Stockton becomes state's first to offer undergrad in cannabis

Stockton University will become the state's first college or university to offer an undergraduate degree in cannabis studies.

The Bachelor of Science in Hemp and Cannabis Business Management through Stockton’s School of Business begins in the fall.

It will prepare students to join a booming industry that has seen a 66 percent 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 2024 and continues to grow as the state opens new licensing classes in distribution, wholesaling and delivery.

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, Mejia added.

“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,” said Warren Kleinsmith, the School of Business dean. “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 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.

The experiential learning component of the new degree is one of its strengths, Kleinsmith said, as there are two cannabis field internships offered.

“That part is key because it gives students hands-on experience,” Mejia said. “It also introduces students to employers. We have a very developed pipeline. We’ve placed (Cannabis Studies minors) in the hemp industry, with labs doing cultivation, in processing, in dispensaries, in management, in marketing and working with consultants.”

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 Scheduled III drug, which signifies low to moderate risk for dependency and an accepted medical use.

Kleinsmith acknowledged cannabis’ complicated history, but emphasized the university is simply adjusting to the changing needs of businesses in New Jersey by being the first to offer the degree program. He said the design of the degree has come after much discussion with advisory boards, feedback from alumni and people involved with internships through the Cannabis Studies minor.

“We didn’t create the need, we are addressing the need,” he said. “If we don’t address the need, then are we really doing our job as an institution of higher education? If you don’t recognize how things change, you can get caught flat-footed, and your programs can be on the back burner of what people need.”

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 .