Union County College, NJCBA enter joint agreement to develop cannabis studies programs

The New Jersey CannaBusiness Association signed an agreement with Union County College to create opportunities for the organization to help develop and support the college’s cannabis-related academic programs and internships.

The agreement was signed Wednesday evening at a ceremony at the college’s Cranford Campus Innovation Center. Joining NJCBA President Scott Rudder and UCC President Margaret McMenamin at the ceremony were Sen. Nicholas Scutari, D-22 District, and Assemblyman Jamel Holley, D-20th District.

“The cannabis debate has centered around the critical issues of social justice and undermining the black market. One area, however, where we need to be especially focused is workforce development,” Scutari said. ” The industry is going to expand quickly and we have to make sure we are training people to engage in it successfully.”

“This agreement goes a long way toward accomplishing that goal in Union County,” he added.

The agreement encompasses educational, training and research opportunities, along with guest lecturers and internship opportunities in the cannabis field. The programs will commence during the Spring 2019 semester.

“One of our goals at Union is to provide to our students with programs that are on the cutting edge of business and industry needs,” said McMenamin. “This new partnership allows us to provide high quality academic and career programs to our students that will lead to jobs in the emerging medical plant chemistry market in New Jersey.”

This will be NJCBA’s third such agreement, the first being with Stockton University and the second with Atlantic Cape Community College.

Both Scutari and Holley have supported measures to legalize recreational, adult-use marijuana in the state.

This story has been updated from an earlier version.