Sonoma State University offers second cannabis course

Building on the success of a course in medical cannabis offered in March, Sonoma State University will be offering more courses in cannabis for professional development.

The two sessions are titled Regulatory Environment & Public Policy in California and Cannabis Accounting & Tax Compliance. The day-long course will be offered through the School of Extended and International Education June 9, according to Robert Eyler, dean of the school.

The course is open to anyone, but targeted at those already in, or looking to get in to the cannabis business. Continuing education credit is available.

About 100 people attended the March symposium, and that is also the capacity for the course in June.

“We’re trying to give some insights into what they need to know, what you can and can’t do. Let business people know where things are headed, and the matrix that is coming,” Eyler said.

Topics will include the legalities of starting a cannabis business, what the regulations look like now at the federal, state, and local level, and human resources issues around employee cannabis use and testing.

The Regulatory Environment portion of the workshop will be co-taught by criminal defense lawyer Omar Figueroa, state director of California National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws Dale Gieringer, and attorney Lauren Mendelsohn, from Sebastopol.

Accounting & Tax Compliance will be taught by Henry Levy, CPA, from Oakland.

Because cannabis is still illegal at the federal level, the university is unable to address cannabis issues such as cultivation and distribution. However, another course in medical cannabis will be offered early in 2018, taught by doctors for those in the medical profession.

Cynthia Sweeney covers health care, hospitality, residential real estate, education, employment and business insurance. Reach her at Cynthia.Sweeney@busjrnl.com or call 707-521-4259.