by Lewis Loflin
In 2019, Bristol City Schools considered adding cannabis-related vocational classes, a move tied to regional developments and federal funding. The proposal, approved 5-0 by the school board, sparked questions about its scope and purpose amid the city’s economic challenges. Here’s what the plan entails and what it aims to achieve.
In 2018, the Virginia Board of Pharmacy greenlit Dharma Pharmaceuticals to open five cannabis oil facilities statewide, one slated for the Bristol Mall alongside a proposed casino. This plant will focus on indoor cannabis cultivation for cannabidiol (CBD) and THC-A oil production—legal medical products. The school board’s plan aligns with this, proposing five vocational classes pending Virginia Department of Education approval (Bristol Herald Courier, January 8, 2019).
The classes cover “health and medical science,” “food and agriculture,” and “greenhouse plant production and management,” plus cybersecurity—seemingly unrelated to cannabis. A board member noted, “We already have horticulture and floriculture, but this would go deeper into using hydroponics for vegetables and organic foods.” Existing programs, however, already teach hydroponics and cybersecurity at local high schools and community colleges.
The overlap raises questions. Carrots cost $1.25 for 2 pounds at Aldi—affordable compared to greenhouse setups. Cybersecurity’s link to agriculture was pitched as unique—“how it directly affects food and agriculture”—but local job demand in this field remains unclear.
The initiative’s funding comes via the federal Perkins V Act, aimed at enhancing career and technical education. This suggests a financial incentive for Bristol Schools, which face fiscal strain alongside the city. The goal: prepare students for emerging industries like cannabis oil production. Yet, the region’s job market—lacking robust cybersecurity or high-tech agriculture roles—casts doubt on immediate payoffs.
Southwest Virginia has greenhouses and pick-your-own farms; adding cannabis-specific training may target Dharma’s needs, not broad employment. No job list was provided to confirm demand.
Bristol’s economic development often leans on government support—the Ralph Stanley Museum, for instance, faltered despite investment. As a former vocational instructor, I’d argue core skills—math, science, reading—lag here and merit focus over niche programs. The city’s budget woes amplify this; cannabis classes might stretch resources thin without clear returns.
This isn’t about legality or morality—Dharma’s plant is state-approved—but about fit. Vocational education should match local realities. Bristol needs jobs, not just grants, and foundational learning could outlast trendy courses.
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