The University of Illinois Springfield,
Continuing and Professional Education (CAPE) presents
The Business of Cannabis Certificate
Your future in the cannabis industry starts here.
For anyone considering a career in cannabis or hemp, specialist knowledge is the key to unlocking the industry’s most exciting opportunities. The cannabis landscape is complex, ever changing and unique. This certificate will provide you with a clear understanding of the cannabis industry, how it got there, and where it’s going.
Studying the Business of Cannabis, you’ll develop critical business skills like risk analysis, scaling operations and regulatory compliance. View cannabis — and your future in the industry—with a well-informed and entrepreneurial mindset.
Online study makes this non-credit course ideal for working professionals or anyone looking to access the most experienced educators and professionally designed cannabis coursework available anywhere. Work on each week’s instructor-led assignments at a time that suits you, as you build your expertise and earn a credible credential from a recognized university.
3 Courses
100% Online
Full Payment Option
Installment Option
*following initial $750 payment
Save My Seat
$300
The Business of Cannabis Courses
Cannabis 101 : History and Practice Across Industries
An in-depth introduction to cannabis, across history, culture and industry. Topics range from botany to business practices, including Cannabis Law & Policy, FDA regulation, and the many challenges that successful cannabis businesses face.
- History of Cannabis
- Phytocannabinoids and the Endocannabinoid System
- Agriculture and Cultivation
- Enterprise Law and Policy
- Cannabis Medicine and Healthcare
- Careers in the Cannabis Industry
The Business of Cannabis I : Seed to Sale
Gain a broad understanding of how businesses innovate and adapt to industry trends. Includes fundamentals of cultivation, processing and extraction, manufacturing, lab setup and protocols, distribution, retail and delivery, and licensing, with an emphasis on business ethics.
- The Business of Cannabis Cultivation
- Processing and Manufacturing
- Lab Testing and Analytics
- Cannabis Distribution
- The Cannabis Retail Guide
- Cannabis Real Estate
- Obtaining Licensing in the Cannabis Industry
The Business of Cannabis II: Scaling Operations
Dive more deeply into sector-specific challenges in areas like real estate, regulatory compliance, marketing, sales, accounting and finance, human resources, and innovation and investment. Students complete a business portfolio that includes project management materials, risk analysis, accounting and operations reports, and a case study analysis.
- Industrial Hemp
- Regulatory Compliance
- Marketing in the Cannabis Industry
- Sales in the Cannabis Industry
- Accounting and Finance
- Human Resources
- Investment in the Cannabis Industry
Expert Cannabis Educators
Expert Cannabis Educators
The Business of Cannabis features expert instruction and interaction from top executives and entrepreneurs, board-certified doctors and lawyers, advanced professionals in engineering and agriculture, and policy makers.
The Highest Standards for Online Learning
Al Foreman
Partner & CIO of Tuatara Capital
An expert in private equity and corporate finance leveraging 20 years of leadership experience from Tuatara Capital, Highbridge, J.P Morgan, and CitiBank.
Avis Bulbulyan
CEO of SIVA Enterprises
Former President of the Los Angeles Cannabis Task Force and leading authority in the industry with deep insight into the nuances, regulations, and trends of the cannabis business.
Simone Cimiluca-Radzins, CPA
CEO of Kalogia
A global cannabis business expert leveraging her experience in financial and business management from PwC, Nike, and Fox Entertainment.
Cannabis Creates New Careers and Skill Demands
In 2022, Illinois recorded 1.5 Billion in adult-use sales.
Source: Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
As of February 2023, Illinois reported 29,925 cannabis jobs.
Source: Vangst 2023 Jobs Report
In 2022, there were over 417,000 full-time employees in the cannabis industry in the United States.
Source: Vangst Jobs Report 2023
For five years in a row the cannabis industry grew by more than 27%, making it one of the fastest growing industries in the country.
Source: Leafly Jobs Report 2022

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