United States: The first scholarship to study the chemistry of cannabis

$1,200 per year to study the chemical components of cannabis. This scholarship, launched by the University of Lake Superior in Michigan, aims to train high-quality chemists and then place them in companies that produce medical cannabis. In fact, this scholarship is funded by Steadfast Labs, a company «whose mission is to provide access to high-quality medical cannabis.».

In this state of the midwest, bordered by the Great Lakes, the Recreational cannabis has been legal for a few months. Its therapeutic use has been legal since 2008. For the past thirteen years, its use has thus become standard practice in medicine and science. It’s no surprise that it’s being studied closely at the university. In fact, in 2019, this university became the first in the United States to offer a degree program dedicated to the chemistry of cannabis.

In this lab, students will study the chemistry of cannabis. Lake Superior State University

«This scholarship continues our pioneering spirit in this vital new sector, but it also makes our tuition even more affordable.", says Steven Johnson, the university’s dean, in a press release. »By funding this program, Steadfast Labs is supporting future chemists who will enter the workforce and provide the public with safe cannabis-based products."

Chemists do not fully understand cannabis

This $1,200 is intended for students sophomores, that is, in their second year of college. Applicants must demonstrate a GPA a minimum of 3, which is roughly equivalent to a 12 out of 20 in France. According to the president of this university, the goal is to make his institution « »a leader in academic research on cannabis.".

Cannabis is a complex chemical substance… and chemists do not yet understand all its nuances. The plant contains hundreds of cannabinoids – CBD, THC, CBN, CBG… – but also terpenes, and flavonoids. Each of these chemical compounds has a very specific effect, especially in the field of medicine. For example, CBG is useful for treating inflammation of the colon. The cannaflavin A, on the other hand, is an anti-inflammatory. And certain compounds, such as Delta-8-THC, require genuine expertise in chemistry to be isolated.

The United States is a pioneer in the legalization of medical cannabis. California was the first state to legalize it, as early as 1996. Today, while France is launching a trial involving 3,000 patients, 36 (out of 50) U.S. states allow medical cannabis.