This course is part of the Medical Cannabis: The Health Effects of THC and CBD Specialization

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Kent Hutchison

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Medical Cannabis: The Health Effects of THC and CBD SpecializationUniversity of Colorado Boulder

About this Course

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This History of Medical Cannabis course is designed to have you think critically about past, present, and future research on the health effects of cannabis by developing a more nuanced understanding of the barriers to research as well as different approaches to research. You will learn about the history of cannabis cultivation, the legal history of cannabis or "marijuana",  and the obstacles that led to the lack of science on its medicinal use. You will also learn how to critically evaluate research on the effects of cannabis and discuss the associated risks of using cannabis in the context of public health and epidemiological research. Finally, you will learn about how to administer cannabis products in ways that minimize risk and maximize any potential benefits.  Obtaining this knowledge will be helpful in terms of informing public policy, public health, and personal decisions regarding the use of cannabis products.

Flexible deadlines

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Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

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Course 1 of 4 in the

Medical Cannabis: The Health Effects of THC and CBD Specialization

Beginner Level

No background required.

Approx. 16 hours to complete

English

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What you will learn

Learn about the basic pharmacology of cannabis and how cannabinoids effect the body.
Learn about the history of cannabis cultivation and legality.
Learn about the barriers and approaches to cannabis research.
Learn about the epidemiological data on cannabis use in terms of cognition, education, and behavior.

Skills you will gain

Legality of cannabis
CBD and THC
Public Health
Pharmacology
History of cannabis

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Course 1 of 4 in the

Medical Cannabis: The Health Effects of THC and CBD Specialization

Beginner Level

No background required.

Approx. 16 hours to complete

English

Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?

Try Coursera for Business

Instructor

Instructor rating

4.8/5 (115 Ratings)

Kent Hutchison

Professor

Department of Psychology and Neuroscience

20,932 Learners

4 Courses

Offered by

University of Colorado Boulder

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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating98%(2,675 ratings)

Week1

Week 1

4 hours to complete

Introduction to Course and to Cannabis

4 hours to complete

9 videos (Total 127 min), 10 readings

9 videos

Introduction to Module7mLecture - Introduction to Professor and Course6mLecture - Why is this topic (and course) important?19mLecture - What is Cannabis?18mInterview with Nolan Kane12mLecture - Physiological Effects of Cannabinoids in the Body16mLecture - More on Cannabinoids in the Brain19mLecture - Deep Dive on Cannabinoid Pharmacology11mInterview with Meg Haney15m

10 readings

Lecture PDF - Introduction to Professor and Course10mNAS Report (Including link to required materials)30mLecture PDF: Why is this topic important?10mLecture PDF - What is cannabis?10mLecture PDF - What does cannabis do in the body?10mLecture PDF: More on Cannabinoids in the Brain10mNAS Report30mLecture PDF -Deep Dive on Cannabinoid Pharmacology10mTaming THC – Entourage Effect (Russo, 2011)10mThe Case for the Entourage Effect (Russo, 2019)10m

Week2

Week 2

4 hours to complete

History of Cannabis

In this module, we will discuss the history of cannabis as an alternative medicine and the legal history of cannabis in both the US and abroad. We will discuss the variety of different product types post-legalization, how products are made, and implications for safety. We will also discuss the cannabis industry and how it compares to other mature industries like the pharmaceutical and alcohol industries.

4 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 97 min), 11 readings, 1 quiz

7 videos

Introduction to Module3mLecture - Cannabis History10mLecture - Legal History16mLecture - Legalization in States and Countries7mLecture - History of Products and Formulations20mLecture - Business Models - Are Marijuana Companies Rolling in Cash?19mInterview with Mark January19m

11 readings

Lecture PDF - Cannabis History10mNAS Report - History of cannabis & its pharmacology10mHistory of Cannabis and Its Preparations in Saga, Science, and Sobriquet (Russo, 2007)10mThe Pharmacological History of Cannabis (Russo, 2014)10mLecture PDF - Legal History10mNAS Report - Cannabis policy10mLecture PDF - Legalization in States and Countries10mLecture PDF - History of Products and Formulations10mLecture PDF - Business Models10mJeffrey Vinik thinks cannabis stocks are a bad idea: ‘Nobody’s going to make money’10mMarijuana is getting cheaper. For some states, that's a problem.10m

1 practice exercise

Quiz #130m

Week3

Week 3

4 hours to complete

Barriers to Research and How to Evaluate Research

In this module, we will discuss the legal barriers to institutional research in the US and how this has impacted conducting much-needed cannabis research. You will learn the difference between high quality, rigorous research design compared to biased sources of information. Lastly, you will learn how the placebo effect works and evaluate how much of a role it plays with regards to the medical benefits of cannabis.

