Lake Superior State University first to offer cannabis chemistry scholarship

Lake Superior State University (LSSU) in Michigan has become the first school in the U.S. to offer a cannabis chemistry scholarship to its students.

Steadfast Labs, a cannabis testing facility, will be offering an annual $1,200 scholarship for students to study in LSSU’s first-of-its-kind cannabis chemistry program, which was established in 2019, the Detroit Free Press reported. 

Sophomores and upperclassmen who have a GPA of at least 3.0 are eligible to apply for the scholarship, and preference will be given to those who live in Wayne and Oakland counties.

“By funding this scholarship, Steadfast Labs again demonstrates their commitment to supporting future chemists who will enter the workforce and provide public safety in the cannabis field,” Steven Johnson, dean of LSSU’s College of Science and the Environment, said.

The Free Press notes that LSSU also opened a 2,600-square-foot cannabis chemistry factory — the Cannabis Center for Excellence — in February of last year.

LSSU stated that the cannabis industry is expected to create more than 500,000 jobs by next year as the industry grows and the plant’s legal statues in other states changes.

In an interview published on Saturday, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said he would be moving forward with legislation to federally legalize marijuana, whether or not he has President Biden’s support.

“[Biden] said he’s studying the issue, so [I] obviously want to give him a little time to study it,” the New York Democrat told Politico. “I want to make my arguments to him, as many other advocates will.”

“But at some point we’re going to move forward, period,” Schumer added.