Faculty Profile: Dr. Phil Lamy

Dr. Phil Lamy is perhaps best known for launching the Cannabis Studies Certificate Program at Vermont State University Castleton in 2019 with colleagues Brendan Lalor, Jody Condon, Paul Cohen, and Joseph Markowski. Now a 12-credit offering at the university, the program combines coursework in cannabis business, cultivation, history, and culture with an internship in a professional cannabis setting. Graduates may also complete the Vermont Cannabis Control Board’s required training for the “Employee ID Card” to become accredited Vermont cannabis employees.

Lamy grew up in the late 1960s and early 1970s during a period of rapid social change, including the Civil Rights Movement, Vietnam War, the counterculture, and the popular music that defined that era. He developed a deep and early appreciation for society and culture, conflict and social change, protest and music. His experience in the 60s and 70s deeply influenced his values, interests, and the work he brings to his roles at VTSU. In addition to his work as the coordinator of the Cannabis Studies Program, Dr. Lamy is a sociologist, anthropologist, and musician, and has spent more than four decades inspiring students to think critically about society, culture, community and change.

Dr. Lamy describes his work as, “the greatest job in the world. Working with smart, interesting, curious people – whether faculty, staff, or students – all wanting to learn, experiment, and better experience and live in the world. And as a professor, to pursue one’s interests and passions, to indulge your creative instincts, to study, teach, travel, and learn are gifts that I’m so fortunate to have  been granted.”

Lamy earned his Ph.D. in Sociology and M.A. in Anthropology from Northeastern University, a B.A. in Anthropology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and studied percussion at Berklee College of Music in Boston. His research and teaching span social movements, apocalyptic subcultures, popular music culture, cannabis studies, and community life. His articles and commentary have appeared in academic journals and media outlets ranging from The Boston Globe and The London Times to Time Magazine, NPR, and the BBC.

He is currently working to expand the offerings of the Cannabis Studies program to include continuing education offerings and micro-credentials. This program development, funded by the Chancellor’s Innovation Fund, is yielding a series of workshops VTSU will offer in partnership with the Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) and the Vermont Cannabis Control Board (CCB). 

“We are designing workshops that provide essential business, compliance, and cultivation training for emerging cannabis entrepreneurs,” Lamy explains. “The goal is to give students—and license applicants—the practical knowledge they need to succeed in this evolving industry.”

The workshops include:

• Cannabis Business 101 – Financial management, business planning, and operating a vertically integrated cannabis venture (instructor, Tim Egan)
• Cannabis Compliance – Processing, packaging, marketing, and safety regulations aligned with Vermont CCB protocols (instructor, Tim Egan)
• Challenges to Growing Cannabis – Pest control, plant biology, environmental impacts, and non-chemical cultivation strategies (instructor, Jonathan Kaplan)
• Knowing Your Genetics – Cannabis genetics, strain selection, and cultivation methods for various growing environments (instructor, Jonathan Kaplan)

These programs are not only offered on VTSU campuses and online but are also being adapted for international audiences. VTSU recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Chamber of Cannabis Industry in Ghana, West Africa, to provide cannabis studies courses and workshops, as well as to explore a framework for providing certification and consulting for the country’s emerging cannabis industry. Cross-cultural exchanges may also be in the works. Ghana recently became the first nation in Sub Saharan Africa to have a legal cannabis industry directed toward industrial and medical uses.

Lamy shared, “The Ghanaian officials told us that in their research for a cannabis educational organization, they noted the relationship VTSU’s Cannabis Studies Certificate Program had developed with the state government of Vermont, its cannabis industry and culture, and our Northeast cannabis network. They said that was the model they wanted to emulate.” 

Beyond his academic work, Lamy serves on the advisory boards of the Vermont Chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), Zen Barn Farms’ Social Equity Steering Committee, and the New Hampshire Cannabis Association.

For Lamy, teaching remains the most rewarding part of his work:

“Students keep me alert, curious, and young—at least at heart. They challenge my beliefs and assumptions, and I love that.”

At VTSU, he has found a culture that supports innovation, from study-abroad programs in London, Cuba, and Costa Rica to sabbaticals studying Latin percussion in Peru and Cuba, and even the creation of the Cannabis Studies Program.

Lamy and his wife Whitney have made Castleton their home for more than 30 years, raising their family just steps from campus. Their two daughters and three grandchildren all live locally, deepening his connection to both the university and the town.

“For me, being part of VTSU Castleton is more than a job,” he reflects. “It’s living in a vibrant community.”

Whether guiding students through the history of social movements, helping them navigate the legal cannabis industry, or playing music with colleagues and friends, Dr. Lamy continues to embody the spirit of curiosity, community, and creativity that defines Vermont State University.