at ABC7 News in the Bay Area. Dale talks about fighting to free cannabis prisoners, staying active in cannabis advocacy, and reducing the stigma around the plant.

“You’re not a bad person for consuming cannabis,” Dale says. “The most dangerous thing was not consuming cannabis, it was getting caught with it.”

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How Reymon Brown Makes New Dispensary Customers Comfortable

How Reymon Brown Makes New Dispensary Customers Comfortable

Reymon Brown has always loved cannabis and wanted to parlay it into a career, especially as he saw his home state of Massachusetts legalize adult use. He decided to pursue a budtending job to get a crash course in the business as he explores the possibility of getting into the ownership side through a social equity program. 

As a budtender, he strives to develop relationships with customers …

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Sustainability for Home Growers

Sustainability for Home Growers

Is cannabis cultivation sustainable? Like all other types of agriculture, it can be. It also can be incredibly destructive in its cultivation practices and in the sourcing of inputs.

The cannabis movement is not just about the freedom to grow cannabis for personal consumption. It is about freedom in many forms. People fought for cannabis decriminalization, the process that made home cultivation legal, to free themselves from the oppression of the War on Drugs and, along the way, created underground economies that were networks of family-based cottage industries of craft cannabis cultivation. 

Many of these cannabis pioneers were growers who cared deeply about the preservation of the land and waterways around their gardens …

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Announcing CaNORML Dale Gieringer Scholarships

Announcing CaNORML Dale Gieringer Scholarships

To mark the cannabis holiday 4/20, Oaksterdam University is partnering with California NORML to award four scholarships in honor of the organization’s Director, Dale Gieringer. The scholarships will provide the opportunity to enroll in one of two self-paced online courses offered by Oaksterdam University: Home Grow or Budtending Certification.

Learn how to apply …

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In the News: OU & CT Equity Program

In a recent article by Jordan Nathaniel Fenster in the CT Insider, Dale Sky Jones, the executive chancellor of Oaksterdam University, discussed the school’s involvement in Connecticut’s small business accelerator program for social equity license holders in the cannabis industry.

Jones explained the origins of the school’s name, which was inspired by the founders’ observations of the successful cannabis industry in Amsterdam and Oakland’s status as the first U.S. city to allow medical cannabis sales.

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How To Setup a Home Cannabis Grow

How To Setup a Home Cannabis Grow

Home Grow Setup If you’re a cannabis enthusiast, it’s only a matter of time before you start wondering if you can grow the plant yourself. Luckily, anyone can learn to do it, whether you’re an amateur botanist who wants to try something new or a cannabis professional...

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Oaksterdam x Homegrown = Free Cannabis Seeds for Students

Oaksterdam x Homegrown = Free Cannabis Seeds for Students

Oaksterdam University is partnering with Homegrown Cannabis Co. to offer free seeds with enrollment in select Oaksterdam courses. Through this collaboration, students will receive free seeds to grow In real time as they correspond with the class.

Oaksterdam is the world’s first cannabis college, and Homegrown Cannabis Co. is one of the world’s fastest-growing seed banks. Oaksterdam is a legacy educational institution that offers the premiere cannabis curricula.

This partnership brings the two worlds together to help students grow. 

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Oaksterdam Interview: Tamika McPhail Helps Build Connecticut Cannabis Equity with reSET

Oaksterdam Interview: Tamika McPhail Helps Build Connecticut Cannabis Equity with reSET

For over 20 years, Tamika McPhail has been a leader in advocacy and cannabis. As the Connecticut State Director for Minorities For Medical Marijuana and a graduate of the Black Cannabis Business Mastermind, she most recently added Program Manager for the Connecticut Social Equity Cannabis Business Accelerator, powered by Oaksterdam University, to her resumé. 

Tamika’s goals are to help social equity licensees successfully open the doors to their cannabis businesses and be a resource to the Connecticut cannabis community. ..

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The Evolution of Cannabis Consulting with Goose Duarte

Goose Duarte has worked at the forefront of the legal cannabis industry since its emergence in the San Francisco Bay Area in the early 2000s. He has helped define the role of a budtender in the world’s pioneering dispensaries. Today he is the director of operations at Oaksterdam University. 

Goose worked in almost every position at Harborside Health Center in Oakland, from inventory, stocking, product displays, check-in and registration, budtender, and management.

Here, he shares Harborside’s six-step consultation and sale process …

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David

OU helped me to reach a new level of self confidence, Which is necessary for being a cannabis-advocate. Going through the process of alumniation showed me how much I wanna connect with people who love Weed as I do, and are willing to go all in for it. I'm living with...

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Rowan

Oaksterdam has informed me on many different topics involving the cannabis community and industry. I have found passion in cannabis and oaksterdam has thought me how I can focus that into a successful fulfilling career. I’m excited to start my career in South Dakota...

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Cody Kraut

My time at Oaksterdam university was the best educational experience I’ve experienced to date. I enrolled into the live horticulture program solely wanting to maximize the quality of my home grown medicine and explore my opportunities in the industry. I left O.U. with...

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Alumni Spotlight: Perry Jones

Alumni Spotlight: Perry Jones

As communities across the country build equity programs into cannabis law, Oaksterdam Alumni Perry Jones shines as a beacon of success.

Perry has gone through San Francisco’s Cannabis Equity Program and is well on his way to opening a dispensary in his community.

To bring his business to life, he has partnered with MMD Incorporated, a leader in providing safe, legal cannabis to customers through four retail dispensaries in Los Angeles. Their partnership will bring MMD’s first storefront to Northern California, with Jones as Co-Owner and CEO.

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20 Best Conferences for New Cannabis Business Entrepreneurs

Cannabis conferences are one of the most helpful resources out there for new cannapreneurs and more seasoned cannabis professionals alike. There are conferences of all sizes geared toward every niche of the cannabis industry and hosted worldwide — so keeping track of...

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Puff, Puff, Pass: February Cannabis News

The cannabis industry is constantly evolving and growing, with new developments happening all the time.

From Twitter welcoming cannabis ads to ‘diet weed’ and Dale Sky Jones being named to Cannabis Now’s Hall of Fame, here’s a look at recent industry items in the news …

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A Look Back at Mary Jane “Brownie Mary” Rathbun

A Look Back at Mary Jane “Brownie Mary” Rathbun

Claire Birch was a Berkeley, California-based documentarian who followed much of the early movement toward medical cannabis laws in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Click here for rare footage of Brownie Mary passionately describing her work and why she does it, as well as a contextual interview about her with Dennis Peron.

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Grow Mag Q&A With Mr. and Mrs. Jones

Grow Mag Q&A With Mr. and Mrs. Jones

Dale Sky Jones and Jeff Jones have been referred to as the “First Couple of Cannabis.” Dale is the Executive Chancellor of Oaksterdam University and Jeff is on OU’s Horticulture Faculty.

Recently, Mr. and Mrs. Jones did an extensive Q&A in Grow Magazine with Writer and Cultivator A.C. Moon. They talked about everything from their first interactions with the plant to where they see the future of the industry. They also discussed whether cannabis makes them better parents, PTSD from persecution, and policies they’d like to see enacted at the federal level along with much, much more …

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“American Pot Story: Oaksterdam” Wins Audience Choice Award

New Love Films and Oaksterdam University are proud to announce the feature documentary American Pot Story: Oaksterdam took home the prestigious ”Unstoppable” Audience Award on Jan. 26, 2023, after its world premiere at the Slamdance Film Festival, Jan. 20-26 in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah.

Part of the festival’s annual Sparky Awards, the Audience Awards are among the most coveted because they are voted on by Slamdance attendees, reflecting fan favorites and setting the stage for future film festival appearances and commercial success.

