Auckland University of Technology has partnered with Zeacann to introduce and deliver one of the world's first post-graduate courses in medicinal cannabis science.
Zeacann will help develop and present curriculum for the Masters-level paper, utilising our in-house expertise and our network of industry partners.
The course will further cement Zeacann's research partnership with AUT, and help train the next generation of highly skilled cannabis researchers, breeders, technicians, developers and horticulturalists.
Students will participate in our research and may have the opportunity to lead their own research projects.
The course begins in semester 2, starting 20 July 2020.
What the Science of Medicinal Cannabis course includes:
• Introduction to medicinal cannabis: History and legislation
• Current New Zealand legislative framework for the cultivation and use of medicinal cannabis
• The New Zealand medicinal cannabis scheme
• Botanical aspects of cannabis, including breeding and cultivation of cannabis cultivars
• Pre-formulation processing of herbal cannabis
• Cannabinoid pharmacology, cannabinoid receptors and the endocannabinoid system
• The chemistry of cannabinoids
• Medicinal uses of cannabis
• Extraction of cannabinoids
• Analysis of cannabinoids
• Cannabinoid delivery systems and dosing
JOINT AUT-ZEACANN MEDIA RELEASE:
18 May, 2020
AUT is the first university in New Zealand to offer a comprehensive postgraduate paper on medicinal cannabis. The Science of Medicinal Cannabis will be offered from semester 2 (starting July 20) by AUT’s School of Science.
Dr Ali Seyfoddin, course leader and senior lecturer in drug delivery, describes the paper as Cannabis 101 for those interested in the medicinal cannabis industry.
Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences Dean, Professor Max Abbott, says with New Zealand’s medicinal cannabis scheme coming online, it’s essential for research and education providers to develop courses to train students wishing to enter the industry.
Professor Abbott, a long-time advocate for cannabis law reform, says, “Education is an important component of the medicinal cannabis scheme and by introducing this new postgraduate paper, AUT will be leading this field in New Zealand. We have ongoing research on medicinal cannabis cultivation, extraction and formulation which will inform much of the course’s content.”
Students will be introduced to New Zealand’s medicinal cannabis scheme framework and gain a general overview of the chemistry and pharmacology of cannabis. This includes how to cultivate medical grade cannabis, how to extract and analyse cannabinoids and how formulate medicinal cannabis products.
Dr Seyfoddin says, “This is a useful paper for any postgraduate student or healthcare professional interested in expanding their knowledge on medicinal cannabis. There will be theory and practical components although, with the ongoing COVID-19 situation it may be run it as an online course.”
Industry demand
Chris Fowlie, CEO of AUT’s research partner ZeaCann, says the medicinal cannabis industry needs qualified staff with relevant expertise.
“This course will teach the skills needed to work in the field. Hundreds of new jobs are expected to be created, with the potential for medicinal cannabis exports to rival those of wine or wool.
“We're excited to help AUT deliver this course as part of our ongoing research partnership. Zeacann will leverage our extensive network of industry partners to provide practical content and access to global experts and key industry players.”
ZeaCann's research and production partners include manufacturers, growers, processors, botanists, pharmacies, laboratory and extraction equipment suppliers, and a network of contract growers spanning all cultivation styles.
Subject areas covered by the course include but are not exclusive to:
Introduction to medicinal cannabis: History and legislation
Current New Zealand legislative framework for the cultivation and use of medicinal cannabis
The New Zealand medicinal cannabis scheme
Botanical aspects of cannabis, including breeding and cultivation of cannabis cultivars
Pre-formulation processing of herbal cannabis
Cannabinoid pharmacology, cannabinoid receptors and the endocannabinoid system
The chemistry of cannabinoids
Medicinal uses of cannabis
Extraction of cannabinoids
Analysis of cannabinoids
Cannabinoid delivery systems and dosing
For more information please contact Dr Ali Seyfoddin or Zeacann's Chris Fowlie.
MEDIA COVERAGE:
Stuff.co.nz Jun 09 2020. By Hannah Martin
Students at the Auckland University of Technology (AUT) will be the first in the country to be able to study medicinal cannabis at school.
From semester two, starting June 20, AUT is offering a postgraduate paper on medicinal cannabis: The Science of Medicinal Cannabis, touted as 'Cannabis 101' for those interested in the industry.
Dr Ali Seyfoddin, course leader and senior lecturer in drug delivery in AUT's School of Science said education was an important component of New Zealand's medicinal cannabis scheme.
"It's essential that research and education providers provide courses for those wishing to enter the industry". The Medicinal Cannabis Scheme came into effect on April 1, allowing New Zealanders to legally access cannabis-based products through a prescription. It would also be easier to produce medicines in New Zealand, or import them. The course will introduce the medicinal cannabis framework and provide a general overview of the chemistry and pharmacology of cannabis.
