Cannabis Education and Activism on College Campuses

Cannabis advocacy clubs are becoming a familiar part of college life, reflecting how quickly attitudes and laws around the plant are changing. As more states legalize medical and adult-use cannabis and the industry adds thousands of new jobs, universities are seeing growing demand for serious, science-based conversations and policy reform efforts. One report on higher education and cannabis noted that legal cannabis jobs grew by double digits in a single year, and could grow by hundreds of percent over a decade.

On many campuses, Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) serves as the backbone of this movement. SSDP is an international nonprofit organization that organizes student chapters on high school and college campuses to reform drug policy, promote harm reduction, and encourage youth civic engagement. Campus chapters like Maryland SSDP at the University of Maryland, College Park, work at campus, local, state and federal levels to end harms caused by the drug war and push for evidence-based approaches instead of punishment.

At UC Berkeley, an SSDP chapter registered through the university helps students examine how current policies affect their peers while pushing for changes such as fairer disciplinary rules and better health-center support. These chapters often host educational panels with researchers and lawyers, run harm-reduction trainings, and organize letter-writing or lobbying days so students can directly engage lawmakers.

National organizations aren’t the only players. Campus-specific cannabis clubs are emerging that blend advocacy with career development. Cannaclub at UCLA, an official student organization, aims to “crush the stigma” around cannabis through education while connecting students with research, innovation and entrepreneurship opportunities in the legal industry. Their events range from policy discussions and compliance workshops to networking nights with industry professionals.

At the University of Colorado Boulder, CannaBuffs positions itself as “the premier cannabis club” on campus, leveraging Colorado’s leadership in cannabis reform to give students access to industry resources, career pathways, and community service projects. Their mission is not just to socialize, but to build a knowledgeable student community ready to shape the future of policy and business.

Other clubs emphasize destigmatization and interdisciplinary learning. Cannabis Club Redbirds at Illinois State University was founded to help students network in the industry and normalize cannabis as a legitimate career path while continuing to challenge lingering stigma, even where cannabis is already legal. At the University of Connecticut, the Cannabis Club approaches cannabis from cultural, business, horticultural and scientific angles, using open dialogue to reduce stigma and increase knowledge. The University of Minnesota’s Science of Cannabis Club similarly combines education with advocacy, offering students leadership experience in campaigns for sensible cannabis policies.

Together, these clubs give students a structured way to learn about law, health, science and social justice while building real-world skills in organizing, public speaking and policy work. Many also collaborate with groups like NORML, whose national network of chapters—including campus-based organizations such as Columbia University NORML—advocates for ending marijuana prohibition and replacing it with rational regulation.

For students, joining a cannabis advocacy club is more than a hobby. It’s a chance to help shape the next generation of cannabis policy, support peers with accurate information and harm-reduction tools, and step confidently into a rapidly growing industry with experience and community already in place.