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Are All Weed Colleges and Cannabis Certifications the Same?

Adult-use cannabis is a massive market that will continue to grow over the next decade. The industry's growth means more job opportunities and career paths for individuals ready to fill those roles. One of the best ways to prepare for a job in the cannabis industry is...

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Hall of Fame: Dale Sky Jones

Hall of Fame: Dale Sky Jones

Oaksterdam University Chancellor Dale Sky Jones was named to Cannabis Now’s 2023 Mount Rushmore of Cannabis Legends Hall of Fame.

The Hall of Fame appears in the magazine’s print edition, and highlights luminaries that shape the cannabis industry.

The 2023 Mount Rushmore edition recognizes cannabis giants like Willie Nelson, Snoop Dogg, Tommy Chong, Ed Rosenthal. and Steve DeAngelo.

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“American Pot Story: Oaksterdam” World Premiere at Slamdance 2023

You’re invited to the world premiere of the documentary American Pot Story: Oaksterdam at the world-famous Slamdance Film Festival in Utah.

OU Executive Chancellor Dale Sky Jones and OU Faculty Jeff Jones will be in attendance at the screenings.

There will be a panel discussion with LEAP’s Diane Goldstein and Weldon Angelos and an after-party hosted by TRUCE Utah and Dragonfly Wellness.

Come out and celebrate a momentous occasion with us if you are in the area!

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Jeff Jones and the Origins of “Budtending”

Jeff Jones and the Origins of “Budtending”

The history of the modern dispensary and much of its associated terminology can be traced to the Bay Area, where a group of advocates began to openly distribute medical marijuana in the late 1980s.

At that time, Dennis Peron and “Brownie Mary” Jane Rathbun made national headlines by openly providing cannabis to AIDS patients in San Francisco. A young Jeff Jones saw them on CNN from his home in South Dakota and was inspired to move west to be a part of it.

Read more about the movement in this excerpt from The Budtender’s Guide, Oaksterdam’s new book for dispendary professionals and cannabis consumers.

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OU Featured in Thrillist

OU Featured in Thrillist

With adult use cannabis now legal in 21 states plus Washington, D.C., it’s high time to visit Oaksterdam University. So says an article that appeared in Thrillist on Jan. 6, 2023.

The article shares all the details on OU, from classes to price points and more.

In addition, it features two of our esteemed alumni, Tahir Johnson, who hosts the podcast the Cannabis Diversity Report and is set to open a dispensary Simply Pure Trenton in the spring, and Alphonso “Tucky” Blunt, Jr., owner of dispensary Blunts & Moore.

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Cannabis Myths: Sativa-Indica Fallacy

Cannabis Myths: Sativa-Indica Fallacy

The narrative handed down for generations is that “sativa” varieties are associated with more awake, “caffeine-like” effects that make them ideal to consume during the day, whereas indica products tend to be associated with a full-body high and so-called “couchlock effects” that make them more appropriate to consume in the evening.

Nonetheless, modern analytical testing of so-called true indica versus true sativa varieties identifies few differences in the plants’ analytical makeup and none responsible for these supposed disparate effects. In 2018, cannabinoid scientist Robert McPartland concluded, “Categorizing cannabis as either ‘sativa’ or ‘indica’ has become an exercise in futility. … Ubiquitous interbreeding and hybridization render their distinction meaningless.”

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CT Social Equity Council Selects OU

CT Social Equity Council Selects OU

Connecticut’s Social Equity Council (SEC) has selected Oaksterdam University in partnership with reSET, the social impact-focused entrepreneurial support organization based in Hartford, to create and operate a Cannabis Business Accelerator Program in Connecticut.

Technical business assistance and entrepreneurial support are now available through the program to legacy cannabis operators to ensure regulatory compliance and industry best practices, as well as to verified social equity applicants planning to start licensed cannabis businesses. Programming and early networking opportunities will begin this month, with the official launch of the program in January 2023.

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CT Social Equity Council Selects OU

How Do I Learn About Equity in the Cannabis Industry?

Regulated cannabis is an exciting new industry, brimming with opportunity. However, because of the long, fraught legal history of cannabis in the United States, ensuring this promising field is available and accessible to all is of utmost importance.   As this...

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Why Cannabis Professionals Need Continued Education

Why Cannabis Professionals Need Continued Education

The new year brings a new opportunity to develop your skills. Oaksterdam University’s Business of Cannabis Semester begins Jan. 9, 2023 and is enrolling now. The live course features a capstone project that has students create a business plan lite with guidance and feedback from our expert faculty. We only offer this program once a year, and seats are filling fast.

In 2021, America’s legal cannabis industry added 107,000 jobs, or an average of 280 new jobs daily. It was the fifth year of job growth at 27% or more — the highest industry rate in the nation.

Jobs are available in cannabis businesses, classified as plant-touching, or ancillary businesses, which provide services or products that support the cannabis industry without directly touching the plant.

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Announcing: OU Budtender’s Guide

Announcing: OU Budtender’s Guide

Just in time for holiday shopping, Oaksterdam University has released The Budtender’s Guide: A Reference Manual for Cannabis Consumers and Dispensary Professionals for pre-sale on Amazon.com.

The book is designed to give both budtenders and consumers the knowledge they need to understand the landscape of cannabis products available in licit markets across the country, along with the history, laws and policies, science, and cultural nuances of the plant.

The book is available now as a Kindle digital download on the Amazon store, priced at $9.99.

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Insights for Regulators from California Cannabis Control

Insights for Regulators from California Cannabis Control

Oaksterdam University Dale Sky Jones recently served as a keynote speaker and panel moderator at the California Cannabis Control Summit. The event brought together regulators from across the state and nation to share information and resources. Here, we talk to Event...

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The Voter’s Guide to Pro-Cannabis Election Platforms

Cannabis reformation efforts recently made national headlines as President Biden finally acted on campaign promises to pardon all prior Federal offenses of simple possession of cannabis, urge all Governors to do the same for state offenses, and expeditiously initiate...

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Five Considerations in Choosing a Cannabis School

Cannabis jobs are on the rise, and more and more people are looking for employment in this exciting emerging industry. Finding the right cannabis career for your skill set and interests can be challenging, especially without support. You might need classes,...

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What to Look for in a Cannabis Education

Careers in cannabis are growing. People at all career stages are entering the field and pursuing cannabis education. When choosing a cannabis college or educational path, consider your career goals and the school’s offerings when evaluating which program is right for...

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City of Oakland Commends Oaksterdam

City of Oakland Commends Oaksterdam

Oaksterdam University is proud to receive a commendation from the City of Oakland celebrating the screening of “American Pot Story: Oaksterdam” at the Oakland International Film Festival on Sept. 24, 2022.

Signed by our long-term ally and advocate Rebecca Kaplan, Oakland vice mayor and councilmember at-large, who has stood by Oaksterdam’s side through raids and political firestorms, the commendation recognizes OU’s past in the cannabis legalization movement as well as our ability “to help guide policy and frame the market of tomorrow.”

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Dale Sky Jones on San Francisco Experience Podcast

Dale Sky Jones on San Francisco Experience Podcast

Oaksterdam University Executive Chancellor Dale Sky Jones appeared on the San Francisco Experience Podcast on Tuesday, Oct. 10. Hosted by Jim Herlihy, the news commentary podcast serves listeners in more than 65 countries. Its mission is to offer fact-based analysis from a California/Silicon Valley perspective, featuring newsmakers, thought leaders, and authors as guests.

During her appearance on the show, Dale talked about America’s first cannabis college, medical cannabis, and President Biden’s action on Oct. 6, to pardon all people convicted of simple marijuana possession under federal law, and review of marijuana’s classification as a Schedule I drug at the federal level.

