Course Overview
MM411 is excited to announce our partnership with CURA, who believes in not only the medicinal power of the plant, but the power of education.
Together, we are proud to introduce the Mastery of Medical Cannabis Certification, a comprehensive training program designed to empower the CURA team with the knowledge and skills needed to support patients using CURA’s thoughtfully developed products. These balanced strains feature carefully calibrated cannabinoid ratios, including high-CBD and low-THC cultivars, offering a gentle yet deeply healing experience.
This certification goes beyond basic education; it is a rigorous, science-based program developed by leading experts and grounded in peer-reviewed research. The course includes accessible endnotes linked directly to scientific studies, as well as downloadable infographics and videos to enhance understanding of key concepts.
CURA employees and partner dispensary workers will benefit from this certification by:
- Deepening their knowledge and enhancing customer service skills
- Gaining a thorough understanding of cannabis as a therapeutic option
- Providing informed support to medicinal cannabis users
- Acquiring a competitive edge through a scientific understanding of the plant
Credibility and Standards
MM411 certifications are designed to ensure that individuals and organizations meet specific standards of knowledge and competence in the field of medical cannabis. These certifications help establish credibility among healthcare providers, industry workers (budtenders) patients, and the medical community.
Comprehensive Education
The certification process typically involves comprehensive educational programs that cover various aspects of medical cannabis, including its medical uses, legal regulations, dosing, how to medicate, and potential interactions with other medications. This enables certified individuals to provide accurate and informed guidance to patients.
Enhanced Patient Care
By obtaining an MM411 certification, healthcare professionals and budtenders can enhance their ability to support patients effectively. This certification provides them with the tools and knowledge necessary to help patients navigate their medical cannabis journey, leading to improved treatment outcomes and overall patient satisfaction.
MM411 Mastery of Medical Cannabis Certification is important for several reasons:
- Comprehensive Knowledge: The certification program provides essential knowledge about the safe handling, storage, and distribution of marijuana products. This understanding is crucial for complying with regulations and ensuring the quality and safety of cannabis products.
- Regulatory Compliance: Certification through Medical Marijuana 411 helps ensure that individuals are familiar with the specific laws and regulations governing cannabis. Being knowledgeable about these regulations is essential for maintaining compliance, which can help prevent legal issues and sanctions.
- Enhanced Professionalism: Having a MM411 certification demonstrates a commitment to professionalism and a higher standard of care within the cannabis industry. This can build trust with customers, and employers, reinforcing your credibility as a handler of marijuana.
- Consumer Safety: With the certification, individuals learn about the importance of proper customer interactions, including accurately answering questions about product effects, dosing, and potential interactions, as well as knowing proper checks for identification.
Course Description & Syllabus
This MM411 Mastery of Medical Cannabis Certification is ideal for cannabis dispensary staff (Budtenders), healthcare professionals, and those in patient-facing roles.
This online course provides a foundational understanding of cannabis science, the Endocannabinoid System, the chemistry of the cannabis plant, clinical applications, dosing, how to medicate, and practical insights for working within the cannabis industry.
- The most comprehensive budtender certification available online
- Peer-reviewed and scientific citations are available for a deep dive into the actual research
- Beautiful downloadable cannabis infographics and poster
- Expert-driven content with videos to explain key concepts
Module 1 – US Legal
- U.S. Controlled Substances Act
- Drug Schedule – Cannabis Schedule I
- Drug Schedule (Downloadable Graphic)
- COVID Cannabis Guidelines
- Economic Impact
- Cannabis genus of flowering plants in the family Cannabaceae
- Legal differentiation between hemp and marijuana is distinguished by their respective concentrations of the cannabinoid delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
- 2018 Farm Bill
- Impact on hemp classification
- SAFE Banking Act
- U.S. Pat. No. 6,630,507
- Trademarks
- Ogden Memo
- Cole Memo
- Wilkenson Memo
- 2018 Sessions Memorandum
- Rohrabacher–Blumenauer Amendment
- Joyce Amendment
- Conant v. Walters
- What Medical Professionals Can Legally Provide To Their Patients (Graphic)
- Cannabis and Cannabis-Derived Compounds: Quality Considerations for Clinical Research
- Guidance for Industry (Downloadable PDF)
- Cannabis and Cannabis-Derived Compounds: Quality Considerations for Clinical Research
- Guidance for Industry (Video)
- Taxes
- Affirmative Defense
- Bankruptcy Protection
- Employment Law
- Access to Banking – Financial Crimes Enforcement Network FinCEN Guidance
- Copyright and Registration
Module 2 – History of Cannabis
- Origins of Cannabis
- Early History of Cannabis Cultivation
- Silk Route
- Indica
- Sativa
- Ruderalis
- Hybrids
- Medical Cannabis Through The Ages – How Cannabis Spanned The Globe (Downloadable Graphic)
- Medical Cannabis In Ancient China
- Medical Cannabis In Other Ancient Civilizations
- Cannabis Timeline (Downloadable Graphic)
- Power Struggles Over Cannabis
- Cannabis In Europe and The West
- U.S. Prohibition
- Marihuana Tax Act
- Prohibition
- “Reefer Madness”
- The Implications of U.S. Prohibition
- Shafer Commission
- National Institute on Drug Abuse
- The Legacy Cannabis Marketplace
- Cannabis Cultivation Culture Booms
- The Beginning of the End of Prohibition
- Prop 215 – Compassionate Care Act
- I-502
- Amendment 64
- U.S. Cannabis Policy Today
- Legal Cannabis Lexicon
- Hemp vs. Cannabis
- ASTM – D37 Committee
Module 3 – The Endocannabinoid System (ECS)
- Introduction of the Endocannabinoid System (ECS)
- Largest Receptor System
- ECS – Video Explainer
- Newly Discovered
- Chemical Bridge to All Bodily Functions
- Homeostasis
- Healthy Body = Healthy ECS
- ECS (Downloadable Graphic)
- Dr Jake Felice – What is the Endocannabinoid System (ECS)? (Video Interview)
- Largest Neurotransmitter System of all “the body’s supercomputer”
- 1964 discovery of THC and CBD – Raphael Mechoulam, Ph.D and Yehiel Gaoni, Ph.D
- The Scientist – video regarding Raphael Mechoulam, Ph.D discoveries
- Allyn Howlett, Ph.D – Isolating THC in the brain – 1998
- No cannabinoid receptors in the cardiac and respiratory centers of the brainstem therefore no overdose from cannabis
- Raphael Mechoulam, Ph.D found in 1992, a brain chemical that mirrors the effects of THC
- Two brain chemicals – anandamide, the Sanskrit word “ananda” brain chemical that mimics THC and CBD, 2-Arachidonoylglycerol, which they named 2-AG.
