By: Gabrielle Mills, Follow South Jersey Intern
GALLOWAY, N.J. – Stockton University is hosting a cannabis aid event on December 17 from 12-3 p.m. The event, to be hosted on Stockton’s Atlantic City campus, is a chance for students and the community to learn more about cannabis and legal recourse for those in prison prior to its legalization. Recreational marijuana has been legal in the state of New Jersey since January of 2021.
According to Rob Mejia, a cannabis specialist at the university “the event will provide opportunities to learn about Stockton’s Cannabis Studies Online Certificate Program, meet with representatives from Atlantic City and participate in an expungement and legal aid clinic.”
Though still highly stigmatized, the cannabis industry has grown into a multi-billion dollar pursuit. As more researchers, like those at Stockton embrace the study of Marijuana, they help to increase information about the plant and decrease stigma. However, it is also true that a disproportionate amount of Black and brown men and women are still in prison over, now legal marijuana or cannabis related crimes.
The upcoming event is being hosted in conjunction with The Botanist “an award-winning national cannabis retail and product brand” in hopes to address this disparity.
The brand is announcing “a sponsorship for three social equity applicants to earn a Cannabis Certificate through Stockton University’s Continuing Studies online cannabis program.” According to Stockton “sponsorship recipients will receive an interview for employment at The Botanist upon their completion of the certificate program.”
“Together, we are establishing an ongoing pipeline of qualified individuals interested in this growing field and making a difference in the lives of cannabis social equity candidates,” said Rob Mejia, Cannabis Studies teaching specialist at Stockton.
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