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AG Rob Bonta: Oakland Would Not Be Oakland Without Oaksterdam

AG Rob Bonta: Oakland Would Not Be Oakland Without Oaksterdam

California Attorney General Rob Bonta received Oaksterdam’s Skill in Combat Award in honor of the work he’s done to legalize cannabis, make it safe, and expunge records for people convicted of non-violent cannabis crimes.

Oaksterdam Executive Chancellor Dale Sky Jones announced the award at OU’s 15th-Anniversary Event of the Decade celebration on Sept. 24, 2022 at the Fox Theater in Oakland, Calif.

“Dale, thank you for your pioneering spirit and leadership over so many years. Oakland would not be Oakland without Oaksterdam. It’s just a fact,” he said.

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Oaksterdam Bestows Good Soldier Awards

Oaksterdam Bestows Good Soldier Awards

Oaksterdam University bestowed its 2022 Good Soldier Awards as part of our Event of the Decade celebration on Saturday, Sept. 24 at the Fox Theater in Oakland, Calif.

Awardees were selected for their dedication to ending the War on Drugs, and were announced by OU Executive Chancellor Dale Sky Jones and OU Faculty Jeff Jones before the screening of American Pot Story: Oaksterdam, the closing film of the 20th Oakland International Film Festival.

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Dale Sky Jones on Grateful Dead Radio

Dale Sky Jones on Grateful Dead Radio

Dale Sky Jones appeared with Big Steve Parish during the Big Steve Hour on Sept. 29 on the Grateful Dead channel on Sirius XM. Dale presented Big Steve with the Luminary Award for Legacy in Music at Oaksterdam’s Event of the Decade on Saturday night at Fox Theater in Oakland.

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Limited Seats Left: Event of the Decade

Limited Seats Left: Event of the Decade

Time is running out to get tickets for the Event of the Decade. Oaksterdam is celebrating its 15th anniversary on September 24th, 2022 with a movie release party at the Fox Theater in Oakland, Calif.

Come see the film “American Pot Story: Oaksterdam,” meet luminaries in the cannabis movement, and celebrate 15 years of leadership in the industry. The event will include a welcome by Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf and OU Chancellor Dale Sky Jones.

California Governor Gavin Newsom, who signed an important package of pro-cannabis law into effect just this week, will offer a video introduction to the Luminary Awards, recognizing important advocates in the cannabis movement. 

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Announcing: Oaksterdam Alumni Network

Announcing: Oaksterdam Alumni Network

Oaksterdam Alumni — 80,000 students from 110 countries around the globe — have gone on to become the biggest leaders, personalities, and change-makers in the history of the cannabis movement. Now, there’s a place for all of us to gather, network and stay in touch. As part of OU’s ongoing 15-Year Anniversary celebration, we’re excited to announce the launch of the Oaksterdam Alumni Network. 

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How to Get a Business Job in the Cannabis Industry

How to Get a Business Job in the Cannabis Industry

Cannabis is America’s fastest-growing industry. Cannabis business professionals are in demand, especially those with specific expertise to operate within the rapidly changing landscape of legal, regulatory, and financial requirements. Opportunities abound for business professionals, investors, and entrepreneurs. Keep reading to learn more about how to become a cannabis business professional.

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Hort Labs Open to OU Alumni & Asynch

Oaksterdam University is excited to announce that our longstanding Horticulture Labs are now open to all OU alumni and students. Bring your plant babies, questions, and coffee for a morning chat about all things cultivation. 

OU’s “Hort Labs” have been a Friday morning staple for as long as we can remember. Until now, they were open only to students currently enrolled in our live courses. As we celebrate our 15th Anniversary we’re opening the labs to the wider OU community.

 

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Marie Cantrell

I really liked the wealth of information and resources. The course I took gave me a really good overview for someone who is just starting out in this field. I am looking forward to applying what I have learned in a professional setting.

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How to Get a Job Growing Cannabis

Jobs in cannabis are booming, and professional cannabis growers are in demand. Keep reading to learn about what a professional cannabis grower does, what they need to know, their salary and job outlook, and how to get a job growing cannabis.

Professional cannabis growers work in cultivation facilities to grow plants from seed to harvest. There are numerous career paths within the cannabis cultivation industry. Positions range from entry-level trimmers to agronomists, plant breeders, lighting and ventilation consultants, integrated pest management experts, and cultivation directors.

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You’re Invited to the Event of the Decade

You’re Invited to the Event of the Decade

The world’s first cannabis college, Oaksterdam University, celebrates its 15th Anniversary by hosting a grand after-party for a sneak preview documentary screening at the 20th Annual Oakland International Film Festival (OIFF) of American Pot Story: Oaksterdam. Presented in partnership with Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP), the event will take place on Sept. 24, 2022, at the legendary Fox Theater in Oakland, Calif. It will include a screening of the film followed by an after-party and Alumni reunion with confirmed attendance by politicians, press, cannabis industry legends, and celebrities …

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Cooking with Cannabinoids: Apple Cinnamon Pancakes

Cooking with Cannabinoids: Apple Cinnamon Pancakes

Oaksterdam hosted a live webinar with the authors of “The Cannabinoid Cookbook: Transform Your Health Using Herbs and Spices from Your Kitchen.” As part of the event, Chef Daniel Green and Dr. Joseph Feuerstein shared their recipe for Apple Cinnamon Pancakes.

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Helga Bucher

The course will help me a lot in the club ,because now I can see and explain the differences cultivars in a better way and control more the club with my new skills. I am really happy because now I can teach something new here in Spain

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OU Courses Apply to Degree at Golden Gate U

Oaksterdam University is pleased to announce an exciting educational partnership with Golden Gate University. The partnership allows students to transfer credits from Oaksterdam Certification Courses toward their Bachelor’s Degree at GGU. It is the first partnership of its kind.

OU graduates may transfer up to 18 credits of corresponding OU courses toward their accredited degree. Learn more here …

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Dale Sky Jones on The Weed Tube

Dale Sky Jones on The Weed Tube

Oaksterdam University Executive Chancellor Dale Sky Jones sat down during G4Live for a “Watch and Sesh” with Arend Richard, co-founder and creative director of The Weed Tube.

The pair talked about some fun stuff like what Dale originally wanted to be when she grew up, her go-to karaoke song (NOT!), star signs, and Volcano vaporizers.

They also discussed serious topics like descheduling, the raid on Oaksterdam, social justice in cannabis, and OU’s reimagined curriculum.

Watch the video here …

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Authors Dish on “Cooking With Cannabinoids” 

Truffle linguine with a poached egg may sound delicious, but it’s also rich in cannabinoids, compounds that can modulate pain, inflammation, and other ailments. 

Learn how to make this dish and how everyday ingredients can heal the body inside and out as Oaksterdam University hosts “Cooking with Cannabinoids” at 6 p.m. PST/9 p.m. EST Thursday, June 16, 2022. 

The public is welcome to the live webinar, which will feature a cooking demonstration and chat with the authors of “The Cannabinoid Cookbook.”

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Authors Dish on “Cooking With Cannabinoids” 

Truffle linguine with a poached egg may sound delicious, but it’s also rich in cannabinoids, compounds that can modulate pain, inflammation, and other ailments. 

Learn how to make this dish and how everyday ingredients can heal the body inside and out as Oaksterdam University hosts “Cooking with Cannabinoids” at 6 p.m. PST/9 p.m. EST Thursday, June 16, 2022. 

The public is welcome to the live webinar, which will feature a cooking demonstration and chat with the authors of “The Cannabinoid Cookbook.”

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Virtual Field Trip: Alibi Cannabis

Oaksterdam students and alumni recently took a virtual field trip to Alibi Cannabis in Portland, Ore. Read the recap of our tour through the state-of-the-art grow operation and the equipment they use to cultivate their amazing craft cannabis.

