You can now get a scholarship to study weed at LSSU

Lake Superior State University (LSSU) has announced new scholarships for its cannabis chemistry program through the Cannabis Center of Excellence.

In a news release issued today, LSSU states that financial assistance is available to students who enrol in the program as a full-time sophomore or higher who are graduates of a Chippewa, Mackinac, or Luce County high school.

Two annual scholarships, worth $1,200 each, begin this coming fall semester thanks in part to a $25,000 endowment provided by Wheelhouse Cannabis Co. of DeTour Village, Mich., the release says.

Full text of the LSSU release follows:

SAULT STE. MARIE, MICH. - Trailblazing continues for the Cannabis Center of Excellence at Lake Superior State University. In 2019, the centre opened as the first cannabis chemistry program in the nation. In April 2021, the centre announced its first cannabis chemistry scholarship, an annual $1,200 awarding. And now, the centre provides more financial help for its students through an endowed annual scholarship fund of $25,000 held in perpetuity that results in an additional $1,200 award each year for a deserving cannabis chemistry major. Both $1,200 cannabis chemistry scholarships go into effect for the fall 2021 semester.

Wheelhouse Cannabis Co., based in nearby DeTour Village, Mich., and dedicated to supplying premium medical and recreational marijuana flower and extracts, underwrote the $25,000 endowed scholarship fund and related monies for it. Applicants for this nonrenewable grant must be full-time sophomores or higher, major in cannabis chemistry, maintain a GPA of at least 3.0, demonstrate financial need, and be graduates of a Chippewa, Mackinac, or Luce County high school. Preference will be given to first-generation and underrepresented students.

“Wheelhouse Cannabis Co. opens our doors even wider with this visionary endowed scholarship fund,” said LSSU President Dr. Rodney S. Hanley. “It reinforces our cutting-edge, transformative education. It advances social mobility. It helps equip our graduates with the knowledge and skills to craft a life of meaningful employment. And it makes further inroads in a revolutionary field. Bottom line, this endowed scholarship fund is another harbinger for LSSU and the cannabis chemistry program as models in student development, career innovation, community partnerships, and progressive inclusivity.”

Wheelhouse Cannabis President/CEO Chase Horsburgh said his company collaborated with LSSU because the centre leads the way in the burgeoning industry and because the university offers an affordable education for an underserved regional population.

“Wheelhouse Cannabis Co is proud to support LSSU’s Cannabis Center of Excellence,” said Horsburgh. “As the cannabis industry continues transitioning into the mainstream, LSSU will be integral in feeding the national talent pool with formally educated graduates. Given our close proximity to the school, we look forward to fostering a strong working relationship with the LSSU and its alumnae for years to come. Kudos to President Hanley, Dean Johnson, the board of directors, and the faculty for their vision and diligence in bringing this program to fruition.”

Dr. Steven Johnson, dean of the College of Science and the Environment at LSSU, added, “We are grateful for this generous support of our cannabis chemistry program and, most importantly, our students. The academic pursuit of preparing the next generation of cannabis chemistry workers began and continues with Lake Superior State University. Students have access to our cannabis analytical laboratory, internships, and the finest industry partners. Now, with support from Wheelhouse Cannabis, we make LSSU’s already affordable education even more accessible.”