A class on the history of marijuana will be the first of its kind at any Florida college this fall.
The course, offered at Florida Gulf Coast University, filled up within 24 hours after registration opened.
"We will look at the history, the health the economics, the legal aspect and cultural aspect," said Professor Sam Walch, who along with Dr. Martha Rosenthal are teaching the course.
Walch says it's important for the next generation of students to be educated on this drug which he believes will become completely legalized in Florida within the next 5 years.
"I think there is a definite split during generations, as you get to a certain generation, where this was demonized, that is starting out to be very, very elderly."
Walch says research into the medicinal benefits of marijuana started last century in the United States until Congress cracked down on the drug.
"When they declared that marijuana would be put on the controlled substances act as a schedule one drug,that pretty much prohibited it from any kind of research any kind of consideration."
Junior Karina Magnago Do Vale doesn't think marijuana should be lumped into the same category as other drugs.
"I think anything can be abused if you take it to that heart, it just depends who the person is and what you are abusing, I feel like it is easier to stigmatize marijuana because it is considered a drug, but I think it depends on how you use it and how often you use it."
Walch hopes the class can spark students interests in careers within the cannabis industry.
"One woman said oh, I'm so glad my son is going to FGCU, He's going to be in restaurant hospitality, but he really wants to be a chef for medical marijuana."
Walch is hoping to offer the class once per year, during the fall semester.