If you are a business wishing to host an OU virtual field trip, contact OU Lead Facilitator Samira Hasib at facilitator@oaksterdamuniversity.com, or (510) 251-1544. Alumni are welcome to reach out to Samira to join our next tour!

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Dale & Jeff Jones on Cannabis Talk 101

Dale & Jeff Jones on Cannabis Talk 101

Dale Sky Jones, Executive Chancellor of Oaksterdam University, and her husband Jeff Jones, Head of Oaksterdam University Horticulture Department, appeared on the Cannabis Talk 101 podcast during G4 Live. Listen as they talk about OU’s vision, ethics, standards, and why they are passionate about education as a pathway to establishing a safe and equitable cannabis industry.

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How to Deschedule Cannabis

In the debate over cannabis legalization, one of the critical questions is whether cannabis should be rescheduled to a lower schedule or descheduled altogether, removing it from the Controlled Substances Act schedule of drugs. Many advocates, including Oaksterdam University, believe that cannabis must be descheduled. Here’s background on how that can be done at the federal level and how you can help.

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Alumni Feature: Indigenous Tribe Learns from OU

Alumni Feature: Indigenous Tribe Learns from OU

We are so proud of our alumna Rainbow Chavis, CMO of Shinnecock Hemp Growers, for her achievements since graduating from Oaksterdam University.

Rainbow’s work building connections between Indigenous traditions and the modern world of commercial cannabis and hemp was recently featured in a wonderful article by Michael Giotis in the East Bay Express.

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Nadia Florman

Oaksterdam has opened my eyes to the importance of social advocacy. Growing up in Singapore where freedom of expression and activism is stifled by the government, I realised from the course, lecturers and course mates how important is to lend your voice for an...

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Marco Lapka

The OU staff and faculty are all great. Elizabeth was a super facilitator, very patient and helpful. There are plenty of extracurricular activities and resources to experience and learn from. The weekly lectures were always fascinating. I enjoyed interacting with my...

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Brendan Kennedy

Oaksterdam's attention to students was my favorite part. Bing learning disabled I put a lot of faith into my teachers and the teachers at Oaksterdam treated me with courtesy and respect. I was fortunate to start a career in cannabis alongside my schooling it was great...

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How to Become a Budtender

How to Become a Budtender

In the fast-growing cannabis industry, budtending is a great entry point for a variety of career paths. A budtender job may be up your alley if you enjoy constantly learning about trends and research in cannabis, working in a fast-paced environment, and helping others.

Oaksterdam University coined the term “budtender,” and offers the most respected Budtending Certification program in the nation.

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Gregory Thomas Johnson

My career is just starting as this is my 1st indoor grow. I liked OU's self-paced Horticulture class so that I could study at anytime. I thought the Professors and Instructors were very Professional, Videos were great and brief, straight to the point. Before attending...

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Karen Khani

Before starting my course I thought I knew and had everything I needed to go forward in my Cannabis journey,but , I didn't. Being able to sit in these classes with such knowledgeable teachers changed my life. Everyone was so warm and welcoming. To be able to join a...

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Hot Seeds to Grow in 2022

Hot Seeds to Grow in 2022

Oaksterdam’s own Horticulture Expert Jeff Jones was featured in the High Times article “Hot Cannabis Seeds to Grow in 2022.” High Times Editor in Chief Ellen Holland checked in with “three ganja growing all-stars” for the piece. Here’s what Jeff had to say …

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Marin Šebalj

Soo, i started googleing about schools where they teach about cannabis, and than i found you, i looked at your page and saw how good and how long you are here and giving knowladge, and i was eager to get new knowlede, so i decidet to join OU, and now i have my own...

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Carolyn Laura Goddard

I love how each section has a different teacher that specializes in each section and it makes it so much easier to ask questions and get awesome answers. I will take the information that I have learned in the business and horticulture courses into future business and...

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Bradley Krick

I loved Oaksterdam. I was personally blown away by the support and kindness of the staff. overall, I learned a lot and I'm considering the business semester in the fall. when I turn 21 my first goal is to get a cultivation job and I hope my OU credentials will help me...

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Joseph King

Everything about OU was amazing, I wish I could physically meet each and every one of you involved in my Class. With all the wisdom and knowledge that I gained from the great Speakers, Teachers, and professionals in the Cannabis industry I plan on being part of the...

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Weed Work: OU in East Bay Express

Weed Work: OU in East Bay Express

Oaksterdam is featured in the East Bay Express article “Weed Work: Oaksterdam University is Still Driving Force for Equity in
Cannabis”
. The story, which appeared on April 20, 2022, talks about OU’s roots in Oakland, Calif., its move to a virtual campus, and efforts in the equity space. Here’s an excerpt …

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Dale Talks Education on Cannabis Voice

Dale Talks Education on Cannabis Voice

Oaksterdam University Chancellor Dale Sky Jones appears on NCIA’s Cannabis Industry Voice. Jones joins fellow podcast guest Mila Marshall to talk about challenges surrounding education in cannabis for those new to the industry, as well as long-term veterans in the space.

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Oaksterdam Cannabis Terminology Style Guide

More media is reporting on cannabis than ever before, requiring common-use definitions of the terms and concepts core to writing about the complexities of cannabis. Until now there have been no common style standards for writing about this subject. 

This style guide is designed for use in academia and by any journalist, reporter, writer, or public relations professional. It was composed and edited by the experts at Oaksterdam University and will evolve with use, so we welcome your feedback, input, questions, and requests for clarification.

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IRS 280E: Cannabis Taxes and Case Law

Oaksterdam Cannabis Content Review Service

Need fact-checking or experts to review your content before you publish? Oaksterdam University is proud to announce our new Oaksterdam Cannabis Content Review Service. We invite any journalist, reporter, writer, or public relations professional to submit their cannabis-related work for expert review. Contact media@oaksterdamuniversity.com to inquire.

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Announcing: New Home Grow Course

Oaksterdam University is excited to launch Home Grow — a brand new self-paced virtual course designed especially for the DIY cultivator that provides aspiring cannabis growers with the tools needed to successfully achieve their home cultivation goals, whatever they may be. This course covers essential preparation, equipment, growing media, the plant’s life cycle, nutrient and water needs, pests and pathogens, lighting, harvesting, processing, home extraction, sustainability, and more. The knowledge applies to indoor and outdoor grows of all sizes.  

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Cannabis Salaries: Cultivation

Cannabis Salaries: Cultivation

Jobs in Cultivation are great for those looking for hands-on interaction with the plant. Cultivators work in grow facilities keeping plants healthy from seed to harvest. Positions range from entry-level trimmers to highly-skilled agronomists and plant breeders. Whether you have extensive horticulture experience you’d like to transfer to America’s fastest-growing industry, or simply want to get your foot in the door and start learning, there is a position for you in cannabis cultivation. The 2022 Cannabis Salary Guide, just released by CannabizTeam Worldwide, offers insights into jobs in this sector.

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From Raid to Redemption: 10 Years Later

On April 2, 2022, Oaksterdam University celebrates a very important milestone in the history of the fight for cannabis legalization and education — marking its 10-year anniversary of surviving an Obama Administration federal raid that threatened to shut down the school and quash the movement at its core. On April 2, 2012, the IRS, assisted by U.S. Marshals and agents from the ATF, and DEA, descended on OU’s thriving campus in downtown Oakland, Calif. They raided OU’s school, dispensary, museum, and OU Founder Richard Lee’s apartment. Though they left nothing but empty desks and chairs behind, the raid didn’t destroy the mission of Oaksterdam …

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OU + National Cannabis Festival

OU + National Cannabis Festival

Oaksterdam University is proud to announce that we are the official Educational Partner of the National Cannabis Festival, set for Saturday, April 23-24, at RFK Festival Grounds in Washington, D.C. The event features concerts, vendors, food, fun, and the new National Cannabis Championship, celebrating the region’s best in homegrown THC and hemp.

