TRENTON, NJ – The New Jersey Department of State’s NJ Business Action Center (NJBAC) reports over 1,000 students have registered for the Cannabis Training Academy (CTA) since its launch on October 16, 2024. The no-cost technical assistance program, which is designated and supported by the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJ-CRC), supports cannabis entrepreneurs who are interested in understanding the cannabis industry, joining the cannabis workforce, or wish to apply for a cannabis license in New Jersey.

The CTA provides an online cannabis educational program that aids and educates current and aspiring cannabis business owners as they navigate the process of establishing a licensed and regulatory-compliant cannabis business in New Jersey.

Participants in this comprehensive, learner-led program will receive information covering the licensing application process, municipal approval, zoning issues, raising capital, post-licensing topics, and general operations. Conditional conversion support will also be available.

“The Cannabis Training Academy offers invaluable resources that help small business owners go through the process of legal cannabis business management,” said Lieutenant Governor Tahesha Way. “The insights provided will help entrepreneurs avoid common pitfalls and get their business on the right track from the start. With the right knowledge and tools, we are fostering a more inclusive and sustainable cannabis industry in New Jersey.”

With courses being available online, the program offers flexibility that can be completed at the attendee’s pace. In addition to pre-recorded webinars, participants can register to access live, virtual question-and-answer sessions with instructors. Soon, attendees will be able to participate in in-person workshops.

The first three modules of the CTA program are accessible to anyone who is over 21 and a New Jersey resident interested in cannabis business development. The CTA is specifically designed to help those who qualify as members of target Impact Zones, as defined in the CREAMM Act and subsequent NJ-CRC rules. Those who live in a CRC-designated Impact Zone, plan to locate their future cannabis business in an Impact Zone, or plan to hire future employees from Impact Zone locations can expand their learning base with an additional seven levels of coursework and more than 60 classes.

“The number of CTA registrations, in just a few short months after launch, underscores the real-world demand for commercial cannabis education, one that is supported by the state’s regulatory arm, the NJ-CRC,” noted Melanie Willoughby, executive director of the NJBAC.

Entrepreneurs who are New Jersey residents over 21 and are interested in participating should visit nj.gov/state/bac/cannabis-training/about for more information and to register.

About the Cannabis Training Academy
The New Jersey Business Action Center (NJBAC), housed in the New Jersey Department of State, has been designated by the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJ CRC) to build and launch the Cannabis Training Academy (CTA), a no-cost technical assistance, training and mentorship program that supports local cannabis entrepreneurs who wish to apply for a cannabis license in New Jersey. To learn more, visit: https://www.nj.gov/state/bac/cannabis-training