A Mexican university now offers a cannabis diploma

As medical cannabis regulations roll out in Mexico and other parts of Latin America, a leading Mexican university begins training Spanish-speaking doctors on the proper prescribing and medical use of cannabinoids. The prestigious Mexican private university Tecnológico de Monterrey and Canada-based cannabis company Khiron Life Sciences Corp (TSXV: KHRN) have teamed up to introduce the country's first medical marijuana diploma for doctors and healthcare professionals. The first cohort of 86 students began their studies on February 20 and includes medical professionals from Mexico, Colombia, Peru and other Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America. Students meet online every Saturday for a full day to complete the 96-hour program. Course content includes: an overview of the plant and its regulations, the endocannabinoid system and pharmacology, current research, proper use and possible pharmacological interactions, prescription and administration, and business models for specialized cannabis clinics. According to program director Dr. Maria Fernanda Arboleda does not receive medical training in medical marijuana and she wishes to educate doctors on its correct use and prescription. "We have several barriers to prescribing cannabis. Doctors are full of barriers and one of them is lack of knowledge," Arboleda said in a telephone interview. Arboleda is assistant director of research at Santé Cannabis, a Quebec-based cannabis company that provides clinical services, conducts research, and develops educational resources. "Nobody talks about medical cannabis at university, ever, because of course there is a lot of stigma. We grew up in the Prohibition era, so it was really difficult to get access to that knowledge," she added.