As Virginia navigates its unique position with legal cannabis but no safe access or commercial sales, the need for trusted, reliable education on home cultivation and consumption has never been greater. To fill this critical gap, Oaksterdam University, the nation’s premier cannabis educator, is bringing its expertise directly to the Mid-Atlantic region.
On Sunday, September 14, Dale Sky Jones, the Chancellor of California-based Oaksterdam University, will lead an afternoon program on cannabis and hemp at the Forum Hotel in Charlottesville. This event is a key component of the 30th annual Patients Out Of Time (POT) Conference. The classes are designed to empower consumers by teaching them how to safely and effectively utilize cannabis. The curriculum will cover the critical differences between various cannabis products, including edibles, potables, and smokables, and provide attendees with the knowledge to “be their own budtender.”
Virginia made history in April 2021 by becoming the first state in the South to legalize adult-use cannabis when Governor Ralph Northam signed legislation allowing adults 21 and over to possess and cultivate small amounts of marijuana starting July 1, 2021. The law originally included plans to establish a regulated retail market by 2024, but the political shift in the state legislature later stalled efforts to set up sales. As a result, while personal possession and home cultivation remain legal, Virginia has yet to implement a licensed system for recreational cannabis sales, leaving medical dispensaries and the illicit market as the only points of access.
“Virginians must have safe access, and that includes knowing how to grow clean, quality cannabis at home and best practices for preparing and consuming it responsibly, on your own,” says Dale Sky Jones, CEO and Executive Chancellor of Oaksterdam. “Our goal is to provide a responsible, foundational education that ensures the safety of individuals and the community, in a state that has legalized the plant but has not yet created a regulated marketplace.”
The event will include sessions on cannabis products and consumption methods, providing essential information for anyone interested in the responsible use of cannabis.
The program is a pre-conference workshop for the Patients Out of Time (POT) Conference, which provides continuing medical education for healthcare professionals and celebrates three decades of advocacy for cannabis as medicine. Attending the pre-conference programs at the Forum Hotel will also unlock special discounts for Oaksterdam University’s professional certification programs.
About Oaksterdam University: Founded in 2007, Oaksterdam University is the world’s first cannabis college. Its mission is to provide quality education and training for the cannabis industry, empowering individuals to succeed as professionals and advocates.
About Patients Out of Time (POT): Patients Out of Time is a non-profit organization that provides evidence-based medical cannabis education to healthcare professionals and the public. Since 1995, it has hosted annual conferences to advance the understanding of cannabis.
