Atlantic City Casino Hosting a Grow-Your-Own Marijuana Seminar

As many as 100 people are expected to attend a grow-your-own marijuana seminar at an Atlantic City casino starting today.

While medical marijuana is legal in New Jersey, growing your own is not.

The $1,000, four-day course will be offered by a California-based marijuana school at Bally's Casino this weekend, starting Saturday.

Oaksterdam University executive chancellor Dale Sky Jones tells NBC10.com that basil and rosemary will be used in demonstrations.

Discussions will also include the business and legal aspect of the marijuana industry. Students who earn high scores will receive certifications that could lead to jobs.

“We have an opportunity to change the law and have safer communities if we choose to control tax and regulate cannabis," she said.

The school anticipates that about 100 cannabis devotees, patients, entrepreneurs and even regulators from around the Northeast will attend the class, which is open to people 18 and older.

"More than 50 percent of the students at Oaksterdam come from outside California," Jones said. "So we thought that rather than making you guys come to us, let's find a great town and bring it to the East."

Medical marijuana has gotten off to a slow start in New Jersey. It took nearly three years from the time medical marijuana was legalized in 2010 until the first dispensary opened.

There were delays in getting regulations in place and struggles finding communities willing to host the centers. Some people have complained about the state's restrictions of the potency of cannabis that can be sold legally and the short list of qualifying medical conditions.

The president and CEO of one of New Jersey's three medical marijuana dispensaries quit in June.

Despite the medical allowance for the drug, Gov. Chris Christie says there's no way he's going to let the plant be used for recreational purposes.

"I don't care about the tax money," he said on NJ 101.5. “It’s not inevitable here. I’m not going to permit it, never as long as I’m governor."

Some media outlets weren't too keen on the seminar either. Jones said a radio station and newspaper pulled ads promoting this weekend's event.

“Apparently the owners or the lawyers at the companies freaked out and just cancelled our advertising at the last minute. So it’s been quite challenging, letting people know we’re even here," she said.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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