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Tag: Eastern Michigan University

  • EMU takes on green wave with classes on cannabis

    EMU takes on green wave with classes on cannabis

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    As the cannabis industry continues to blossom, Eastern Michigan University is offering two unique courses in the fall semester.

    One of the courses, URP 479: Canna-plannnig: Marijuana Legalization and Land-Use in Michigan, will explore cannabis prohibition, the war on drugs, rural and urban cultivation, the regulation of legal sales, and the taxes generated from the industry. The class is intended to help students understand local and state marijuana laws.

    “There isn’t another course like this in the United States,” Dr. RJ Koscielniak, an assistant professor in geography and geology, said in a statement Tuesday. “No other university is teaching this material and asking these kinds of questions with their students.”

    In 2023, licensed cannabis dispensaries in Michigan rang up a record of $3.06 billion in sales, a 25% increase over 2022. With a 10% excise tax on recreational cannabis sales, more than $274 million will go to local governments, schools, and roads this year, according to a Metro Times analysis.

    “Cannabis legalization has transformed a lot of places in Michigan — some changes are good and some changes haven’t been necessarily positive,” Koscielniak said. “We get to talk about all that and really have a chance to make sure legalization benefits everyone.”

    EMU students also will be offered a chemistry of cannabis class, which will explore the scientific angle of marijuana. That includes how plant sources are extracted to access the terpenes, cannabinoids (CBD), and Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

    “Understanding the science of how cannabis products are made, tested for adherence to regulations, and how they interact with the end users is even more important now that legalization is expanding across the country,” Dr. Harriet Lindsay, professor and interim department head of chemistry, said.

    Other universities, from the University of Michigan to Lake Superior State University, have built curriculum around cannabis.

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    Steve Neavling

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  • A college football player knew his teammate donated plasma to afford school. So, he gave him his scholarship.

    A college football player knew his teammate donated plasma to afford school. So, he gave him his scholarship.

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    After a college football player named Brian Dooley noticed his teammate was juggling multiple jobs, he made a selfless choice to help him. 

    “Zack Conti has had to pay his way to school for four years. And in the fall, the guy was selling his plasma to be able to pay the bills,” Head Coach Chris Creighton told the Eastern Michigan University football team during a meeting on Aug. 3.

    Unfortunately, the team couldn’t give out any more scholarships. But financial help was still coming Conti’s way.

    Creighton explained to the players that the NCAA allows the team to provide 85 scholarships each year, and they’ve given them all out. Creighton asked for an 86th scholarship, but the answer was no. 

    “Until Brian Dooley comes into my office,” Creighton said. “And he says, ‘Coach, that guy has earned it. And I’ve talked this over with my family. And if there’s a way to make this happen, I am willing to give up my scholarship as a gift to Zack Conti.’ I’ve never heard, I’ve never seen anything like that ever before.”

    At that moment, Dooley walked over to Creighton and handed him an envelope that held his scholarship. The team broke out in cheers.

    After the now-viral moment, Conti said he was “so honored and so thankful.” He said he knew the coach and Dooley were trying to help him get a scholarship, but didn’t know Dooley’s scholarship would be presented to him during that meeting. 

    “It feels like all of my hard work is finally being rewarded,” he said. 

    The senior paid his way through school by working and donating plasma, which usually pays $50 to $100 a session. 

    “Sometimes asking for help’s not easy. The team would usually see me coming back from work or going to work and they would know what was going on, and they were supportive. It wasn’t really hard to be open to them about anything,” he said. “They got my back.”

    Conti also said his mother has polycystic kidney disease and needs a transplant. He urged people to visit the Kidney to Save Karen Facebook page.

    Dooley said Conti earned the scholarship and explained his motivation for helping his teammate.

    “I did it because I’ve seen Conti grow over the years. Seeing him walk away from something that he loves did not sit well with me,” he said. “He works hard and gets extra work with me all the time. In my eyes, he earned it 100%. Giving up my scholarship so he can stay and play means everything. I’m proud of what he has become and cannot wait to see what he does on the field.”

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