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Virtual Field Trip: Kin Slips

Virtual Field Trip: Kin Slips

Students who take Oaksterdam’s live courses get various networking and event opportunities, including Virtual Field Trips. The trips take students through a variety of facilities in the cannabis industry, led by experts in the field. 

This month, we’ve partnered with Kin Slips, a California company that makes sublingual strips. During the field trip on March 25, 2022, Chief Product Officer Joshua Kirby will lead OU students through the Kin Slips manufacturing facility and demonstrate how the product is made from beginning to end. 

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How to Host a Virtual Field Trip

How to Host a Virtual Field Trip

Students who take Oaksterdam’s courses get various networking and event opportunities, including Virtual Field Trips. The “trips” take students through a variety of facilities in the cannabis industry, led by experts in the field. For students, it’s a chance to see how a real-world canna-business operates, ask questions, and make connections in the industry. For businesses, it’s an opportunity to give back, educate the next generation of cannabis professionals, and build bridges with potential hires.

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Support Cannabis Farmers Markets

Support Cannabis Farmers Markets

5.2 min. read Oaksterdam recently joined a coalition of support for AB-2691, which would enable small cannabis producers to vend their products at a limited number of cannabis events annually. As allies of legacy farmers, BIPOC and social equity operators, and craft producers, we are collectively working to ensure that the pioneers who fought to establish the legendary medical cannabis movement of California have an equal opportunity to participate within a viable regulated industry, and to ensure that patients and consumers have safe, affordable access to fresh, high quality craft cannabis products and medicines.

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Plant Talk: Tissue Culture

Plant Talk: Tissue Culture

3.6 min. read: With the cloud of cannabis prohibition lifting, cannabis growers are exploring a whole new arena of techniques to preserve cultivars and maximize yields. One of these is tissue culture. Also known as micropropagation, tissue culture is the growth of tissues or cells in an artificial medium separate from the parent organism. This is typically facilitated via the use of a liquid, semi-solid, or solid growth media such as broth or agar. The technique has long been used in farming and horticulture but is just now being applied to cannabis.

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Dale & Jeff Jones on Cannabis Talk 101

Oaksterdam on Cannabis Talk 101

Dale Sky Jones, Executive Chancellor of Oaksterdam University, appears on the Cannabis 101 podcast. She talks about OU’s team of talented professionals who are dedicated to upholding the college’s vision, ethics, and standards, and how they are passionate about education as a pathway to establish a safe and equitable cannabis industry.

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Pros and Cons of Seeds vs. Clones

Pros and Cons of Seeds vs. Clones

2.6 min. read: Some growers have strong opinions about whether it is better to grow from seed or from clones. In reality, there are tradeoffs for both, and the best answer will likely depend on a number of factors. Let’s review and compare the benefits and drawbacks of seeds versus clones.

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Shout-Out to Women in the Industry

1.5 min. read: Angela White gives a shout-out to OU Executive Chancellor Dale Sky Jones in a recent article in Forbes titled “Creating Space in the Cannabis and Psychedelic Diaspora to Honor Women.” Angela is Equity for Industry Program Manager at Success Centers where she focuses on developing sustainable career paths to communities impacted by the War on Drugs. In the story, Angela gives props to many amazing women in the industry, including Dale. Here’s what she says …

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Don’t Re-Felonize Small Gardens

Don’t Re-Felonize Small Gardens

Oaksterdam University recently joined a campaign to oppose Assembly Bill 1725, which seeks to re-felonize the cultivation of only seven cannabis plants in California. Executive Chancellor Dale Sky Jones penned a letter to Assemblymembers expressing why small cannabis gardens are not a problem, and why we don’t need more small-time cannabis felony prosecutions in the state. Here is a copy of the letter …

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Marine Helps Vets Access Cannabis

Marine Helps Vets Access Cannabis

Oaksterdam University is proud to introduce the first recipient of our OU & Ed Rosenthal Scholarship for Veterans. We found United States Marine Corps Veteran Paul Lombardo through the Weed for Warriors Project and he’s enrolled in our Horticulture Fast-Track Program this spring. Here, meet Paul and learn why he joined the military and cannabis movement.

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Enter OU’s Budtender Advocacy Award

Enter OU’s Budtender Advocacy Award

Oaksterdam University is proud to sponsor the Community Advocacy Award at the 2022 Budtender Awards, presented at G4 Live, May 11-14 in Las Vegas. Winners will recieve scholarships to Oaksterdam’s Budtending Certification Program. Nominations for this prestigious award are open now.

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America’s Fast-Growing Industry Is Getting Leaner. Here’s What That Means for You.

America’s Fast-Growing Industry Is Getting Leaner. Here’s What That Means for You.

Cannabis is the fastest-growing industry in the U.S., according to the newly-released Leafly 2022 Jobs Report. The emerging sector now supports 428,059 jobs, up 33 percent from last year. It’s the fifth year in a row of job growth at 27 percent or more — the highest rate of any industry in the nation. Here are more highlights from the report …

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OU Author on Cannabis for Patients

OU Author on Cannabis for Patients

Author, Oaksterdam Professor, and Deputy Director of NORML Paul Armentano recently released the latest edition of his book, Clinical Applications for Cannabis & Cannabinoids. Learn more in our latest blog and Oaksterdam Interview video.

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LILIAN E LOPEZ

I had the privilege of taking the Raising funds for cannabis business course. There were numerous segments of the curriculum that really appealed to me. The overview was concise and factual. Each section had useful information, it really gave me a better picture of...

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Start Low, Go Slow: Cannabis Dosing

Start Low, Go Slow: Cannabis Dosing

2 min. read: As a budtender, your customers and patients are going to have a wide range of questions about the different methods of ingesting cannabis and dosing guidelines. In many cases, they may turn to you for counsel rather than to their own personal doctor or nurse practitioner. Your customers’ visit to the dispensary may be their first face-to-face communication with any professional, or perhaps anyone at all, regarding their desire to consume cannabis. Here are some things to keep in mind as you field questions from your customers and patients …

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The Role of a Cannabis Budtender

Budtenders work in dispensaries or provisioning centers and handle many of the same things anyone who works in retail is familiar with. However, they also deal with responsibilities unique to cannabis, such as product handling protocols, seed-to-sale tracking, and advanced security measures. Most importantly, budtenders must serve not only customers but patients with sensitive health conditions.

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6 Skills to Be a Great Budtender

6 Skills to Be a Great Budtender

The role of a cannabis “budtender” is like a hybrid of a pharmacist and a bartender. A budtender must not only be well-versed in the potential effects of the products they sell and current scientific literature but also be able to provide a pleasant and entertaining experience for their customers. Here are six skills that go into being a great budtender.

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14 Cannabis Brand Archetypes

14 Cannabis Brand Archetypes

Oaksterdam University Alum David Paleschuck, author of Branding Bud: The Commercialization of Cannabis, talks to OU about his background, his book, and his 14 cannabis brand archetypes, which helps businesses define their identity, refine their message, and speak directly to their target customers. Find the blog and “Oaksterdam Interviews” video here.

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Michael Diaz-Rivera

Before taking the class lot of the business language for understanding financials was going over my head. Now I feel like I am able to speak about valuation, EBITDA, equity, liquidity, dilution, and shareholders with the best in the industry. I am now able to apply...

