Nick Testa, a cannabis cultivator in Exeter, placed an ad last month on a University of Rhode Island website looking to hire a student in the school's cannabis studies program as a "grow room assistant."
But his ad on URI's Handshake platform – used to connect students and employers for internships and job opportunities – was quickly taken down. When Testa asked for an explanation, he was referred to a statement from URI's legal counsel that read, in part: "The University of Rhode Island Center for Career and Experiential Education will not accept or post positions related to the use or distribution of recreational or medical cannabis."
"As the use of cannabis is illegal at the federal level, and the university receives federal funds, we must comply with the federal law, including the Controlled Substances Act and the Drug-Free Schools and Campuses Act," the statement continued.
In recent years, schools like URI, Johnson & Wales University and others around the region have touted new cannabis education programs to prepare students for opportunities in one of the fastest-growing industries as more and more states legalize the drug. While the federal government is now considering loosening its stance on cannabis, many schools remain very cautious about going too far in helping students get into the cannabis field if it means risking federal funding.
Read more at providencejournal.com