University of Denver opens cannabusiness journalism course

Students from the prestigious University of Denver can already study the marijuana laws. In August, they were able to study cannabic journalism. And smoking is not a prerequisite.

«They've approved this course, which intrigues me a bit,» says Andrew Mantranga, who taught the course of « Cannabis Journalism coverage and publication of this new American standard».

The intensive 5-day course led students to «investigate the scope of the marijuana legalization movement and its many political and practical subtleties», as the course description states. They were also able to study source data and multimedia elements designed to push and promote interesting stories on a national level.

«Students were able to visit and interview dispensaries, industry professionals and citizens to produce a collection of journalistic texts using the method of their choice, and under the guidance of their teacher.»

The course was designed to resemble as closely as possible a typical journalist's week, even though they were weed journalists for the occasion.

«You can earn 4 credits in a week,» Matranga, who is also a consulting professor for the university newspaper, had told them, The Clarion. «I previously ran a video editing course, with the Colorado Ski Hall of Fame, and the students were able to learn Première and Storify. It was really cool.»

Matranga hopes his weed journalism course will open up his students« horizons. »It might force some students out of their comfort zone, but that's also why journalism is great." You don't say!

Other universities, such as Vancouver's or from Bogota, Colombia give cannabis cultivation courses.