This includes how to cultivate medicinal-grade cannabis, how to extract and analyse cannabinoids and how to formulate medicinal cannabis products.
Seyfoddin said it would be a useful paper for any postgraduate students or healthcare professionals interested in expanding their knowledge on medicinal cannabis, through theory and practical components.
Given the ongoing Covid-19 situation, the course may be run online, Seyfoddin said.
Chris Fowlie, chief executive of AUT’s research partner ZeaCann, said the medicinal cannabis industry needs qualified staff with relevant expertise. "Hundreds" of new jobs are expected to be created in the field, with the potential for medicinal cannabis exports "to rival those of wine or wool", he said.
The course will teach the skills needed to work in the field, Fowlie said.
"We're excited to help AUT deliver this course as part of our ongoing research partnership."
As well as covering the chemistry of cannabinoids, the course would also cover the history and legislation of medicinal cannabis, the wider medicinal cannabis scheme, botanical aspects of cannabis and delivery systems and dosing.
(c) Stuff.co.nz
Newsub.co.nz 9 June 2020 By Hannah Kronast
Auckland University of Technology (AUT) has launched New Zealand's first paper on medicinal cannabis.
Postgraduate School of Science students will be able to take The Science of Medicinal Cannabis paper from semester 2 which includes theory and practical components.
Dr Ali Seyfoddin, course leader and senior lecturer in drug delivery, described the paper as "Cannabis 101".
"Education is an important component of New Zealand's medicinal cannabis scheme and it's essential that research and education providers provide courses for those wishing to enter the industry.
"We have ongoing research on medicinal cannabis cultivation, extraction and formulation which will inform much of the course's content."
He says now is a great time to offer the paper.
"A new industry is being rapidly formed around medicinal cannabis in New Zealand," he told Newshub.
"With legislation already in place, companies are setting up their cultivation and processing sites. As a public university, we are responding to industry needs in preparing graduates who have acquired the required skills in a reliable educational system."
He says the paper is only being offered to postgraduate students as they need to "demonstrate a relevant proficiency in science" to take part in the focused area of research.
The subjects within the paper include the history and legislation of cannabis in New Zealand, cultivation, processing, extraction, chemistry, formulation and pharmacology of cannabis.
Dr Seyfoddin says given the paper may be run online given the ongoing COVID-19 situation.
Chris Fowlie, the CEO of AUT's research partner ZeaCann, says the paper is important to make sure the industry is getting qualified staff.
"This course will teach the skills needed to work in the field. Hundreds of new jobs are expected to be created, with the potential for medicinal cannabis exports to rival those of wine or wool," he says.
"We're excited to help AUT deliver this course as part of our ongoing research partnership."
The announcement comes just months before New Zealanders are set to vote in the 2020 Cannabis referendum on whether recreational cannabis should be legalised.
The proposed changes would still see several controls including cannabis remaining illegal for anyone under 20-years-old, limited potency, no public consumption, plain, childproof packaging and sales limited to licensed premises.
(c) 2020 Mediaworks TV
The New Zealand Herald, 8 June 2020
AUT will become New Zealand's first university to offer a postgraduate paper on medicinal cannabis.
From next semester (starting July 20), The Science of Medicinal Cannabis will be offered by AUT's School of Science.
The paper is described as Cannabis 101 for those interested in the medicinal cannabis industry, Dr Ali Seyfoddin, course leader and senior lecturer in drug delivery, said.
"Education is an important component of New Zealand's medicinal cannabis scheme and it's essential that research and education providers provide courses for those wishing to enter the industry. We have ongoing research on medicinal cannabis cultivation, extraction and formulation which will inform much of the course's content."
The course will introduce the medicinal cannabis scheme framework and provide a general overview of the chemistry and pharmacology of cannabis, including how to cultivate medical-grade cannabis, how to extract and analyse cannabinoids and how formulate medicinal cannabis products.
"This is a useful paper for any postgraduate student or healthcare professional interested in expanding their knowledge on medicinal cannabis. There will be theory and practical components although, with the ongoing Covid-19 situation, it may be run it as an online course," Seyfoddin said.
Chris Fowlie, chief executive of AUT's research partner ZeaCann, said the medicinal cannabis industry needs qualified staff with relevant expertise.
"This course will teach the skills needed to work in the field. Hundreds of new jobs are expected to be created, with the potential for medicinal cannabis exports to rival those of wine or wool.
"We're excited to help AUT deliver this course as part of our ongoing research partnership. Zeacann will leverage our extensive network of industry partners to provide practical content and access to global experts and key industry players."
ZeaCann's research and production partners include manufacturers, growers, processors, botanists, pharmacies, laboratory and extraction equipment suppliers, and a network of contract growers spanning all cultivation styles.
The move was also welcomed by Manu Caddie, the president of the New Zealand Medical Cannabis Council... (continues here)
(c) NZME
