MS in Biotechnology - Medical Cannabis Therapeutics Concentration
Where Science Meets Strategy. Where Discovery Advances Health Equity.
Become part of a community of scientist-innovators committed to shaping the future of biotechnology and gain specialized training in one of the fastest-growing sectors in the field: medical cannabis.
About The Program
Medical cannabis refers to the unprocessed or processed cannabis plant, or extracts consisting of cannabinoids, terpenes, and other hydrocarbons, that are prescribed by physicians for their patients. These products have been used for centuries to manage or treat a range of conditions, including epilepsy, pain, high blood pressure, seizures, depression, anxiety, and appetite loss, as well as supplemental treatment for cancer, palliative care, AIDS, sickle cell disease, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Tourette's, autism, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), among others.
By the end of 2021, the global medical cannabis market exceeded $17 billion USD and is projected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate of 22.9% over the following decade. Employment in the sector grew 32% in FY21 alone, adding 77,000 new jobs to the roughly 21,000 Americans already employed in the legal cannabis industry.
The Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) Medical Cannabis Therapeutics concentration — offered within our #1-ranked Master of Science in Biotechnology (MSBT) — prepares students to excel in this new and rapidly growing marketplace.
What Makes the MSM MSBT Medical Cannabis Therapeutics Concentration Different
Unlike programs that focus narrowly on laboratory science, the MSM MSBT integrates bioscience training with the regulatory, entrepreneurial, and project-management skills graduates need to move discoveries from bench to marketplace — and the Medical Cannabis Therapeutics concentration layers in the specialized scientific, regulatory, and business knowledge unique to the medical cannabis industry.
Students develop competencies in:
- Medical Cannabis Science, history & Therapeutics
- Cannabis genetics and pharmacogenomics
- Core Bioscience & Laboratory Technique
- Cannabis Pharmacology, addiction, and CHS
- Regulatory Affairs & Compliance
- Biotechnology Entrepreneurship
- Project Management
- Data Analysis and Interpretation
- Scientific Communication
- Health Equity in Biotechnology
- Capstone
Program at a Glance
- Degree: Master of Science in Biotechnology (MSBT), Medical Cannabis Therapeutics Concentration
- Format: Fully Online
- Credits to Graduate: 35 credit hours
- Program Length: 12 months / 1 year
- GRE/GMAT: Not Required
- Tuition: $950 per credit hour
Join a Virtual Information Session
Please RSVP for your preferred session. A Zoom link will be sent directly to the email you provide upon registration.
Who Should Apply
The MSM MSBT Medical Cannabis Therapeutics concentration is designed for college graduates who want to advance their careers in biotechnology and the medical cannabis industry, with a minimum of a bachelor's degree required for admission.
Our students include recent graduates and working professionals from academic laboratories, government agencies, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, agricultural science, healthcare-adjacent industries, and the cannabis industry itself
What Can I Do with the Medical Cannabis Therapeutics Concentration?
Advances at the interface of biotechnology and medical cannabis are reshaping contemporary therapeutic discovery and development. This rapidly expanding domain integrates molecular biotechnology, pharmacology, plant genomics, analytical chemistry, data science, and precision‑medicine frameworks to accelerate the characterization, engineering, and clinical translation of cannabis‑derived bioactive compounds. Emerging research in cannabinoid and terpene biosynthesis, high‑resolution chemovar profiling, bioprocess optimization, formulation science, and diagnostic innovation is enabling a deeper mechanistic understanding of the plant’s therapeutic potential. The convergence of these disciplines also provides new strategies for addressing complex challenges in human health—including chronic disease management, pain modulation, inflammatory disorders, and the need for safer, evidence‑based therapeutics. As the medical cannabis sector continues to mature, biotechnology‑driven approaches are generating expanding career pathways across research, pharmaceutical development, regulatory science, analytical testing, and biomanufacturing, underscoring the growing demand for professionals trained in both biotechnology and medical cannabis science.
Graduates of the Medical Cannabis Therapeutics concentration are prepared for roles including:
- Medical Cannabis Laboratory Scientist
- Budtender
- Dispensary Manager
- Production / Testing Technician & Analyst
- Brand Ambassador
- Medical Cannabis Liaison
- Cultivation Technician
- Extraction Technician
- Master Grower
- Marijuana Sales Representative
- Cannabis Compliance Manager
- Operational Business Leader (e.g., Chief of Cultivation, Chief of Manufacturing)
Where
Online|Anywhere
Admission Requirements
Applicants should possess:
- A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
Applicants should submit:
- A completed online application
- A current résumé or curriculum vitae
- Official transcripts (see below)
- One letter of recommendation
- $50 non refundablee application fee
Official Transcripts: Submit official transcripts electronically through Parchment, selecting Morehouse School of Medicine as the recipient. Within Parchment, search for msmonline@msm.edu to ensure transcripts are routed correctly.
Applicants with collegiate coursework completed outside the United States must upload an unofficial copy of a course-by-course credential evaluation as part of the application process.
Application Deadlines & Key Dates: Fall 2026 Cohort
|
Milestone |
Date |
|
Applications Open |
Monday, January 5, 2026 |
|
Early Decision Deadline |
Friday, April 3, 2026 |
|
Final Application Deadline |
Friday, July 3, 2026 |
|
New Student Orientation (Virtual) |
[Confirm] |
|
Term I Begins |
Monday, August 17, 2026 |
|
Term I Ends |
Sunday, October 11, 2026 |
Frequently Asked Questions
General Program
What is the Medical Cannabis Therapeutics concentration?
The Medical Cannabis Therapeutics concentration is a specialized track within the 35-credit-hour, 12-month online MSM MSBT program, preparing graduates for careers across the medical cannabis industry — including laboratory science, cultivation and production, regulatory affairs, dispensary operations, and entrepreneurship.
Who should apply?
College graduates with a minimum of a bachelor's degree who want to advance their careers in biotechnology and the medical cannabis industry.
Is the program fully online?
Yes. The MSBT Medical Cannabis Therapeutics concentration is delivered fully online. [Confirm whether any on-campus or in-person components exist.]
How long does the program take?
12 months (35 credit hours).
Admissions
When does the program admit new students?
[Fall and Spring cohorts]
Is the GRE or GMAT required?
No.
How do I submit my official transcripts?
Electronically through Parchment, selecting Morehouse School of Medicine as the recipient and searching for msmonline@msm.edu.
Click here for information on admissions and tuition
Curriculum
Click here for more information about the MSBT Concentration in Medical Cannabis