Here, we will go over 7 organizations that promote cannabis education.
If you are interested in educating yourself on the herbal, legal, patient advocacy, or dispensary elements of cannabis, you are not alone. This cannabis industry is growing fast, and over the years, hundreds of trusted organizations have formed with a mission to provide patients with access to cannabis and legal representation.
Of the numerous organizations available, there are seven that stand out as the most resourceful, and we list them below, so keep reading to find out.
1) The Marijuana Policy Project
The marijuana Policy Project was founded in 1995 in Washington DC by members of the
National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws or NORML. These members decided to form MPP to provide a more proactive approach to marijuana legalization.
Currently, the MPP employs around twenty dedicated individuals that are passionate about educating the public and overturning current cannabis bans.
This organization has been responsible for changing most of the state cannabis laws that have been reformed since 2000.
2) National Cannabis Industry Association
NCIA was founded in 2010 to be the voice of main street cannabis.
NCIA’s mission is “To promote the growth of a responsible, sustainable, and inclusive cannabis industry and work for a favorable social, economic, and regulatory environment for that industry throughout the United States.”
This organization has spent over a decade completing its mission by offering its members exclusive education resources and being advocates for industry businesses of all sizes.
3) Parents-4-Pot
This organization serves as the dedicated voice for all families that support the use and legalization of medical marijuana.
The two main issues that Parents-4-Pot works on are educating others on the benefits of marijuana for all ages and helping individuals imprisoned for marijuana have their sentence overturned or shortened.
Parents-4-Pot is unique because they are one of the only organizations to spread awareness of the importance of having cannabis available as an option for ill children.
4) American Civil Liberties Union of Washington State
The ACLU is self-proclaimed as “the nation’s premier civil rights and civil liberties organization and the unwavering voice of freedom, fairness, and equality for all people in America.”
This organization works in the courts, the legislatures, and our communities to support the basic human rights of Americans with the help of over one million members. One of the ACLU of Washington’s priorities is educating the population on their rights related to medical marijuana and stopping the prohibition of the plant.
The ACLU has been fighting marijuana prohibition since 1968 and has made tremendous headway in the legalization over the last 50 years.
5) Oaksterdam University
Oaksterdam University, located in Oakland, California, was founded in 2007, making it the first cannabis college ever created.
Medical marijuana activist Richard Lee started Oaksterdam University to “Legitimize the business and work to change the law to make cannabis legal.”
The courses and certifications offered are:
Business of Cannabis
Cannabis Horticulture
Budtending
Commercial Extraction and Manufacturing Certification.
Classes are self-paced and currently held online due to the 2019 coronavirus pandemic.
Many individuals aspiring to work in the cannabis field start their industry careers with Oaksterdam.
6) Americans for Safe Access
The ASA works with the 50,000-member grassroots base using education to fulfill its mission of ensuring that Americans have safe and legal access to cannabis.
This organization focuses its time and energy on the training and education of patients, stakeholders, health professionals, and advocates. Additionally, the ASA provides legal support and impact litigation to expand the rights of cannabis-eligible patients.
Some of the ASA’s impressive accomplishments include:
Training thousands of public defenders on how to defend cannabis patients and their providers.
Being an instrumental participant in cannabis legalization across the country.
Publishing millions of educational materials such as legal manuals, newsletters, and blogs.
Working with regulators in dozens of states to pass product safety protocols under AHPA guidelines.
On the ASA website, you will find various education resources covering anything from cannabis recipes to medical uses.
7) The American Herbal Products Association
In 1982, leading companies in the herbal products marketplace came together to create the AHPA with a mission to “support responsible commerce of herbs and herbal products.”
In 2010, the cannabis committee was chartered to support the safe use and purchase of cannabis. The committee’s goal is to develop regulatory models for cultivation, manufacturing, dispensing, and lab testing. The models created are now the basis for the ASA’s patient certification program.
In addition, the AHPA educates the country on cannabis and other herbal products by holding various events and workshops.
