There's also Greenway University, the medical-marijuana business school that also offers insurance, legal, and merchant consulting services in Colorado and Arizona (both states have medi-mari dispensary systems, as does California). Logan has gotten calls from other states with medical-marijuana systems; these types of schools will soon be commonplace. Who knew that, much like garden-supply stores, the higher-ed sector might also benefit from the burgeoning marijuana economy?
Speaking of economy: the only response the state has given Logan about his classes came in the form of a quotation in the Portland Press Herald, and it implied disdain for Logan's entrepreneurship.
The medical-marijuana "program was designed to get patients access to quality medical marijuana; it wasn't intended as a business for people to make money," Cathy Cobb, director of the licensing division for the state Department of Health and Human Services, told the PPH. "We don't want to set up a supply network that exceeds the demand of registered patients."
Perhaps someone should remind her that the eight dispensaries setting up shop around Maine anticipate profits ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars (see "Smoke Local," by Deirdre Fulton, February 16). While Logan lost money on his first course, he's since started to break even. Several of Maine's dispensaries, such as the Remedy Compassion Center in Auburn, are offering cannabis-related lectures, workshops, and seminars.
Logan doesn't like getting too deep into the politics of marijuana legalization on the state or federal levels, but he does speak passionately about how Maine's current rules and regulations don't lend themselves to cost-effectiveness. Having to pay to register as a patient (however nominal the fee), offends him, and the limitations on supply are burdensome.
"Folks will definitely be able to get their medicine cheaper by doing it this way," he says, referring to home growth.
Or, as he puts it on his website, the workshop costs $79 but "growing your own medicine instead of paying $$$: Priceless."
Visit marijuanastateuniversity.com for more information on a July 15 online-only class (7-10 pm), an August 6 class in Augusta, and a September 10 class in Portland.
Tricks of the trade:Three recent "grow tips" from the Marijuana State University
• If you're in flower it's a lot cheaper to buy some unsulfured molasses than to buy some expensive sugar carb product to boost those buds!
• Less is more...it's easy to over-fertilize and to over-water so go easy, especially on the nutrients, which can burn plants. Droopy leaves is a sign of over-watering.
• pH is one of the most important factors in growing, so do yourself a favor and get a digital pH meter. The digital meters are much more accurate than the strips, and accuracy is the key to keeping plants healthy.
