Stockton University Launches Cannabis And Hemp Research Institute

GALLOWAY, NJ — Stockton University announced an expansion of their cannabis studies program with the addition of a new Cannabis and Hemp Research Institute.

The new institute will provide education, research, and resources for the local and national market.

Its research will focus on hemp cultivation practices, non-medical cannabis research, lab testing and the creation of hemp and cannabis educational materials.

“As the first university in New Jersey to offer a Cannabis Studies Minor in 2019, Stockton is poised to do important research into areas that can provide opportunities for our students and emerging industries, and enhance the economy of the state,” said Associate Professor of Biology Ekaterina Sedia, coordinator of the Cannabis Studies minor.

Robert Mejia, an adjunct professor of Cannabis Studies at Stockton University, said the institute will host educational and career fairs, and help set the standard for hemp and cannabis education.

The CHRIS testing lab will provide testing services to hemp growers, processors and finished product manufacturers. In addition to hemp testing, CHRIS plans to grow hemp in Stockton fields and greenhouse and host educational events.

The institute will also provide education, training and employment opportunities for the post-prison population.

“We see this as a way to engage with our local community and to help those harmed by the war on drugs,” Mejia said.

The new institute’s first event will be a virtual Cannabis Curriculum Convening on April 21 and 22, which will bring together cannabis educators across the nation to exchange ideas, network and discuss strategies to enhance cannabis education in higher education.

“There is so much public confusion about cannabis and hemp and the topic affects so many different areas,” Sedia said. “Through our research and education, we want to be a leader both in academia, and in assisting businesses and local communities as the industry grows.”

Themes for the convening include cannabis curricula in science, cultivation, law, medicine and social justice.

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