Galloway, N.J. — Rob Mejia has been planted in the roots of Stockton’s cannabis education landscape for more than five years. The adjunct professor of Hemp and Cannabis Business Management recently published a book, “Cannabis Careers: The Insider's Guide to a Budding Industry,” which examines professional trends and unearths some unexpected surprises along the way.  

In an interview, Mejia shared how the book came to be, some industry outlooks and how students at Stockton are growing in the field.

 

📚 Inspiration and Publication

What inspired you to write “Cannabis Careers: The Insider's Guide to a Budding Industry”? A publisher, Rowman & Littlefield, reached out asking me to review an interdisciplinary cannabis book they were considering for publication. I submitted a thorough and thoughtful review, and they asked me if I would consider writing a book on cannabis careers. I had already developed a good amount of online material, so I jumped at the chance. 

What was the most surprising thing you learned while researching and writing the book?  When you look at employment in the cannabis industry, it is surprising to note that ancillary or support jobs (things like website design, photography, consulting, and security camera installation) outnumber plant-touching jobs! At the end of the year, roughly 425,000 people were employed full-time in the cannabis industry in plant-touching roles. That means that an additional 425,000+ jobs are being supported by the cannabis industry. Those are numbers you can't ignore. 

Who do you envision benefiting the most from this book—students, career changers or someone else entirely? The two primary audiences for my book are students interested in working in the cannabis industry and career changers. In fact, there is a separate chapter for career changers that asks them to look at their skills and interests and then helps them translate this information into an action plan that will get them employment in the cannabis industry.

 

💼 Industry & Career Outlook

What does the future of the cannabis industry look like to you in the next five to 10 years? Cannabis is a strange industry that is federally illegal but was a billion-dollar business in New Jersey in 2024. Each state sets up its own regulations; it is like each state is its own cannabis kingdom. In the short term, I think we will see more states legalize cannabis (right now, 38 states have a medical cannabis program, and 24 have an adult use program), but I don't expect any major changes on the federal level for at least 4 years. This means we need to protect and nourish our New Jersey business so that we are Jersey Strong when we have to compete with other national cannabis products and brands. 

What types of jobs do you think will be most in demand as the industry grows? Like other industries, data dictates many business practices. So, people with a data analytics background should flourish. Advertising and marketing are also highly regulated, and knowledgeable marketers are in high demand. Brand ambassadors and sales representatives will continue to be sought after as well. 

What advice would you give to someone interested in entering the industry today? If you want to get into the cannabis industry, be curious and resilient and know why you want to join the industry. Yes, it sounds sexy to say that you work in cannabis, but know that it is hard work; there are a myriad of ever-changing restrictions and requirements, taxes can be onerous, and starting a cannabis business is expensive.  For me, it’s a calling that makes the hours and hours of work worth it. 

Are there any lesser-known career paths in cannabis that you think deserve more attention? Two areas in the cannabis business that are often overlooked are hospitality/tourism and trademark/brand development. Consumers are looking for unique experiences, and cannabis fits this bill perfectly. Events like cultivation tours, cannabis massages, yoga and cannabis, and cannabis-infused dinners are all examples of events that are popular. In this arena, you are only limited by your imagination. Eventually, cannabis will have national brands, and the time to start to develop these brands is right now in your own state. Like other consumer brands, at some point, consumers will look for their favorite brands across the country. But for now, an operator can develop a state-based brand with the potential to go national. 

 

🦅 How Ospreys Soar Higher

How do Stockton students stand out in the cannabis space compared to other institutions? Stockton students who are minoring or majoring in Cannabis Studies (I call them Cannabis Ospreys) are making a name for themselves, especially in the New Jersey market. From budtenders to brand ambassadors, sales representatives, and general managers, they are well-represented and respected. When they interview and show that they have earned a degree, it draws the right kind of attention. 

What kinds of careers are your students most interested in pursuing within the cannabis industry? Many students love the plant and want to be involved in cultivation. Others bring lab skills to the table and want to formulate or test products. Still others are consumer-facing and want to work in sales and retail operations. 

Have you seen any Stockton alumni go on to interesting roles in the field? One of our recent graduates, Nicholas Randazzo ’25, created a mural for an Atlantic City dispensary. Another is a cultivation manager who also teaches for Stockton and was a student in my first class. A few other students work as assistants or general managers. Cannabis Ospreys continue to expand within the profession in many capacities.

 

💭 Personally speaking …

If you weren’t working in cannabis education, what field could you see yourself in? I have always been curious. I travel extensively. I like people more than money. So, being a tour guide would be a good fit for me. But I also like to write and teach and play tennis. Just a few years ago I had six different jobs at one time! We only have one chance to make an impact in the world, and I suppose I'm trying to do just that in any way that I can. 

Do you have a favorite cannabis-related myth or misconception you love to extinguish? When you smoke cannabis, holding in the smoke does not make you higher. Products with the highest THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, the element in cannabis that gets you high) may not make you feel the most euphoric. Other elements in cannabis contribute to the experience.

Cannabis is just a plant grown for different purposes. There are thousands and thousands of studies about cannabis that can be found on PubMed.gov. Google it now and you'll find over 38,000 studies! 

Cannabis was never prohibited because it was dangerous. Its prohibition was used as an excuse to imprison brown and Black people at a rate nearly four times that of whites (according to an ACLU study).

If you could collaborate with any public figure (alive or not) on a cannabis-related project, who would it be and why? I would like to go to South Africa for a year and advise their President on how to set up an equitable cannabis industry that supports their local farmers and focuses on the medical applications of cannabis. Their climate is ideally suited to grow outdoor, sustainable cannabis to support broad employment. A thoughtful, well-designed framework for their cannabis business would change many lives. 

Reported by Mandee McCullough

Photos submitted