Cannabis Education

Since licensed sales of recreational cannabis became legal in New Jersey in 2022, career opportunities in the billion-dollar industry have grown rapidly—and some colleges and universities in the state are getting in on the action.

The school’s hemp farm — which sits on a 62-foot-long fenced-in plot — includes 150 plants, some of which have grown over 10 feet high, according to NJ Advance Media.

The public university, which is located in Galloway Township, offers multiple courses in cannabis and a Cannabis Studies minor program, which was launched in 2018.

The school started growing cannabis plants — which come from a class of cannabis sativa cultivated for industrial and medicinal use — for hemp cultivation research.

Thomas Edison State University is collaborating with Green Flower, a California-based cannabis education company, to launch new online certificate programs that focus on opportunities in the cannabis industry. Green Flower has similar partnerships with more than 20 higher education institutions around the country.

To address the critical need for workers in the industry, Union has partnered with Green Flower, a leader in cannabis education, to offer these in-demand training programs, focusing on retail specialist training, cannabis extraction and product development, and cultivation.

“The cannabis field is a rapidly growing industry. With the legalization of recreational marijuana use in New Jersey, it is important to educate our community on the process of producing and selling cannabis products in a legal and ethical way,” stated Union’s President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin.

Raven Santana speaks with Robert Mejia, adjunct professor of cannabis studies, about how Stockton is preparing students to enter the legal weed field.

New Jersey’s Cannabis Apprenticeship Training Initiative—one of the nation’s first programs dedicated to training workers in the growing cannabis retail field—is gearing up to welcome its first group of 20 students this summer.

A pilot program uniquely presented by a broad consortium committed to workforce development in the state, the Cannabis Apprenticeship Training Initiative will provide industry-specific training for employees in the cannabis retail sector. The apprenticeship program is unregistered because cannabis currently is not legal at the federal level.

Bergen Community College (BCC) launched new workforce development programs aimed at equipping students with the skills needed to establish themselves in New Jersey’s burgeoning legalized cannabis industry.

In a March 15 press release unveiling the cannabis education programming, BCC President Eric Friedman said the combined offerings position the Paramus-based community college as one of the only learning institutions in the state to sponsor such comprehensive opportunities.

Times have changed. Stockton University will host a free online webinar at 1 p.m. on Friday, March 10 titled “Destination Cannabis: Evolving Cannabis Hospitality & Tourism for a Mainstream Audience.” The discussion will revolve around legal recreational cannabis use, its impact on resort destinations and opportunities for New Jersey hospitality and tourism businesses and beyond.

Rutgers Law School recently established a certification program for New Jersey cannabis business owners to provide legal guidance for properly maintaining their businesses in an emerging market.

The non-J.D. program titled "Certificate in Cannabis Law and Business," is a six-month hybrid course for cannabis license holders and interested entrepreneurs. University faculty specializing in cannabis rules and regulations will teach the coursework.

Rowan University and the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development are collaborating on an apprentice program to help people learn the skills necessary for a career in the state’s marijuana industry.

Officials with both say this is a great way for people to get started on a new career.