Cannabis Training University

What Cannabis Training University does

Cannabis Training University (CTU) is a Denver-based online cannabis education provider founded in 2009 and operated as a subsidiary of Online Training Providers. The company delivers self-paced, video-based certification programs covering cultivation, retail/budtender, medical cannabis, cooking/edibles, extraction and manufacturing, business operations, dispensary setup, and cannabis 101 — packaged primarily as a single $299 Master of Cannabis program that bundles 10 industry certifications, 42+ hours of training, and Ed Rosenthal's 8 cultivation ebooks into 12 months of access. CTU also offers state-mandated Responsible Vendor Training approved by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation ($69) and Alaska Marijuana Handler Permit Training approved by the Alaska Marijuana Control Office ($19.95), and a Business Employee Training division serving multi-location dispensaries and cannabis operators with bulk enrollment and custom programs.

The platform is built on a proprietary learning management system supporting video coursework, quizzes, exams, downloadable resources, and certificate generation with unique verification codes. Underlying distribution is a content-led D2C funnel: a 900+ article cannabis blog, free e-book lead magnets, and a free cannabis calculator suite drive organic SEO traffic globally. CTU is ANSI/IACET accredited (Provider ID 128949) and BBB A+ rated, and reports over 50,000 students trained across 40+ countries with a 4.8/5 average graduate rating. The company is bootstrapped with no disclosed external funding, operates with 11-50 employees, and monetizes through one-time course fees for individual learners plus custom multi-year contracts for enterprise B2B clients.

Name

Cannabis Training University

Legal name

Cannabis Training University

Website

https://cannabistraininguniversity.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cannabis Training University is a Denver-based online cannabis school founded in 2009 that delivers IACET-accredited certification programs, state-approved Responsible Vendor training, and B2B bulk employee training to individual learners and cannabis businesses across 40+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online Professional Education

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Education & Training (Teaching/Instructional Design) Certifications (EDAAANAM)

Keywords

• Cannabis certification training
• Online cannabis education
• Responsible vendor training
• Dispensary compliance training
• Cannabis industry credentials

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Master of Cannabis Certification Program: One-time payment of $299 for full access to all 10 certifications, 42+ hours of training, downloadable resources, and 12 months of access. Equivalent to over $1,500 in individual courses.
2. Illinois Responsible Vendor Training: State-mandated compliance training for Illinois cannabis dispensary agents. IDFPR-approved 2-hour course at $69 USD.
3. Alaska Marijuana Handler Permit Training: State-required permit training for Alaska cannabis employees. AMCO-approved 3-hour course at $19.95 USD.
4. Bulk Employee Training for Businesses: Scalable training programs for cannabis businesses including bulk enrollment, role-based training, and custom training aligned with operational needs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Cannabis Training University delivers self-paced, online cannabis education and certification programs to individuals and cannabis businesses worldwide. Its flagship Master of Cannabis Certification Program bundles 10 industry certifications across cultivation, retail, business, extraction, cooking, and medical cannabis into a single $299 program. The company also provides state-approved Responsible Vendor Training for Illinois and Alaska, plus bulk employee training for dispensary and cultivation operators.