4 hours to complete

6 videos (Total 81 min), 8 readings, 2 quizzes

6 videos

Introduction to Module3mLecture - Barriers to Research17mLecture - End Result of Barriers to Research18mLecture - How to Evaluate Evidence16mLecture - Internal and External Validity12mLecture - Placebo Effect12m

8 readings

Lecture PDF - Barriers to Research10mNAS Report - Barriers to cannabis research10mLecture PDF - End Result of Barriers to Research10mNAS Report - Research gap10mLecture PDF - How to Evaluate Evidence10mWatch these Videos10mLecture PDF - Internal and External Validity10mLecture PDF - Placebo Effect10m

1 practice exercise

Quiz #210m

Week4

Week 4

5 hours to complete

Risks Associated with Cannabis Use

5 hours to complete

8 videos (Total 99 min), 11 readings, 1 quiz

8 videos

Introduction to Module2mLecture - Cannabis and Brain Morphology10mLecture - Cannabis and the Brain Part II10mLecture - Impact of Legalization on Epidemiology15mInterview with Kevin Gray20mLecture - Changes in Potency11mLecture - Public Health Data12mLecture - General Guidelines to Reduce Harm and Maximize Benefits15m

11 readings

Lecture PDF - Cannabis and Brain Morphology10mNAS Report10mDr. Carl Hart Debates Bill O'Reilly (Video)10mLecture PDF - Cannabis and the Brain Part 210mLecture PDF - Impact of Legalization10mLecture PDF - Changes in Potency10mLecture PDF - Public Health Data10mPractical considerations in medical cannabis administration and dosing10mLecture PDF - General Guidelines10mAn observational postmarketing safety registry of patients in the UK, Germany, and Switzerland who have been prescribed Sativex® (THC:CBD, nabiximols) oromucosal spray10mTHC:CBD in Daily Practice: Available Data from UK, Germany and Spain10m

1 practice exercise

Quiz #310m

Reviews

4.8

113 reviews

5 stars
87.17%
4 stars
9.53%
3 stars
1.97%
2 stars
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1 star
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TOP REVIEWS FROM HISTORY OF MEDICAL CANNABIS

by TKMar 29, 2022

Very informative, helpful, fun, and engaging! Would recommend to anyone who is interested in medical cannabis.

by PAJul 16, 2020

Excellent! A pleasure to learn from Professor Hutchison. Looking forward to the next class.

by KOJun 14, 2020

Wow! I'm overwhelmed by how much information there was. This course has been ridiculously educational and I've learned so much.

by HBJul 25, 2020

Fantastic course. Offers introductory modules on cannabis for new enthusiasts, as well as providing in-depth knowledge into various sectors of the cannabis industry.

View all reviews

About the Medical Cannabis: The Health Effects of THC and CBD Specialization

If you want to learn more about medical cannabis (i.e., marijuana) and hemp-derived CBD, then this specialization is for you! A person who wants to know more about cannabis and CBD might be:

A patient or their loved one who wants to understand the potential risks and benefits. A health care provider who wants to communicate with patients about cannabis. Someone who wants to work in the cannabis industry. Why do people want to know more about cannabis? The legalization of cannabis (i.e., marijuana) and the recent federal legalization of cannabidiol (CBD) has led to unprecedented access to cannabinoids (e.g. THC and CBD), a projected 60 billion dollar industry (cannabis and hemp) by 2025, and the fastest growing jobs sector in the economy according to recent reports in the media. Despite all of this, there is very little evidence-based information about the health effects of cannabis or about how to maximize the potential benefits while minimizing harm. Parents of children with seizure disorders, veterans with PTSD and chronic pain, cancer patients, and our aging parents deserve better. People WANT evidence-based information about the potential risks and benefits of cannabis products so that they can weigh the pros and cons of cannabis and CBD versus other options. They also want to know how to maximize the positive effects of cannabis while minimizing the side effects. This specialization is designed to provide that information.

Medical Cannabis: The Health Effects of THC and CBD

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.

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History of Medical Cannabis

About this Course

What you will learn

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