Building a Cannabis Education Program That Works

By Rob Mejia, Adjunct Professor of Hemp and Cannabis Business Management; President of Our Community Harvest: A Cannabis Education Company; Author of The Essential Cannabis Book and Cannabis Careers: The Insider’s Guide to a Budding Industry

When Stockton University launched its Cannabis Studies minor in 2018, the goal was never novelty. It was about acknowledging that cannabis (whether people liked it or not) had become a growing, regulated industry in New Jersey and beyond. Our students deserved a serious, practical education if they wanted to work in the cannabis industry. 

That philosophy influenced the implementation of Stockton’s Bachelor of Science in Hemp and Cannabis Business Management, which officially launched in Fall 2024.
The bachelor’s degree is housed in the School of Business for a reason. This is not a science or cultivation-only program, and it’s not solely about law, policy, and advocacy. It’s about preparing students to understand how licensed cannabis businesses operate. The curriculum combines traditional business coursework with cannabis-specific classes that cover compliance, operations, supply chains, social equity, and industry history. Students graduate with the same foundational business skills as any other Stockton business major, but with a clear understanding of how those skills apply to hemp and cannabis.

In 2025, the program reached an important milestone with the graduation of its first student, Dylan Cockerill. Being first matters not symbolically, but practically. Dylan navigated a program that was still being built in real time, helped shape conversations around curriculum and career pathways, and demonstrated that a cannabis business degree can be completed with academic rigor and clear outcomes. His graduation marks proof of concept: This program works, and students can finish it prepared to enter the workforce. In fact, Dylan and I stay in touch. I’m happy to say that this weekend he received an offer to work in a local dispensary alongside two other Stockton cannabis graduates! 

Access has always been a priority for Stockton’s cannabis programs, which is why the university is finalizing an affiliation agreement with Hudson County Community College (HCCC). An affiliation agreement is a formal partnership that aligns coursework between two institutions so students can transfer credits efficiently. In this case, students who complete HCCC’s Associate of Science in Business Administration with a Cannabis Studies option will be able to transfer into Stockton’s bachelor’s program without losing time or credits. This “2+2” structure keeps costs down, creates a clear pathway to a four-year degree, and opens doors for students who might not otherwise see a cannabis education as accessible or realistic.

Stockton’s work in cannabis education extends beyond the classroom. Our professors often work or consult outside the classroom. One recent example of this external work is a study conducted for the City of Atlantic City examining whether a cap on the number of cannabis dispensaries would be viable.

Here is some quick background: Atlantic City moved quickly into the cannabis retail market, and by late 2025, the city was facing a dilemma: How many dispensaries is too many? They needed a study to analyze local market conditions, tourism patterns, consumer demand, product availability and differentiation and comparisons with other jurisdictions to assess whether continued expansion made economic sense. The findings did not promote or oppose cannabis retail; they provided decision-makers with data to weigh sustainability, competition, and long-term stability. In an industry where policy decisions are often made without reliable information, that kind of grounded analysis matters.

Stockton’s cannabis studies programs are not about hype or trends. They are about doing the work -- building curriculum carefully, graduating students who can contribute immediately, and producing research that helps communities make informed choices. The cannabis industry is not perfect, and it is not finished evolving. Neither is this program. But Stockton’s approach has always been realistic, intentional, and focused on outcomes for students, for municipalities, and for New Jersey as a whole.