Product overview

Cannabis Training University offers a unified online cannabis education platform centered on the Master of Cannabis Certification Program—a comprehensive, all-in-one program at $299 that includes 10 industry certifications, 42+ hours of training across 8 core classes, and access to Ed Rosenthal's cultivation e-books valued at over $300. The platform also provides standalone state-specific certifications (Illinois RVT at $69 for 2 hours, Alaska Marijuana Handler Permit at $19.95 for 3 hours), free cannabis calculators (dosage, grow room, yield tools), and a library of free e-books. Business employee training for bulk enrollment is available for enterprise clients. All programs are self-paced, 100% online, and IACET accredited, with certificates valid for career and resume use.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Master of Cannabis Certification Program All-in-one online certification program covering cannabis cultivation, medical cannabis, business, careers, cooking, extractions, and cannabis laws. Includes 10 industry certifications, 42+ hours of training across 8 core classes, downloadable e-books including Ed Rosenthal cultivation guides, and 12 months of access for $299.
• Indoor & Outdoor Cannabis Growing Certificate Self-paced online cannabis cultivation certification teaching indoor and outdoor growing using industry-standard methods, covering plant biology, lighting, nutrients, harvesting, drying, curing, and cultivation compliance. Awards two certificates: Indoor Marijuana Growing Certificate and Outdoor Marijuana Growing Certificate.
• Budtender Certification Online cannabis retail training for current and aspiring dispensary staff covering product knowledge, compliance awareness, responsible customer interaction, and professional standards in both medical and adult-use dispensary environments.
• Cannabis Cooking Certification Online certification teaching how to prepare cannabis-infused edibles safely, professionally, and in compliance with state regulations, covering infusion fundamentals, dosage consistency, food safety, and labeling/compliance in licensed cannabis kitchens.
• Cannabis Extraction & Manufacturing Certificate Professional cannabis extraction and manufacturing education focusing on safety protocols, regulatory compliance, quality control, and standardized production processes in licensed facilities, including extraction fundamentals, manufacturing workflows, and documentation requirements.
• Medical Marijuana Certificate Structured medical cannabis training for professionals in regulated, patient-focused environments, covering patient considerations, product categories, compliance requirements, ethical boundaries, and professional responsibility within state medical marijuana programs.
• Cannabis 101 Certification Foundational cannabis education covering cannabis plant structure and anatomy, the difference between THC and CBD, indica, sativa, and hybrid classifications, how cannabinoids interact with the body, and common product types found in dispensaries.
• How to Open a Dispensary Certification Cannabis business training covering dispensary setup, licensing, compliance requirements, and operational best practices for opening a legal dispensary in any legal state.
• Illinois Responsible Vendor Training (IL RVT) IDFPR-approved two-hour online training program fulfilling Illinois state requirements for Responsible Vendor Training, covering Illinois cannabis regulations, health and safety, DWI laws, sales to minors, inventory tracking, security, and compliance. Priced at $69 USD.
• Alaska Marijuana Handler Permit Training AMCO-approved three-hour online course fulfilling Alaska marijuana handler permit training requirements, covering Alaska cannabis laws, product handling, customer interaction, health and safety standards, and regulatory compliance. Certificate valid for three years. Priced at $19.95 USD.
• Business Employee Training Bulk and custom cannabis employee training for dispensaries, grow operations, hemp businesses, and cannabis companies, providing scalable, compliance-focused education for staff onboarding and professional development across organizations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50,000+ students trained worldwide from over 40 countries
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Brain Injury Association of AmericaminorOthersCTU supports the Brain Injury Association of America through a portion of program proceeds, aligned with founder Jeff Zorn's personal recovery journey from traumatic brain injury. The partnership reflects CTU's mission of giving back to causes connected to cannabis education and recovery advocacy.
• Childhood Brain Tumor FoundationminorOthersCTU contributes to childhood brain tumor research organizations through program proceeds, supporting pediatric cancer awareness and research funding as part of community giving initiatives.
• No Kid HungryminorOthersCTU supports hunger relief efforts through contributions to No Kid Hungry, helping provide meals to children facing food insecurity as part of broader social impact mission.
• Ed Rosenthal (Educational Content)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEd Rosenthal's industry-respected cultivation books are integrated into CTU's Master of Cannabis curriculum. 8 ebooks included with enrollment (valued at $300+), covering cannabis cultivation, branding, concentrates, and harvest techniques. CTU clarifies Ed Rosenthal does not personally teach courses but provides educational materials.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• THC University: THC University is one of the most direct competitors to CTU, offering online cannabis certification programs and training courses to consumers and businesses. Both companies target career changers, budtenders, and entrepreneurs with bundled certification content.
• Oaksterdam University: Oaksterdam University is a pioneering cannabis education provider offering online and in-person training in cultivation, business, and policy. It is directly comparable to CTU's curriculum scope and target audience of cannabis job seekers and entrepreneurs.
• Green Flower: Green Flower is a cannabis education platform offering courses for consumers, industry employees, and enterprises. Its content library and B2B training offerings overlap directly with CTU's Master of Cannabis program and business training division.
• Cannabis Career Institute: Cannabis Career Institute offers online cannabis training and certification in cultivation, retail, and business. It is a near-direct competitor to CTU's Master of Cannabis program, targeting similar career-changer and dispensary-operator personas.
• Medical Marijuana 411: Medical Marijuana 411 provides online cannabis education and certification for healthcare professionals and patients. It overlaps with CTU's medical marijuana and continuing education offerings, particularly around state-required training for cannabis employees.
• Green CulturED: Green CulturED is a cannabis education provider offering training for budtenders, dispensary staff, and industry professionals. Its product mix and target buyers closely mirror CTU's budtender and retail segments.

Emerging players

• Leafwell: Leafwell combines medical cannabis education with telehealth patient certification services. While its primary focus is patient access, its educational content platform targets consumers and healthcare-adjacent professionals, partially overlapping with CTU's medical marijuana and budtender tracks.
• Siva Compliance: Siva Compliance provides cannabis compliance and operational training for licensed operators and their staff. It competes with CTU's B2B bulk training offering and its state-mandated Responsible Vendor/Handler courses.

Broad incumbents

• Udemy: Udemy is a large online learning marketplace where users can purchase short cannabis-related courses at low price points. It acts as a low-cost alternative to CTU's premium certification, particularly for personal learners and employers seeking basic compliance material.
• Coursera: Coursera partners with universities and institutions to deliver professional certificates and continuing education. Its professional development and certificate framework is comparable to CTU's IACET/CEU model, though focused on broader industries rather than cannabis specifically.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CannabisTU
• Facebookfacebook.com/theCTU
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cannabis-training-university

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cannabis Training University