Certificate in Cannabis Law and Business

Module 1: Fundamentals of cannabis regulation in New Jersey

To start the program, we’ll review:

• The history and development of New Jersey’s medical and recreational cannabis industries. 
• The broader national and international context.
• The specifics of New Jersey’s CREAMM Act, including the difference between cannabis and marijuana under New Jersey law.
• New Jersey’s revised Medical Marijuana law. 
• Key legal terminology.
• How the rules and processes established by the Act affect how you set up and run your business, including business types, priority applicants, the differences between conditional and annual licenses, and the requirement that licensed businesses employ NJ-certified cannabis handlers.

Module 2: Regulatory compliance

This module will focus on:

• Protecting your license by running a compliant business. Whether you’ve 
• Adhering to your standard operating procedures 
• Maintaining compliance in various areas, including inventory control and use of METRC, audit processes, and more. 
• How to find the latest information and update your processes as the state’s regulations develop.

Module 3: Cannabis business operations

This module focuses on: 

• Specific challenges and rules associated with operations for businesses in New Jersey’s cannabis industry. 
• How to create and execute branding strategies, and the specific legal rules that apply to branding in this industry.
• The special challenges associated with banking and federal tax compliance.
• The many rules with which your marketing must apply, both the rules that apply specifically to the cannabis industry and those that apply to all foods. 
• How business agreements—for example, licensing, supply, and consulting agreements—should be structured to be reliably enforced, even in the face of federal illegality. 
• How you need to be thinking about protecting your intellectual property.

Module 4: Locations and local government

This module will focus on:

• Navigating zoning and land use restrictions are major topics for cannabis business owners. 
• The legal rules you need to know and some strategies for making your property searches more effective. 
• Other land-use regulations, like the Pinelands Protection Act, that may impact your property use. 
• The structures of local governments.
• The tools you can use to learn the specifics of your municipality’s rules. 
• What happens when municipalities “opt out” as permitted by the CREAMM Act.

Module 5: Choose ONE from:

Topics for License Classes 1-4

In this elective module, we’ll cover topics specific to license classes 1 (cultivators), 2 (manufacturers), 3 (wholesalers), and 4 (distributors).

Topics for License Classes 5-6

In this elective module, we’ll cover topics specific to:

• License classes 5 (retailer) and 6 (delivery). 
• Specific considerations on zoning, physical safety, and security.
• Product packaging.
• Cannabis Consumption Areas.
• “Dram shop” liability.
• Dealing with minors. 
• Techniques for effective community relations.

Module 6: Capstone

Only available for full certificate participants.

As the certificate wraps up, you’ll bring together what you’ve learned and apply it to a project that will immediately impact your business. Whether you’re working on your business plan, license application, marketing materials, or an investor pitch deck, you’ll receive feedback from our faculty as you assemble your project. The final course meeting will allow you to showcase your project and see the work of your peers, gaining valuable experience and feedback.

Refund policy

Cancellations and transfers will be accepted without charge if written notification is received any time up to 10 business days before the program start date and if the program fees have been paid in full. Cancellations or transfers made on or after that time are subject to the program’s total cost.

Registrants who fail to attend and do not cancel before the start date will be responsible for the program’s total cost. Credit toward a future session will not be granted.

Cancellations will be accepted for registrants paying via payment plan, but payment for the individual modules already attended must be made in full.

Course fees

Purchasing all six modules in the certificate simultaneously entitles you to pay the certificate fee of $2,995. You can also purchase modules individually at the per-module prices. You can purchase modules individually and complete the certificate over multiple semesters; however, you cannot switch to the certificate price after taking your first module.

Payment plans

Payment plan options are available. For more information, email Vanessa Williams at lawprograms@law.rutgers.edu.

Earning the certificate

To earn the complete certificate and receive a digital badge, participants must miss no more than six hours of instruction. These six hours cannot be either of the in-person sessions. They must receive a grade of ‘Pass’ for their capstone. More information on the capstone will be provided at the start of the program.

Group discounts

If three or more people from the same organization register for the complete certificate simultaneously as part of the same transaction, they are eligible for a 10% discount. For more information, please email lawprograms@law.rutgers.edu. 

Technology requirements

The online sessions will be via Zoom. You will need a device (ideally a computer or laptop) with a reliable internet connection, web camera, microphone, and speakers or headphones. Additional content will be provided via our Canvas platform, accessed via any web browser.

In-person sessions

The certificate has two in-person sessions (the first and last). These will meet at Rutgers Law School in either Camden or Newark: locations to be confirmed.

Course changes/cancellations

We reserve the right to cancel a course or change its time, location, or instructor. If a course you have registered for is canceled, you will be notified. If we are unable to substitute a suitable replacement for a canceled course, you will be refunded all tuition and fees you have paid for the course.

Age requirements

All participants in the program must be 21 years of age or over. This is because of the New Jersey cannabis license requirements, which state that people with decision-making authority over their business license must be 21 or older. As this program prepares business owners to enter the industry, we have adopted the same age requirements.