Rutgers Law School's Certificate in Cannabis Law and Business is a six-month program for entrepreneurs and license holders. It provides you with in-depth knowledge of key issues relating to the rules and regulations of New Jersey's legal cannabis industry so that you can run a fully compliant cannabis business.

• Learn from expert faculty from across Rutgers and professionals working in cannabis law and compliance
• Combine convenient online classes with two in-person sessions to build your network
• Take courses developed specifically for New Jersey's state regulations
• Choose from electives for cultivators and retailers to get the knowledge that's right for your business
• Take individual modules or earn the full certificate: whatever's right for your time and your budget
• Showcase your achievement with a digital badge for your website and social media

Questions? Email Vanessa Williams.

Dates: October 2023 - May 2024
The program meets on Wednesdays from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. via Zoom, with two in-person sessions at the beginning and end of the program. There are several weeks off, including three weeks off over Winter Break. See the Module Descriptions for specific dates.

Certificate cost: $2,995
By purchasing the full certificate, you'll receive a digital badge, feedback on a capstone project to use in your business, and a significant discount compared to purchasing individual modules.

You can register for individual modules: see the Module Descriptions tab for individual module pricing.

Scholarships will be available for people who meet the NJ CRC's definitions of owners (or future owners) of social equity or diversely owned businesses. Click here to access the scholarship application form. We will start reviewing applications on August 21, 2023, and will follow up with all applicants. Email Vanessa Williams for more information on applying for scholarships.

Module 1: Fundamentals of cannabis regulation in New Jersey

12 hours: October 14 (full day in person), October 18, October 26 (please note, the last class in this module meets on Thursday, October 26 instead of Wednesday, October 25)
Module price: $600

To start the program, we’ll review the history and development of New Jersey’s medical and recreational cannabis industries, as well as the broader national and international context, before getting into the specifics of New Jersey’s CREAMM Act (including the difference between cannabis and marijuana under New Jersey law) and New Jersey’s revised Medical Marijuana law. We’ll clarify key legal terminology and look at the ways in which 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 business employ NJ-certified cannabis handlers.

Note: the session on October 14 will be an all-day in-person session at Rutgers Law School's Newark campus.

Module 2: Regulatory compliance

12 hours: November 1, November 8, November 15, November 29
Module price: $600

Once you’ve opened your doors, you need to make sure that you protect your license by running a compliant business. Whether you’ve created your own standard operating procedures or worked with a consultant, you’ll need to ensure you adhere to them and maintain compliance in a wide range of areas, including inventory control and use of METRC, audit processes, and more. This module will look at some of these topics, and the ways in which you need to be able to find the latest information and update your processes as the state’s regulations develop.

Module 3: Cannabis business operations

18 hours: December 6, December 13, January 10, January 17, January 24, January 31 
Module price: $850

This module is focused on the specific challenges and rules associated with operations for businesses in New Jersey’s cannabis industry. This includes 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; and 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. We’ll also cover how business agreements—for example licensing, supply, and consulting agreements—should be structured so that they can be reliably enforced, even in the face of federal illegality. Finally, we’ll discuss the ways in which you need to be thinking about protecting your intellectual property.

Module 4: Locations and local government

12 hours: February 7, February 14, February 21, February 28
Module price: $600

Navigating zoning and land use restrictions are major topics for cannabis business owners. This module will review the legal rules that you need to know and some strategies for making your property searches within these rules more effective. We’ll look at other types of land use regulations that might affect your property use, like the Pinelands Protection Act. We’ll also discuss the structures of local governments, the tools you can use to learn the specifics of your municipality’s rules, and what happens when municipalities “opt out” as permitted by the CREAMM Act.

Module 5: Choose ONE from:

Topics for License Classes 1-4

12 hours: March 13, March 20, March 27, April 3
Module price: $600

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

12 hours: March 13, March 20, March 27, April 3
Module price: $600

In this elective module, we’ll cover topics specific to license classes 5 (retailer) and 6 (delivery). These include more specific considerations on zoning, physical safety and security, product packaging, Cannabis Consumption Areas, “dram shop” liability, and dealing with minors. We will pay special attention to techniques for effective community relations.

Module 6: Capstone

18 hours: April 10, April 17, April 24, May 1, May 4 (full day in person)
Module price: $600. 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 make an immediate impact on 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 put together your project. The final course meeting will give you the opportunity to showcase your project and see the work of your peers, gaining valuable experience and feedback.

Note: the session on May 4 will be an all-day in-person session at Rutgers Law School's Camden campus.

Core instructors for this program include:

• Natacha Andrews, National Association of Black Cannabis Lawyers
• Lisa Gora, Epstein Becker Green PC
• Mollie Lustig, McLaughlin & Stern
• Chirali Patel, Blaze Responsibly
• Daniel Pierre, Day Pitney LLP

Our team of capstone advisors includes:

• Mollie Lustig, McLaughlin & Stern
• Chirali Patel, Blaze Responsibly
• Sarah Trent, Valley Wellness
• Khadijah Tribble, Marijuana Matters

Additional guest speakers will join us throughout the program.

A limited number of scholarships are available for people who meet the CRC's definitions of Social Equity and/or Diversely Owned Businesses. Click here to access the scholarship application form. We will begin reviewing applications on August 21, 2023, and will follow up with all applicants.

Scholarships for the 2023/24 program are generously supported by:

Pashman Stein Walder Hayden PC

Refund policy
Cancellations and transfers will be accepted without charge if written notification is received any time up to 10 business days prior to 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 full cost of the program.

Registrants who fail to attend and do not cancel prior to the start date will be responsible for the full cost of the program. Credit toward a future session will not be granted.

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

Course fees
Purchasing all six modules in the certificate at the same time 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 will not be able to switch to the certificate price after you have taken your first module.

Payment plans

Payment plan options are available. For more information, email Vanessa Williams.

Earning the certificate
To earn the full certificate and receive a digital badge, participants must miss no more than 6 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 full certificate at the same time as part of the same transaction, they are eligible for a 10% discount. Email Vanessa Williams for more information on group registrations.

Technology requirements
The online sessions will meet 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, which can be accessed via any web browser.

In-person sessions
There are two in-person sessions for the certificate (the first and last sessions). 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 entirely or to change its time, location or instructor. In the event a course for which you have registered 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.

Questions?
Email Vanessa Williams with any questions.