CONWAY, SC (WBTW) – A senior studying entrepreneurial management at Coastal Carolina University established an organization working to help students enter the legal cannabis industry after graduation.

Founder and president of the Cannabis Business Organization at CCU, Anton Ferraro says there are numerous career options within the cannabis job market.

“It’s a business, so you get all aspects incorporated from manufacturing, production, all the way through the sales channel to the consumer. The opportunities for business students are really endless,” Ferraro said.

The group at CCU plans to host networking events, seminars and have guest speakers to educate those interested in learning more about the new industry, and ultimately provide job opportunities for young graduates.

Ferraro says it wasn’t easy to get the University’s approval to start the organization.

“It’s a very new, young, emerging industry, so I think there’s a lot of hesitation to move forward so rapidly,” Ferraro said.

He says educating people about legal cannabis products like CBD oil, will help eliminate the stigma.

“People don’t know exactly what it is, so it’s really just about educating the population and letting them know some of the benefits associated with it,” Ferraro said.

Ferraro uses CBD oil before bed to help him sleep, and he sometimes uses it throughout the day to keep his stress levels down.

Experts say CBD oil can also help with depression and anxiety, and even relieve pain.

Justin Lambert, owner of Your CBD Store in Myrtle Beach started using CBD oil to help ease his pain after a car accident. 

“CBD is really the help without the high,” Lambert said.

Lambert says he is one of the industry professionals Ferraro reached out to about his organization.

He says the group at CCU will be a positive step forward for the legal cannabis industry.

“The main thing that people need to understand that are apprehensive is education- on the plant, how it works, and just seeing how it can actually help people,” Lambert said.

The CBD industry is worth more than $1 billion today, but experts estimate by 2020, its value could grow to $22 billion.

To learn more about the Cannabis Business Organization at CCU, click here.