School Of Pot Offers "Higher" Education

[Mogie]

(AP) You know you're in a different kind of college when a teaching assistant sets five marijuana plants down in the middle of a lab and no one blinks a bloodshot eye.

Welcome to Oaksterdam University, a new trade school where higher education takes on a whole new meaning.

The school prepares people for jobs in California's thriving medical marijuana industry. For $200 and the cost of two required textbooks, students learn how to cultivate and cook with cannabis, study which strains of pot are best for certain ailments, and are instructed in the legalities of a business that is against the law in the eyes of the federal government.

"My basic idea is to try to professionalize the industry and have it taken seriously as a real industry, just like beer and distilling hard alcohol," said Richard Lee, 45, an activist and pot-dispensary owner who founded the school in a downtown storefront last fall.

So far, 60 students have completed the two-day weekend course, which is sold out through May. At the end of the class, students are given a take-home test, with the highest scorer - make that "top scorer" - earning the title of class valedictorian.

Before getting to Horticulture 101, the hands-on highlight of Oaksterdam U, the 20 budding botanists, entrepreneurs and political activists at a recent weekend session sat politely through two law lectures and a visiting professor's history talk.

In the lab, Lee measured plant food into a plastic garbage can and explained how, with common sense, upgraded electrical outlets, a fan and an air filter, students can grow pot at home for fun, health, public service - or profit.

Lee explained to his students how to prune and harvest plants, handing the clipping shears to a woman who wasn't sure how close to the stalk to cut without damaging it. He offered his thoughts on which commercial nutrient preparations are best, as well as the advantages of hydroponics, or soil-free gardening.

During a discussion of neighbor relations, he warned against setting boobytraps to keep curious kids out of outdoor gardens.

Students gave various reasons for enrolling. Some said they were simply curious. Others said they wanted tips for growing their own weed, although judging from the questions, a few were ready for the graduate seminar Lee recently added to the curriculum.

Jeff Sanders, 52, said he has been buying medical marijuana since 2003, but wants to open a dispensary in the San Joaquin Valley because he doesn't like having to drive up to San Francisco and paying the markup.

"I see it as a good thing. You are giving back to the community," Sanders said.

Patrick O'Shaughnessy, 37, said he started smoking pot regularly for the first time about a year ago to treat his chronic migraines, depression and anxiety. After attending class, he said felt more confident about growing his own, which he wants to do because the dispensary he frequents often sells out of his favorite strain.

Oaksterdam U draws its name from the jokey nickname for a section of Oakland where some of California's earliest medical marijuana dispensaries took root. The nickname in turn was inspired by the city of Amsterdam, in Holland, where pot use is tolerated.

At one point, the Oaksterdam neighborhood had at least 15 clubs and coffee shops selling pot, a number that dwindled to four when the city started issuing permits and collecting taxes from them a few years ago.

California was the first of a dozen states that have legalized marijuana use for patients with a doctor's recommendation. Despite periodic raids by federal drug agents and the threat of prosecution, clubs and cooperatives where customers can buy the drug of their choice have proliferated; California has 300 to 400, according to advocacy groups.

Entry-level workers are paid a little more than minimum wage, while "bud tenders," can make over $50,000 a year, and owners and top managers more than $100,000, Lee said. But there's also a certain amount of risk - and not just financial, but legal.

Michael Chapman, an assistant agent in charge with the Drug Enforcement Agency's San Francisco office, said authorities are aware of Oaksterdam U and don't see any reason to shut it down. Talking about marijuana is not illegal, and while a small amount of pot is kept on the premises, the DEA tries "to concentrate our case work on the most significant violators," he said.

Still, Chapman said he doesn't like Lee's effort to wrap cannabis education in a cap and gown.

"I think they are sending the wrong message out to the community and it's something that could only facilitate criminal behavior," he said.


School Of Pot Offers "Higher" Education, Oakland Trade School Prepares People For Jobs In California's Medical Marijuana Industry - CBS News

[ice#1]

100,000 a year for being legal to a point. no wander why they pay double per pound what it can be bought at in other states and turn around and mark it up evan more. that just sickens me the greedy fuckers. it makes me wander about those new vending machines for pot there or getting ready to start. how much thats going to cost 20 bucks for what use to cost 5.

don't get me wrong i think it's great that cali has this shit going on but why they got to be so gready about it

[Mogie]

Greed is always a problem. I figured my cost when doing an outdoors grow it's about $20 an ounce but do you see any compassion centers selling for anything under $100 an ounce?

[ice#1]

no its more like 400 to 800 an once they sell for. hard to beleave they call themselfs compassion centers

[ice#1]

wander what would happen if a bunch of growers got togather and went around selling it to there clients for less then those places buy theres for

[Mogie]

They would probably call the cops on us...lol

[ice#1]

now that truely would be fucked up a compassion center calling the cops on someone for selling pot

[the.fatman.cometh]

...........................

[tokecrazy]

I had a funny thought,wouldnt it be funny if they would have Bud Wars.Like they did back in the gasoline price war.Back then I got gas at $0.25 a gallon.
Bud prices in LA is at a all time low,SanFrancisco cutting there BigBud price even lower.My Buds bigger than your bud.Like that new tv show My dad's better than your Dad.The DEA needs to go and bust hard drug dealers and supplyers if they can find them.I don t think they can,just poeple that are register med patients they know where they are.Way to Hard to find hard drugs and the drug labs. My Bud's bigger then your bud my bud's bigger ----
PEACE

[green_nobody]

oh just legalize it, the propaganda is as good as from Goebles himself - no one really buys it or cares, the war has failed - no soon victory in any sight as their is not even progress to see. END THIS FREAKING WAR - VOTE FOR RON PAUL!!! and get everyone you know to vote for Dr. Paul!

[green_nobody]

besides, mogie - that sounds like an interesting class, but could be still learn so much more from them - i fear this could be as basic as our FAQs are.... and those you can read for free!