A college in Connecticut is teaching students how to grow cannabis in what is fast becoming one of the school's most popular classes around, NPR reported.
About 300 students have already signed up for the class at the University of Connecticut (UConn). They are hoping to learn exactly how to cultivate the cannabis plant.
Lecture halls are the last place you would expect to find the topic of marijuana but, while cannabis is commonly known for its hallucinogenic properties, the plant has many other uses. This is what UConn's classes focus on.
Many people confuse marijuana with hemp, which are both derived from the cannabis plant. The difference is that marijuana contains larger concentrations of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which produces the notorious high felt when smoked or ingested.
Hemp on the other hand, contains a very low concentration of THC and is grown primarily for industrial purposes and is used to produce resources such as paper, clothing, oils, food products and even building material, Medium reported.
Students at UConn are learning how to grow and produce their own hemp in classes covering everything from seed selection to lighting, irrigation, and plant nutrients, NPR noted. The course comes as markets for both hemp and marijuana grow dramatically as more states considering legalizing medicinal and recreational pot. Senior communication major Michael Milius said equipping students with the essential skills to grow their own cannabis could prove to be beneficial in the future.
"I see on the news a lot that cannabis and marijuana are becoming more prevalent, becoming legal across the country," remarked senior communication major Michael Milius, per NPR. "I figured if this does turn out to be something that, like, a market pops up, maybe it would be good for me to know how to grow."
Madison Blake, a junior majoring in horticulture, said she was curious about the course and what it's long term benefits could be.
"I don't know if that's 100 percent what I want to do with my whole life, but I'm definitely interested in the plant and where it can go from here," she said.
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