Nj college has a growing hemp farm, cannabis minor

EXPLORE MORE These undergrads can take a class about grass. The Cannabis and Hemp Research Initiative at Stockton University is marking its second year growing cannabis plants to teach

students about weed. The school’s hemp farm — which sits on a 62-foot-long fenced-in plot — includes 150 plants, some of which have grown over 10 feet high, according to NJ Advance Media.

The public university, which is located in Galloway Township, offers multiple courses in cannabis and a Cannabis Studies minor program, which was launched in 2018. The school started growing

cannabis plants — which come from a class of cannabis sativa cultivated for industrial and medicinal use — for hemp cultivation research. Students in classes such as Medical Cannabis and

Cannabis Law study the plants to learn about the cultivation and business of the psychoactive drug. “It’s just a really good opportunity to teach this next generation why not to be scared of

cannabis,” Valentina Fiero, a 2021 Stockton graduate who teaches a class in hemp cultivation, told the outlet. “We are taking something that people just don’t understand enough about and

trying to change that narrative. And doing it on the university level, that’s the best way to do it.” The program’s mission is to “further leverage Stockton’s commitment to hemp and cannabis

education for students and like-minded partners,” according to the school’s website.