VANCOUVER -- Dazed and confused about growing and selling medical marijuana?

Metro Vancouver’s Kwantlen Polytechnic University has just what you’re jonesing for — a 14-week course for prospective pot pedlars called Introduction to Professional Management of Marijuana for Medical Purposes in Canada.

The online course starts this fall and is divided into two parts, one called Plant Production and Facility Management, and the other Marketing, Sales and Drug Development, according to the university website.

“Medical marijuana is in the news every day, and it’s an industry that is just starting to grow, and is growing very rapidly,” said Jim Pelton, executive director of continuing and professional studies at Kwantlen.

The course is not cheap — $1,249 for each part — but the university already has a few dozen takers, including international applicants.

The classes may not be for everyone. They are built around Canada’s new regulatory scheme for medical marijuana and a good deal of the coursework deals with understanding municipal bylaws and the country’s legal parameters.

But students start from the ground up, beginning with identifying the difference between healthy and unhealthy plant roots. From there, students will be taught about hydroponic and irrigation systems, pest management and crop cycles. By the end of the first course, students will be primed on growing, harvesting, drying and storing bud.

They’ll also get the rundown on how to avoid running afoul of local bylaws, regulations and legal constraints.

The courses are instructed by Tegan Adams, a business development manager at Experchem Laboratories Inc. The company tests products for the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries and also provides advice and help for companies looking to enter the medical marijuana industry.

Horticulturalists, lawyers and marketing specialists help round out the teachings.

The second course is slated to spark up in late October. At this point, students are taught how to market their hypothetical harvest and will learn what medical conditions are treated with marijuana.

“KPU is certainly blazing a trail in terms of helping people navigate the business and professional landscape,” Pelton said in a written statement.

Adams could not be reached for this story.

mrobinson@vancouversun.com

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