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OU Alum Tucky Blunt on Cannabis Radio

OU Alum Tucky Blunt on Cannabis Radio

Oaksterdam University Alum Tucky Blunt, owner of the Oakland, Calif. dispensary Blunts + Moore, recently sat down for an interview on NCIA’s Cannabis Industry Voice with Bethany Moore. On the podcast, he tells his amazing story about opening the first dispensary under Oakland’s Cannabis Social Equity Program, and how he attended Oaksterdam University to achieve his goal.

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How to Control Cannabis Odor

How to Control Cannabis Odor

If you grow cannabis, you probably savor its familiar, pungent scent. Your neighbors? Not so much. Whether you’re growing a few plants for personal use, or you’re a commercial cultivator with an indoor facility or outdoor farm, odor mitigation is an important issue. Oaksterdam University experts share insight on how to mitigate that “skunky” smell.

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Ulises Perez

I really enjoy how available the content is and gives me a good perspective on what other people are thinking. I am the kinda of person that I'm going to do my own research on something and having OU highlights the vital components that I missed. The students all have...

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Steven Abundis

I really liked Oakstrdam's school atmosphere for learning, their curriculum, and all their professors. All three elements made my learning and networking opportunities meaningful and hopeful towards my path into the cannabis industry, especially when advocating for...

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How to Become a Budtender

OU Launches Budtending LIVE!

Oaksterdam University, America’s first cannabis college, will offer our Budtending Certification Program LIVE, online in real-time for the first time in spring, 2022. Registration is open now for the virtual four-week course, which begins March 16, 2022. Students who complete the course will get skilled and certified for a Budtending career.

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7 Jobs in Cannabis Cultivation

7 Jobs in Cannabis Cultivation

An estimated 321,000 Americans work full-time in the cannabis sector, and that number is only expected to grow. There are a wide variety of positions available in the industry. If you like working with plants, here are seven jobs in cultivation that might be for you.

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5 Ways to Break Into a Cannabis Career

According to the 2021 Leafly Jobs Report, legal cannabis now supports 321,000 full-time American jobs. Since 2017, the industry has averaged 27.5 percent employment growth each year, outpacing all other industries. Within the cannabis space, there are jobs in cultivation, manufacturing, retail, regulation, marketing, law, and more. Here are some tips from Oaksterdam University on breaking into the cannabis industry.

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Why More Seniors Are Using Cannabis

Why More Seniors Are Using Cannabis

Paul Armentano, Oaksterdam University faculty member and deputy director of NORML, recently sat down with the L.A. Times Business of Cannabis supplement to discuss cannabis use among seniors. Cannabis use among those 65 and older increased from under 1 percent in 2006 to more than 4 percent today. Older adults frequently report their cannabis use is medical, that it has fewer side effects than their prescription medicine, and their quality of life increased with its use. Seniors report using cannabis to decrease pain, relieve anxiety, and help them sleep.

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2021 Rewind: OU’s Top 10

2021 Rewind: OU’s Top 10

As we prepare to celebrate our 15th anniversary in 2022, we’d like to reflect on the past year. Looking back, 2021 brought exciting changes to Oaksterdam, from launching new classes and helping cities implement social equity programs, to partnering with industry leaders and chatting on Clubhouse. Here’s a look at our Top 10 highlights … 

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Erika Castillo

Oaksterdam was an amazing virtual experience. I loved the fact that i learned a lot about cannabis and how to care for this type of plant. The horticulture lab was great, Everything i learned will help me with any type of plant. I also took some knowledge regarding...

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Mark Piersante

Oaksterdam allowed me to meet several people in the cannabis business that could utilize my skills in permitting, legal, advocacy, and compliance. I have reached out to some of these new contacts to see if there are any career opportunities. I am excited about these...

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Joshua Alb

"Oaksterdam really did open up my career path in a number of ways. I was 18 when I went and apparently you had to be 21 to intern so instead I just volunteered every day. I volunteered so much that I remember Aseem told me I couldn't anymore because it was "unfair to...

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Joshua Alb

Oaksterdam really did open up my career path in a number of ways. I was 18 when I went and apparently you had to be 21 to intern so instead I just volunteered every day. I volunteered so much that I remember Aseem told me I couldn't anymore because it was "unfair to...

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OU Signs Open Letter to UN

OU Signs Open Letter to UN

Oaksterdam University is among 181 non-profit organizations from 56 countries around the world to sign an open letter to the United Nations calling for transparency and accountability in global “Cannabis Guidelines” efforts. Copies of the letter were sent on Dec. 2, 2021, the first anniversary of the UN vote that downgraded international cannabis prohibition. Since then, concerns have arisen that the INCB is working in complete opacity to come up with proposed global “Cannabis Guidelines” that actually contradict the intentions of that historic vote.

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Isaiah Dorsey

Well, Oaksterdam really helped me understand how the cannabis industry is shaping. The way they are actually trying to get real change did inspire me to take the cannabis industry and my love for fashion a lot more seriously. The program did touch my heart when it...

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Well, Oaksterdam really helped me understand how the cannabis industry is shaping. The way they are actually trying to get real change did inspire me to take the cannabis industry and my love for fashion a lot more seriously. The program did touch my heart when it came to finding more people who I could at least relate to. I am scared to go on, but I do not fear moving forward. I just want some friends to enjoy the journey with. Thank you Oaksterdam for giving me that first hand experience without jeopardizing me or another cannabis business who has worked very hard to get where they are now. I just pray for an opportunity really to advocate the professionalism of people who consume cannabis as well as the artists who consume. Isaiah Dorsey

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Friday Field Trips: Lifted Spirit

Friday Field Trips: Lifted Spirit

Students who take Oaksterdam’s Live Semester courses get various networking and event opportunities, including virtual field trips. The tours take students through a variety of facilities in the cannabis industry, led by experts. This month, we’ve partnered with OU Alumni and Horticulture Faculty Oscar Burrola to feature his microbusiness, Lifted Spirit Collective. Read on to learn more about our Virtual Field Trip program and how you can host your own.

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Luiz Diego Burza

Oaksterdam was a life changing experience in my life, I could and maybe will write a book about it. I barely arrived from Brazil to study in the US when I heard about it opening in L.A. so I took the first semester training over there and I not only had a blast but...

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Aunt Sandy’s Dizzy Bird Thanksgiving 

Aunt Sandy’s Dizzy Bird Thanksgiving 

As you plan this year’s Thanksgiving meal, consider sharing some canna-friendly dishes with the adults at your table, courtesy of Aunt Sandy.  “Aunt Sandy” Moriarty is the world’s first published author and teacher of cannabis cooking, and a long-time friend and faculty of Oaksterdam University. Sandy has taught cooking classes at OU dating back to our founding, including a Dizzy Bird Cooking Class each holiday season.

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Rachel Bell

"I started with OU over the summer of 2021 with the Raising Funds for Cannabis Business with Arcview. It is a really important thing I don't think a lot of people necessarily think of when starting a cannabis business. Where and how do you get what's usually regarded...

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Nathan Bell

"OU was a great experience. I attended both the Business and Horticulture semesters. I was not sure really what to expect with it being virtual and working in a group project. I immediately fell in love. It was a lot of information to take in, but faculty they have...

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Plant Talk: The Panic Chop

Plant Talk: The Panic Chop

What is a “panic chop”? In the world of cannabis cultivation, the panic chop occurs when growers harvest their crop hastily, earlier than expected, and with the potential loss of profit. Growers panic chop to save their plants from a potentially worse outcome caused by pests, pathogens, weather events, or other factors. During a recent Oaksterdam University Plant Talk on Clubhouse, OU Executive Director Dale Sky Jones asked participants what had caused them to panic chop. Find out what they said in our latest blog.

