Program Overview
The growing acceptance and legalization of medicinal plants has created strong demand for skilled professionals and entrepreneurs in the cannabis, herbal extract, and natural product industries. Many pharmaceutical drugs originate from plant compounds, and interest in medicinal plant chemistry continues to rise with the expansion of the cannabis economy.
Northern Michigan University was the first to offer a four-year Medicinal Plant Chemistry degree. This unique program blends chemistry and biology with research, hands-on analysis, and a focus on entrepreneurship and lab standards, preparing graduates for careers in labs or to launch their own operations in this emerging field.
What You'll Learn
The Medicinal Plant Chemistry program at Northern Michigan University is structured to support student success through mixed cohorts and a year-long capstone experience. Coursework builds a strong foundation in chemistry and plant biology, leading to a research-focused capstone that includes plant cultivation, experimental horticulture, and natural product analysis. Students choose between two focus tracks: the Entrepreneurial Track, which emphasizes business and accounting, or the Bio-analytical Track, which explores advanced topics in chemistry and biology.
"More people need to know about this program. There are a lot of people who would be interested in it. A lot of people don’t think they might be capable of doing it, but it’s totally possible. There are so many professors and people around us who are so passionate and so interested that it will help you even if you are struggling. If you want it, you can get it for sure."
Sabrina Mata
Plants We Study
From cannabis to other powerful botanicals, our students study a variety of plants with therapeutic and commercial value. Scroll through a few highlights below, or explore the full list of species we focus on.
Full List of Plants
- Cannabis sativa
- Rosmarinus officinalis
- Lavandula angustifolia
- Leonurus cardiaca
- Ocimum Tenuiflorum
- Mentha spicata
- Ziziphus jujube
- Aloe barbadensis
- Solanum lycopersicum
- Papaver rhoeas
- Hirochloe hirta
- Thuja occidentalis
- Matricaria chamomila
- Datura metel
- Plumeria rubra
- Cucurma longa
- Taraxacum officinale
- Urtica dioica
- Achillea millefolium
- Matricaria recutita
- Monarda fistulosa
- Ocimum basilicum
- scutellaria baicalensis
- scutellaria lateriflora
- Withania somnifera
- Perilla frutescens
- Humulus Lupulus
- Allium sativum
- Zingiber officinale
- Artemisia absinthium
- Capsicum annuum
- Gautheria procumbens
- Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
- Blueberry
- Datura stramonium
- Hyoscyamus niger
- Abies balsemea
- Betula papryifera
- Hyprticum Perferatum
- Radula complanata
- Atropa belladonna
- Capsicum chinense
- Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum)
- Monotropa uniflora
Fungi
- Hericium erinaceum
- Suillus americanus
- turkeytail
- cordyceps
Plant Compounds
- Δ9-THC
- CBD
- CBN
- Xanthohumol
- Linalool
- Methyl Salicylate
- Nitrates
- erinacine
- Malvidin
- Hypericin
- Xanthohumol
- Lupulone
- Capsaicin
- Dihydrocapsaicin
- Vanillin
- Mg
- Myrcene
- Limonene
- A-Pinene
- trans-β-farnesene
- Erinacine A
- Vitexin
- Carvone
- epifriedelanol
- Cannflavins A and B
- Cichoric Acid
- Alkamides
- 1,8-cineole
- Scopolamine
- b-caryophyllene
- quercetin
- kaempferol
- apigenin
- Menthone
- P-cymene
- thymol
- carvacrol
- Friedellin
- Rosmernic Acid
- scutellarin
- luteolin
- Withanolides
- Eugenol
- alpha acids
- beta acids
- allicin
- alliin
- hericenones
- erinacines
- Shogaol
- gingerol
- Thujone
- tannins
- linalyl acetate
- Leonurine
- Ursolic Acid
- C-glucosyl chromone
- lycopene
- Bisabolol
- chamazulene
- Atropine
- Urushiols
- Cucurmin
- Caffeic acid
- Lupeol
- 5-HTP
- Borneol
- Diosgenin
Cannabis Sativa
Tetrahydrocannabinol
Cordyceps Militaris
Cordycepin
Humulus Lupulus
Lupulone
Thuja Occidentalis
Fenchone
Papaver Rhoeas
Rhoeadine
Atropa Belladonna
Scopolamine
Gaultheria Procumbens
Methyl Salicylate
Abies Balsemea
Bornyl Acetate
Ocimum Tenuiflorum
Eugenol
Betula Papryifera
Betulin
Lavandula Angustifolia
Linalool
Datura Ceratocaula
Hyoscyamine
Radula Complanata
Pinene
Urtica Dioica
Apigenin
Where Do Our Students Work After Graduation?
Analytical Laboratories (Cannabis and Others)
- Cambium Analytica (MI, MA)
- North Coast Testing Laboratories of Michigan (MI)
- Infinite Chemical Analysis Labs (MI)
- Reassure Labs (MI)
- US Cannalytics, LLC (NJ)
- NSF Laboratories (MI)
- CP Labs (OH)
- Quality Laboratories, LLC (OK)
- Fiberquant Analytical Svc (AZ)
- Steadfast Labs (MI)
- Delta 9 Labs (MI)
- PuEr Lab (MI)
- Landau Labs (CA)
- SC Labs (CO)
- ACT Laboratories, Inc (NY)
- Alexin Analytical Laboratories (OR)
Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Laboratories
- Abbott Laboratories (CA)
- Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals (WI)
- Adcentrx Therapeutics (CA)
- Gingko Bioworks (MA)
- Immunologix Laboratories (FL)
- Smithers Cannabis Testing Services (IL)
- PPD GMP Lab (WI)
Cannabis Dispensaries and Marketing
- Green Thumb Industries (NY)
- Northwoods Cannabis (MI)
- Skymint Cannabis (MI)
- Dutchie (MI)
- Sozo Companies (MI)
Chemical and Scientific Supply Companies
- Cayman Chemical (MI)
- Cascade Chemistry/Actylis (OR)
- Millipore Sigma (IL, WI)
- Thermo Fisher Scientific (WI)
Food and Consumer Products
- E&J Gallo Winery (CA)
- Johnson & Johnson (NJ)
- Valero (TX) - petrochemicals
Healthcare
- BIOTECH Clinical Laboratories (MI)
- Corewell Health (MI)
Other Cannabis Related Programs
Northern Michigan University offers a unique four-year Medicinal Plant Chemistry degree that prepares students for careers in medicinal plant production, analysis, and distribution. While not limited to cannabis, the program equips chemists for this rapidly growing industry.
The NMU “ecosystem” of related programs has developed to offer opportunities in many areas related to the cannabis industry. You can view NMU's other cannabis-related degrees, certificates, and non-credit programs at the link below.