Pot growing class at Niagara College

As the first post secondary program of its kind in the country, Niagara College’s pot growing program made headlines when it was announced in September. Now as the legalization of recreational marijuana looms, the college is ramping up to prepare for incoming students this fall.

While the exact date for recreational marijuana to be legalized is yet to be announced, Niagara College’s commercial cannabis production program will be going ahead regardless. Over 200-applicants are hoping to put their green thumb to use this September, in a post-graduate program prepared to accept only 24.

“Police checks will be a procedural component of entry into the program, and that aspect does limit to domestic students, for now.” Alan Unwin.

However, as the regulations around cannabis change, the college says the program may open up to international students down the road.

As for the plants the students will grow, they’ll be secured inside of retrofitted shipping containers and are set to arrive at the college mid-to-late March.

Since the announcement of the program, the college says they’ve also seen an increase in the number of applicants in the horticulture and greenhouse technician programs..

“People are understanding if they come and take a two year program as a greenhouse technician, that’s a really good pathway into cannabis as a third year.”

Because of the amount of interest from not only potential students but the public, the college is hosting a discussion on the cannabis industry. The panel discussion is open to all and will happen this Thursday at 5 p-m at the Niagara-on-the-Lake campus.