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Home Grows in High Times

Home Grows in High Times

Oaksterdam University’s Luke Zimmerman, Esq., is featured in the recent High Times article “Do Cannabis Companies Face Consequences for Opposing Home Grows.” The article discusses how some large companies see home growers as a threat to business, and how home growers are pushing back to maintain their right to cultivate cannabis. Luke weighs in.

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Plant Talk: Hop Latent Viroid

The hop latent viroid is keeping cannabis growers awake at night. They worry that HLVd will not only cut into profits but decimate entire crops and eradicate prized heirloom varietals. What is the hop latent viroid and how do we stop it?

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Chiara Juster on “The Roll-Up”

Chiara Juster on “The Roll-Up”

OU’s Chair of Government Affairs Chiara Juster, Esq. recently appeared on Leafly’s potcast “The Roll-Up.” In Episode 214, “Let’s get Mom out of Jail,” Chiara talks about the heartbreaking case of Maria Kinsey.

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Meet OU’s NEW Horticulture Program

Meet OU’s NEW Horticulture Program

Oaksterdam is excited to announce our brand new Horticulture Program. We have completely overhauled our most popular course to reflect the latest and greatest tools and techniques in cannabis cultivation in line with the growing commercial market. Our January 2022 virtual Live Semester is enrolling now.

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Faculty Feature: Ed Rosenthal

Faculty Feature: Ed Rosenthal

Author, activist, and master grower Ed Rosenthal has just released his newest guide, the Cannabis Grower’s Handbook. Ed has long been an Oaksterdam ally, faculty member, and supporter. In honor of his book release, OU caught up with him for a chat about his background, his book, and his history with OU.

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Q&A with Chris Walsh of MJBizCon

Oaksterdam University has a long relationship with MJBizCon, one of the largest cannabis conferences in the country. As the OU Team gears up to attend the 10th-anniversary event, Oct. 19-22 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, we caught up with Chris Walsh, President and CEO of MJBiz Daily, to talk about the return of trade shows to Las Vegas, the importance of education in the cannabis space, and why people are sometimes surprised by MJBizCon.

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Dale Sky Jones on Minority Report Podcast

Dale Sky Jones on Minority Report Podcast

OU Executive Chancellor Dale Sky Jones recently joined Khadijah Adams on the NCIS Minority Report podcast. The podcast features cannabis industry operators, advocates, and allies discussing issues related to social equity and people of color in the cannabis industry.

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Comment on COVID & Cannabis

Comment on COVID & Cannabis

Sensational headlines are proclaiming that cannabis use elevates the risk of COVID breakthrough cases. Is that true? Oaksterdam University Faculty Member Paul Armentano, Executive Director of NORML, says the findings need to be examined closely. 

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Plant Talk 9/3/21

Oaksterdam University is on Clubhouse every Thursday at 2:20 p.m. PT to discuss Mentorship for Equity Cannabis Business Success. Here is a transcript of the room on Sept. 3, 2021, attended by Jeff Jones @plantalchemist, Dale Sky Jones, Eric Brandstad, Sara Frank,...

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OU Announces Ed Rosenthal Scholarship

OU Announces Ed Rosenthal Scholarship

Oaksterdam University and legendary Grow Master Ed Rosenthal have joined forces to establish the Ed Rosenthal Scholarship Fund. The fund will assist veterans with tuition scholarships at OU, preparing them for careers in the growing cannabis industry.

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OU & Leafly Launch Budtender Day

OU & Leafly Launch Budtender Day

Oaksterdam University, America’s premier cannabis college, has partnered with Leafly, the world’s most trusted destination to discover and order cannabis products, to launch International Budtender Day on October 20. The annual holiday is designed to honor budtenders around the world who go over and above in this emerging profession.  

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Seed to CEO Podcast: Dale Sky Jones

Seed to CEO Podcast: Dale Sky Jones

Since its founding, Oaksterdam has faced federal raids, a fire at its main campus and a global pandemic. Dale Sky Jones, executive chancellor, president and CEO of Oaksterdam, calls such tough times “fertilizer for innovation.” Hear the Oaksterdam story straight from Dale In this episode of Seed to CEO podcast.

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Cannabis at 40% THC is a Myth

Cannabis at 40% THC is a Myth

Cannabis flower is showing up with higher and higher levels of THC. As more states legalize cannabis and growers compete to maximize potency, cultivars with 30 percent THC or more are becoming more common. Topping them all, strains of cannabis have recently cropped up in the news hitting 45 percent THC. Is that even possible?

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Support for Ryan’s Law SB-311

Ryan’s Law is an essential first step for terminally ill patients, who, by right, should be provided relief, compassion, and dignity. Cannabis medicine has been recognized as a necessity for a quarter of a century in California. We must demonstrate courage for dying patients with respect and human dignity intact, instead of forcing sleep-inducing opioids like fentanyl.

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Faculty Feature: Stefanie Gangano, Ph.D.

Faculty Feature: Stefanie Gangano, Ph.D.

Dr. Stefanie Gangano is Co-Chair of OU’s Commercial Extraction and Manufacturing Department. Her deep knowledge of chemistry helps her bring a nuanced perspective to the program. Here, she talks about her career, how she entered the cannabis industry, and how she came to Oaksterdam. 

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Mentorship 9/9/21

Oaksterdam University is on Clubhouse every Thursday at 2:20 p.m. PT to discuss Mentorship for Equity Cannabis Business Success. Here is a transcript of the room on Sept. 9, 2021, attended by Dale Sky Jones, Mama Clark, Adolph Ward, James Silva, Shaun Salvaje, Requita...

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Faculty Feature: Anthony DeMeo

Faculty Feature: Anthony DeMeo

As a “master alchemist” and co-chair of Extraction and Manufacturing at Oaksterdam University, Anthony DeMeo isolates prized components of cannabis in the lab and teaches others his time-tested techniques. Here, Anthony talks with OU about his background in cannabis and his vision for its future.

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Spring 2021 Capstone Winners

Oaksterdam’s Live Semester Horticulture and Business of Cannabis programs offer the chance to develop a real-world business plan under the guidance of OU’s expert faculty. Here are our 2021 winners.

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OU Digital Art NFT Drop Goes Live on OpenSea

Digital Art Contest Winners Announced

The results are in and five artists have been declared winners of Oaksterdam University’s first-ever digital art contest for an NFT drop. The contest commemorates the 50-year anniversary of Nixon’s declaration of the War on Drugs by asking artists to create a virtual art piece that shows their passion to deschedule cannabis.

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Horticulture Semester: New & Improved!

We’ve completely revamped our Horticulture curriculum with a focus on optimal growing conditions, nutrient delivery, integrated pest management, and the latest in lighting options. You won’t find a commercial cannabis class like this anywhere but Oaksterdam University!

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Budtending Certification Program: New & Improved!

Budtending Certification Program: New & Improved!

1.5 min. read. Budtending is a fast growing field within American legalized cannabis markets. Rise above the competition and get your foot in the door with a Budtending Certificate from Oaksterdam University. New course updates rolled out this summer make the class even more relevant to budding dispensary employees.

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Commercial Extraction and Manufacturing: New!

1.5 minute read: Legalized cannabis markets are maturing and demand is on the rise for a wide array of cannabis products. Customers are hungry for edibles, tinctures, topicals, dabs, sauce, and more. Our Commercial Manufacturing and Extractions course will show you how to make these products, and a profit.

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IRS 280E: Cannabis Taxes and Case Law

New Updates to Live and Self-Paced Courses 

3.8 minute read: Oaksterdam University is America’s first cannabis college and always staying on the cutting edge to remain the best. We are proud to announce exciting updates to our live classroom and self-paced courses, making them even more relevant to prepare students for careers in this exploding industry.

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The Raid

Listen to OU Chancellor Dale Sky Jones recount the raid in her own words, describing the day as a perfect juxtaposition of federal prohibition’s failure to meet the needs of communities.

