Stockton to host cannabis info session, CannaBusiness career fair and expo

GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP - Stockton University will host two cannabis related events this month.

A free cannabis information workshop will be held 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 14 at the John F. Scarpa Academic Center at the Stockton University Atlantic City campus, 3711 Atlantic Ave.

The event is hosted by the Cannabis & Hemp Research Initiative at Stockton in cooperation with the City of Atlantic City.

The event will feature seminars on the different cannabis licenses available and application requirements, as well as information on legal expungements for prior cannabis convictions.

Among those participating are attorneys Lou Magazzu, Michael McQueeny, and Ellie Siegel, entrepreneur Tiyahnn Bryant, Smirta Choudry of Veda Farms, Stockton faculty members Tom Olah and Rob Mejia, and representatives from Atlantic City government.

Also in partnership with NJ Cannabis Insider and the New Jersey CannaBusiness Association, Stockton will host a Cannabis Career Fair and Business Expo 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday Nov. 17.

Former NFL players Dominique Easley and Jordan Reed, co-owners of cannabis apothecary and cultivation enterprise Legacy Partners, will be the morning's keynote speaker.

Other confirmed speakers include: Edmund DeVeaux from the New Jersey CannaBusiness Association; Faye Coleman of Pure Genesis; Rob Mejia of Stockton University; Stacey Udell of HBK Accounting; Jeffery Booker of CannaCoverage; Precious Osagie-Erese of Rollup Life; Tara Misu' Sargente of Blazin' Bakery; attorney Lou Magazzu; Michael Scaffidi of Curaleaf, Daniel Grodberg of Bennabis Health, Valentina Fiero of Ayr; Jenna Misciascio of Bootleg Avocado LLC and Happy Travelers Weed Tours; and Stu Zakim of Bridge Strategic Communications.

Participants will have the opportunity to take a professional headshot offered by Columbia Care, and will also be able to meet with industry professionals and potential employers.

Employment in the cannabis industry is the next wave of opportunity for students and professionals looking to answer the question what's next?' said Edmund DeVeaux, president, the New Jersey CannaBusiness Association, who will moderate a panel focused on opportunities in non-leaf-touching businesses.

Companies that will be represented include:

• The Botanist - They listen and help guide patients and consumers as they discover cannabis and the power of herbal wellness.


• The Lantern - A cannabis e-commerce marketplace and delivery platform.


• HBK CPA - a multidisciplinary financial services firm.


• Columbia Care - a multi-state operator in the medical cannabis industry, with licenses in 15 jurisdictions in the U.S. and the EU.


• Hance Construction - built one of the first cannabis grow facilities in New Jersey and offers consulting and site-location services.


• Kalo - a hemp infused seltzer drink from Hillview Med, a New Jersey-based and family-owned cannabis company.


• NJ Cannabis Certified - provides training for all entry level jobs in the cannabis industry, including dispensary training and entry level cultivation and lab technician training.


• UFCW Local 152 - represents 14,000 workers in retail stores, healthcare facilities, manufacturing, public sector, and more across four states.


• New Jersey CannaBusiness Association- the Garden State's largest trade group, operating as the state's cannabis chamber of commerce.


• 420NJEvents - a Black-owned lifestyle company that focuses on lifting communities damaged by the war on drugs.

Stockton University offers an interdisciplinary minor in Cannabis Studies, which gives students a foundation for understanding the burgeoning cannabis industry. An online Cannabis Studies Certificate gives those interested in the industry the fundamental skills they need to be successful. Stockton's Cannabis and Hemp Initiative will research hemp cultivation and develop lab testing.

As an institution of higher education, Stockton University has been at the forefront of preparing our students to enter this new industry, said Ekaterina Sedia, professor of Biology and coordinator of Minor in Cannabis Studies at Stockton. It is our responsibility as educators to ensure that our students have a wide knowledge base to prepare them for the ever-changing world, but also to give them enough skills to take advantage of novel employment opportunities.

Tickets are $20 for college students and $100 for the general public. To register, go to events.nj.com/e/career-expo.