Beginning this fall, Stockton University will become the first college in New Jersey to offer an undergraduate degree in cannabis studies.
The Bachelor of Science in hemp and cannabis business management, through Stockton’s School of Business, will prepare students to join a booming industry that has seen a 66% increase in the number of jobs in New Jersey, according to Stockton adjunct professor Rob Mejia.
“This year, New Jersey is on track to sell over $1 billion of cannabis products,” said Mejia, who teaches cannabis studies classes. “You have to pay attention to a $1 billion business. Cannabis and hemp being so unique and regulated, you have to have special skills in order to get involved and be successful in the industry.”
In March 2023, the number of cannabis- and hemp-related jobs in New Jersey was about 7,400, according to Vangst, the cannabis industry’s No. 1 job platform. That number jumped to about 12,200 in March and continues to grow as the state opens new licensing classes in distribution, wholesaling and delivery.
Mejia added that New Jersey’s edible cannabis business — including infused chocolate, beverages and snacks — has just begun to expand, which will lead to an increase in job demand.
“It’s clearly an industry that is growing exponentially, and, as a result, there are job opportunities that have surfaced, both directly within the industry as well as with ancillary jobs,” Warren Kleinsmith, the dean of the School of Business, said. “It’s an opportunity for students to capture much-needed talent in a booming industry.”
In addition to courses that focus on cannabis cultivation, social justice and cannabis and introduction to medical cannabis, the degree’s core is grounded in strong business classes, such as business policy and strategies, marketing principles and macroeconomics. The degree also builds on Stockton’s existing cannabis studies minor, which was introduced in 2018 and has more than 70 graduates.
Cannabis is legal for medical use in 38 of 50 states and for recreational use in 24 states, including New Jersey since 2021. At the federal level, it’s still classified as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act, prohibiting its use for any purpose, but the federal law is generally not enforced where cannabis has been legalized. And, in May, the Drug Enforcement Administration formally moved to recategorize cannabis as a Schedule III drug, which signifies low to moderate risk for dependency and an accepted medical use.
For more information about the Bachelor of Science in hemp and cannabis business management degree, contact Emmanuel Small, associate professor of business administration at 609-652-4300 or emmanuel.small@stockton.edu.