New Jersey Community College Now Offers Exciting Cannabis Degree and Training Programs

In a move that’s sure to make parents question where their tuition dollars are going, Hudson County Community College in New Jersey has started offering cannabis career-related certifications and training programs. That’s right, folks, the Garden State is now the state where you can garden… cannabis, legally, and with a degree to boot!

Hudson County Community College, or HCCC as it’s known (which, coincidentally, sounds like a strain of cannabis), is now offering a variety of cannabis-related coursework. This includes an associate degree program, two certificate programs, and a four-week non-credit program focused on how to apply for and operate a cannabusiness in New Jersey. The latter is perfect for those who have always dreamt of being the next Walter White – except legal and with less Breaking Bad drama.

HCCC President, Dr. Christopher Reber, said in a statement that the college “is dedicated to providing our diverse community with state-of-the-art programs that will lead to success and upward social and economic mobility.” He added, “We are committed to ensuring that those who were most harmed by past cannabis injustices are provided with the acuity to build and sustain profitable businesses.” We’re pretty sure he said this with a completely straight face.

The associate degree in science for business administration is a 60-credit program designed to prepare students for ownership and operations opportunities in the cannabis industry. The curriculum includes communication skills, marketing, accounting, economics, finance, and business management. Because who wouldn’t want their accountant to be well-versed in the nuances of the cannabis industry?

The cannabis business agent proficiency certificate program requires 12 credits to complete and provides those who obtain it with job skills necessary for employment in entry-level positions within the industry. The credits are transferable to the associate degree program, in case you decide halfway through that you really do want that full degree after all.

The cannabis business management academic certificate is a 33-credit program that provides graduates with the knowledge and skills for supervisory positions in the industry. The credits also transfer to the associate degree program, just in case you’re aiming for that corner office in the cannabis skyscraper.

In an interview with NJ.com, cannabis attorney Jessica Gonzalez, of the Hiller, PC law firm, who is involved with developing the college’s curriculum, noted that HCCC’s student body “is primarily Latino students, followed by Black students,” adding that she grew up in Jersey City where HCCC is based.

“It’s an important step for this institution to embrace cannabis to ensure that communities most harmed have access to cannabis education and are aware of the opportunities this industry brings,” she said.

HCCC joins Stockton University, Rowan University, Raritan Valley Community College, and Bergen Community College in creating cannabis programs in the Garden State. So, if you’ve ever dreamed of being a scholar of the leaf, New Jersey is the place to be!