A Cannabis Town Hall featuring panel discussions with industry leaders and local and state legislators, a cannabis career fair, and an expungement clinic will be held from 12 to 4 p.m., Saturday, June 22, in the Event Center at Raritan Valley Community College.
The event combines an educational symposium with a job fair to shed light on the swiftly expanding cannabis landscape. Doors will open at 11:30 a.m., and admission is free. Registration is optional.
This event is sponsored by the Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey (CMMNJ) in partnership with various agencies. These include CannaCoverage Insurance Services, Project Clean Slate, Minorities for Medical Marijuana (M4MM), The Glory Firm, NJ Cannabis Consulting, Valley Wellness, Aunt Mary’s Cannabis Dispensary, Future Entheogenic Medicines, Visions and Pathways, and the Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board.
New Jersey fully legalized marijuana in 2021. This expanded access to cannabis that began in 2012 with the legalization of medicinal marijuana. There are now more than 130 dispensaries throughout the state, according to the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC). The state recorded $201 million in adult-use cannabis sales in the first quarter of 2024, and CRC officials predict sales will top $1 billion this year.
During the June 22 Town Hall a panel of experts will cover topics ranging from legalization updates to their impact on local communities. Topics include:
- Building the Cannabis Ecosystem in Municipalities
- Cannabis Tax Revenue: Economic Development, Workforce Development, Social Justice, Tracking and Measuring Accountability
- Improving Health Outcomes through Medical Cannabis
- The Psychedelics Market: Research to Retail
The panel discussions from 12 to 4 p.m. will be preceded by vendor networking and free pizza and water provided by United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW 360), which represents workers in the cannabis industry’s supply chain.
Cannabis-related enterprises with job openings will be part of a vendor hall set up in the RVCC Conference Center at the Branchburg campus.
“The mission of the Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board is to connect employers and job seekers in Hunterdon and Somerset counties,” GRWDB Director Paul Grzella said. “We have been supporting businesses in this growing sector for the past few years, and this event presents a convenient opportunity to learn more about working in the cannabis industry at a dispensary, cultivation site or even in compliance or insurance service.”
Valley Wellness will conduct impromptu interviews for various positions within its dispensary. Aunt Mary’s Cannabis Dispensary will also be accepting resumes. Jobseekers can pre-register for an appointment time with Valley Wellness; however walk-ins are welcome as well.
Additionally, CannaCoverage based in Newark will accept resumes from experienced insurance professionals or college students interested in internships.
Businesses interested in participating as vendors or sponsors can register via provided links.
Nichelle Santos emphasized the importance of offering an expungement clinic during this event: “The expungement clinic being offered during the Town Hall is critically important to give people a second chance,” Santos said. “Those who may have been convicted of a low-level non-violent cannabis offense or may have a record for any type of arrest can meet with attorneys to have a clean slate.”
The clinic will be led by Glory Law Firm attorney Valisha Desir along with other attorneys on-site. “We are here to help people overcome injustices and become productive citizens,” Desir stated.
Attendees can also enter a raffle for one of two $500 scholarships offered by NJ Cannabis Certified. This certificate course aims to help individuals kick-start their careers or expand their knowledge about cannabis.
