earl broclo ESQ Posted February 29, 2008 Share Posted February 29, 2008 OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — You know you're in a different kind of college when a teaching assistant sets five marijuana plants down in the middle of a lab and no one blinks a bloodshot eye. Welcome to Oaksterdam University, a new trade school where higher education takes on a whole new meaning. The school prepares people for jobs in California's thriving medical marijuana industry. For $200 and the cost of two required textbooks, students learn how to cultivate and cook with cannabis, study which strains of pot are best for certain ailments, and are instructed in the legalities of a business that is against the law in the eyes of the federal government. "My basic idea is to try to professionalize the industry and have it taken seriously as a real industry, just like beer and distilling hard alcohol," said Richard Lee, 45, an activist and pot-dispensary owner who founded the school in a downtown storefront last fall. So far, 60 students have completed the two-day weekend course, which is sold out through May. At the end of the class, students are given a take-home test, with the highest scorer — make that "top scorer" — earning the title of class valedictorian. Before getting to Horticulture 101, the hands-on highlight of Oaksterdam U, the 20 budding botanists, entrepreneurs and political activists at a recent weekend session sat politely through two law lectures and a visiting professor's history talk. In the lab, Lee measured plant food into a plastic garbage can and explained how, with common sense, upgraded electrical outlets, a fan and an air filter, students can grow pot at home for fun, health, public service — or profit. Lee explained to his students how to prune and harvest plants, handing the clipping shears to a woman who wasn't sure how close to the stalk to cut without damaging it. He offered his thoughts on which commercial nutrient preparations are best, as well as the advantages of hydroponics, or soil-free gardening. During a discussion of neighbor relations, he warned against setting boobytraps to keep curious kids out of outdoor gardens. Students gave various reasons for enrolling. Some said they were simply curious. Others said they wanted tips for growing their own weed, although judging from the questions, a few were ready for the graduate seminar Lee recently added to the curriculum. Jeff Sanders, 52, said he has been buying medical marijuana since 2003, but wants to open a dispensary in the San Joaquin Valley because he doesn't like having to drive up to San Francisco and paying the markup. "I see it as a good thing. You are giving back to the community," Sanders said. If you want to read the rest of the article, go here: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jYHN4gdAHV9I6D8_eoKW7hbrxMFgD8V1H8L00 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Q666 Posted February 29, 2008 Share Posted February 29, 2008 already been posted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceLeroy Posted February 29, 2008 Share Posted February 29, 2008 already been posted what he said Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
After School Special Posted February 29, 2008 Share Posted February 29, 2008 Wait, what's that? I see something over the horizon... :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tuff Tone Posted February 29, 2008 Share Posted February 29, 2008 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MekA_OnES? Posted February 29, 2008 Share Posted February 29, 2008 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
earl broclo ESQ Posted February 29, 2008 Author Share Posted February 29, 2008 haahah --sorry, i didn't see this posted before. ignore, move on --my bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poesia [ ] T Posted March 1, 2008 Share Posted March 1, 2008 Oaksterdamn, LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
earl broclo ESQ Posted March 1, 2008 Author Share Posted March 1, 2008 exactly --i thought this shit was a joke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnarly Sheen Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 Well, i guess this thread existed at one point. Here is a recent article about "oaksterdam" --- http://www.newsweek.com/id/217942?digg=1 I've never been to Cali, so this is all news to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
count chocula Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 i see these n00bz hanging out in front of this joint. it's an interesting batch of humans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r o n d a Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 oaksterdam bro! smoakland chronicfornia 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weapon X Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 Just read the Jorge Cervantes book and do lots of trial and error. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
earl broclo ESQ Posted October 16, 2009 Author Share Posted October 16, 2009 Hey look, I made a fail thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shai Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 I was thinking about taking this class when I get my Pell grant. If there's some kind of placement program where they can get you a job at a club, then that's a great deal...most of the clubs start at $15/hr which is pretty good for retail. Plus the customers are always happy. You can't beat that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Decyferon Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 I wish they had this in the UK (plus legal dispensaries) I would be there in a flash, I have no real contacts where I have moved to and hate having to make new ones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topfloorbasement Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 this was a pretty good documentary bout this subject http://www.hulu.com/watch/54312/cnbc-originals-marijuana-inc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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