- Endogenous Molecules “endocannabinoids”.
- CB1 receptors, and CB2 receptors
- Cannabinoids and how they attach to receptors
- CB1 receptors
- Located in the central nervous system and affects many brain functions including movement, anxiety, stress, fear, pain, appetite, reward, and motor control
- CB2 receptors
- CB2 receptors control the release of cytokines, immuno-regulatory proteins, that are linked to inflammation during illness or after injury.
- Retrograde Inhibition
- Lack of education on the Endocannabinoid System
- Clinical Studies
- At a Glance – Downloadable Infographic
- Homeostasis
- Human Thriving Behavior and the ECS
Module 4 – Chemical Foundations
- Minor Cannabinoids: CBG CBC CBN THCV
- Cannabinoid Guide (Downloadable Graphic)
- Terpenes
- Terpene Chart (Downloadable Graphic)
- What Are Terpenes? (Video)
- The Entourage Effect
- Taming THC: potential cannabis synergy and phytocannabinoid-terpenoid entourage effects (Downloadable PDF)
- Cannabis and Cannabis Extracts: Greater Than the Sum of Their Parts? (Downloadable PDF)
- Tolerance and ECS Down-Regulation
- Botanical vs. Single Molecule Compounds & Cannabinoids and Opioids
Module 5 – Getting Cannabinoids into the Bloodstream
- Inhalation: Smoking vs. Vaporization
- In the News Discussions
- Cannabis Flower vs. Concentrate
- Different Concentrate Consistencies
- Extraction Methods
- Winterization
- Concentrates Using Solvents
- Solventless Concentrates
- Edibles, Oral Mucosal, Topicals and Suppositories
- The Role of the Medical Provider
- The Role of the Dispensary: Experts within the Dispensary
Module 6 – Patient-Centered Dosing
- Considerations Before Medicating with Cannabis
- Set and Setting
- Drug-Drug Interactions
- Relative Contraindications
- Youth Under 25
- Patients and Cardiac Conditions
- Patients with Psychiatric Diagnoses
- Immunocompromised Patents
- Biphasic Effect
- Finding the Appropriate Dose
- Recommended Ratios for Specific Illnesses
Module 7 – Laboratory Testing of Cannabis
- How Testing Works
- Contaminants: Pesticides, Fungi and Mold
- How to Interpret a Test
Module 8 – Clinical Practice
- Anxiety Disorders
- Cancer
- Epilepsy
- Gastrointestinal Disorders
- Glaucoma
- HIV/AIDS
- Migraine Headaches
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Neurodegenerative Disorders
- Neuropathy
- Pain
- Palliative Care
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorders
- Sleep Disorders
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
- Endometriosis
- Premenstrual Syndrome and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
- Menopause
Module 9 – Cannabis and Opioids
- Global Patterns of Opioid Use and Dependence
- Opioid-Related Overdose Deaths
- Pain Management
- Comparative Pain Scale
- Addictive Potential of Opioids
- Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain
- Underlying Principles (Downloadable Graphic)
- Studies Show Cannabinoid Medications Effective in Reducing Opioid Use
- Cause of Death by Drug (Downloadable Graphic)
- Drug Dependence
- Opioid Use Disorder
- Emerging Evidence for Cannabis’ Role in Opioid Use Disorder (Downloadable PDF)
- Cannabis: A Promising Option for the Opioid Crisis (Downloadable PDF)
- Cannabis and NSAIDS: More Good News
Module 10 – Medical Myths and Facts About Cannabis
- Gateway Theory, Addiction, and Brain Function
- Cannabis is Highly Addictive
- Cannabis Kills Brain Cells
- Cannabis Kills Motivation
- Cannabis Impairs Memory
- Cannabis Leads to Insanity
- Cannabis Causes Lung Cancer
- Most Recreational Users are Heavy Users
- Cannabis is Dangerous
Module 11 – Side Effects From Abuse and Misuse
- Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD)
- Short-Term Side Effects
- Long-Term Side Effects
- Physical Effects
- Breathing Problems
- Increased Heart Rate
- Development
- Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS)
- Mental Effects
- What to Avoid
- Cannabis and Driving
- Cannabis Over Consumption
- Cannabis Tolerance