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How to Become a Certified Budtender Online

How to Become a Certified Budtender Online

Want to Become a Certified Budtender? Oaksterdam University Makes It Easy. Looking to start a career in cannabis retail? Ready to stand out, sharpen your skills, and get hired faster as a certified budtender? Oaksterdam University's Self-Paced Budtending & Retail...

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Stefanie Gangano, PhD, Co-Chair of Extractions & Manufacturing

Stefanie Gangano, PhD, Co-Chair of Extractions & Manufacturing

Dr. Stephanie Gangano holds a doctorate in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Florida. She serves as Co-Chair of OU’s Extractions & Manufacturing department, and has been working professionally for more than 25 years in both the laboratory and manufacturing sectors of the cannabis industry.

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Cannabis-Infused Wonton Soup for Chinese New Year

The Chinese New Year, also known at the Lunar New Year, is this Saturday, January 25, marking the beginning of the Year of the Metal Rat, signifying wealth and financial new beginnings. This is the most important holiday in Chinese cultures, which is a time of celebrations and family reunions, fireworks, and the gifting of wealth in red envelopes as good luck. 

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Turning Over A New Leaf 

This week is your last chance to give yourself a jumpstart on the cannabis career you’ve always wanted. Enroll in the Classic Cannabis Business comprehensive 4-day seminar, taking place for the final time on the Oakland campus, January 11-14. Oaksterdam is retiring the current program, so do not regret missing this opportunity to develop a competitive edge in an emerging industry. 

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Aunty Sandy’s Cannabis Creme Brulee Recipe

Try this delicious cannabis-infused holiday recipe, just in time for Christmas dinner. Last month, cooking instructor and author Aunt Sandy set up her kitchen on the Oaksterdam campus for what has become an honored OU holiday tradition. On Saturday, November 23,...

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Oaksterdam Returns to Emerald Cup

Oaksterdam University is returning to Emerald Cup 2019!  Among other Oaksterdam faculty and alumni in attendance, Chancellor Dale Sky Jones is moderating the State Agency panel on Saturday, December 14, at high noon in Garrett Hall. The important discussion around...

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Ontario Considers Opening Cannabis Retail Licensing

Lawmakers and regulators in Ontario are reportedly considering a proposal that would increase the number of retail stores in Ontario from 24 to as many as 1,000 locations. This move follows a lag in adult-use cannabis sales, which has led to calls for an overhaul of the province’s regulated cannabis industry.

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Missouri Bootcamp

Missouri - Cannabis Business Licensing Bootcamp (CBLB) The Missouri Opportunity On November 6, 2018, Missouri voters passed Amendment 2, authorizing the launch of a new medical marijuana program in the state. Under the amendment, the Department of Health and Senior...

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Chancellor’s Chat April 2018

April 2, 2012, the federal raid on Oaksterdam changed my life forever. It was both the worst and ultimately, the best day of my life as I took responsibility for the school, the museum, the gift shop and ultimately Richard Lee’s legacy. I am conflicted as I reminisce...

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Patient ID Center – Employee Badges

Happy New Year!!! With the New Year 2018 arriving so do new State regulations around cannabis businesses. We are here to help your agency by making sure you are compliant with the regulation around Employee Badges. This new State regulation is mentioned in section...

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Sarah Miles Dolk

I encourage anyone with an interest in Cannabis to attend Oaksterdam for a thorough education. Go with and open heart and mind. I was sure I was going to be an old lady in a class full of youngsters, but I was fretting for nothing. The attendees were old, young and in...

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Grant Butherus

It truly is great to be a part of history in the making. I highly suggest anyone interested in the cannabis industry should get the quality education and networking opportunities Oaksterdam has to offer. I would like to thank Oaksterdam for giving the education and...

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Barbara Blaser

Think about where you want to be in the next six months. What do you want to do? If working in the medical marijuana field is something you are interested in then this is the place to be! You can learn everything from proper soil mixtures to grown the best plants to...

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Aaron P

If you want to become a part of the MMJ industry in any way, this is the place to start. No other cannabis school will give you this much experience or give this many opportunities to connect with likeminded people, patients and professionals. The connections you will...

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Nicole Vallante

Currently I’m kitchen manager for a premium edibles company, as well as a bud tender at a collective in San Francisco. In my independent work I’m co-creating a product line of healing consumables for those interested in a more customizable experience. I aspire to...

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Derek Stephanof

Attending O.U. and being offered a job here has easily been one of the most enjoyable and most memorable experiences of my life. I’ve met some of my best friends here and I’ve gained even more across the globe through my relationships here. We’re a family here at...

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Derek Stephanof

Attending O.U. and being offered a job here has easily been one of the most enjoyable and most memorable experiences of my life. I’ve met some of my best friends here and I’ve gained even more across the globe through my relationships here. We’re a family here at...

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Druce Fu, M.D.

The content of the seminars are worth it alone. Being an industry person now, Oaksterdam’s reputation means something. Whether you attend the course for personal reasons or have bigger aspirations, being an Oaksterdam means something. We have 4 medical marijuana...

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Chancellor’s Chat: June 2016

I recently had the privilege of participating in a debate at the Spring 2016 Marijuana Business Conference & Expo in Orlando, Florida. My worthy opponent Wanda James, the CEO of Simply Pure Colorado, and I both had to be prepared to tackle either side of the...

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Main-lining

“Main-lining” is the process of training your cannabis plant (utilizing Topping, LST, and Lollipopping) to form a manifold of branches where each branch has a direct line to the main stem.  It is a great technique to control the growth of both indoor and outdoor...

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Proper Use of Foliar Sprays

While not a substitute for healthy soil, foliar sprays are an effective way to supplement the nutritional needs of your cannabis plants. To properly use and fully benefit from your foliar sprays, keep these notes in mind: Foliar feeding should be done in the early...

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Combining N-P-K Ratios

If you are an indoor cultivator you may be wondering how to properly add multiple N-P-K ratios together to calculate the overall ratio of your feedings. When mixing multiple nutrients with varying N-P-K ratios, you must combine their values to calculate the new ratio. By doing so, you’ll be able to match your feeding’s ratio with your preferred ratio for each stage of plant growth.

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Microbes & Molasses

Micro-organisms (Microbes) are microscopic, unicellular organisms that are necessary in nature. Microbes are the oldest form of life on earth, with fossils dating back to more than 3.5 billion years ago. There are millions of microbial species, which are divided into six major types: Bacteria, Archaea, Protozoa, Fungi, Viruses, and Microbial Mergers.

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Lasagna. Food for the soul.

  Lasagna. Food for the soul. What fuels a revolution is the anonymous extraordinaries, the hundreds and thousands of people you have never heard of. These individuals work hard to make things happen...often one interaction at a time. It is these...

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Summer Pepitone

As a soon to be Oaksterdam Alumni, I would tell prospective students who are interested in making a career out of the cannabis industry to hop on board with Oaksterdam now! If you want to get your foot in the cannabis community door there is no better place to start!...

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Michael Garganese Jr.

There is a wealth of information to be known about cannabis, and generally speaking, the information is hard to find or inaccessible without the right tools. What Oaksterdam can do for you is set the foundation for you with what you need to know about cannabis and...

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Ray Murphy

I would highly recommend anybody interested in starting a business in cannabis — even an ancillary business — attend Oaksterdam. The industry is limitless and, even if you have an idea of the road you want to go down, the classes may open your eyes to a new path you...

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Anthony Bey

Anyone interested in attending Oaksterdam University should know that if you want to know all about cannabis AND grow it correctly, GO TO OU! All the instructors are incredibly experienced experts in their fields. Where else can you talk to someone with 30 years in...

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