Stockton University will become the latest college to offer an undergraduate degree in cannabis studies, the institution announced on Wednesday.
The school joins as many as 40 other universities across the country currently offering such programs, though it will be the first to do so in New Jersey. The degree in hemp and cannabis business management will be available through Stockton's School of Business, and expands on Stockton's existing cannabis studies minor, which was introduced in 2018, the university said.
Cannabis industry jobs have seen a 66% increase in the state, according to Stockton adjunct professor Rob Mejia, who teaches classes on the subject.
"This year, New Jersey is on track to sell over $1 billion of cannabis products," Meija said. "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."
New Jersey's edible cannabis business has begun expanding as well, he added.
There were about 7,400 marijuana- and hemp-related jobs in New Jersey in March 2023 according to cannabis job platform Vangst. By March 2024, that number had jumped to approximately 12,200.
"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 dean of the School of Business. "It's an opportunity for students to capture much needed talent in a booming industry."
Recreational cannabis has been legal in New Jersey since 2021.
