How the Legalization of Recreational Marijuana Has Impacted the College Experience

The legalization of recreational marijuana has changed the landscape of the college experience. Now that possession and use is legal in many states across the country, administrators and educators have had to adapt to all the other impacts of this change. Regardless of factors like your personal opinions and habits regarding use, or abstinence, the bottom line is, everyone needs to adjust to the new normal that will no doubt continue to include legal cannabis.

Decreased Stigma

The topic of marijuana in general used to be incredibly taboo, and those that associated themselves with that part of the college culture were relegated to less than desirable circumstances regarding their use. Not to mention, the legal ramifications that used to come with illegally possessing or using cannabis could completely derail your entire academic outlook. Now you can get your medical marijuana card online, which means that there is a normalization component now associated with this culture. There are Ohio medical marijuana doctors that have helped to make this a fast and easy process.

By creating quick access and an easy process, states are also giving their college student population an opportunity to partake in this behavior in a safe and smart way, since there is no longer an underlying pressure to hide their enjoyment from peers, parents, or collegiate authorities. Finding out where your state, and school, stand on this topic from a legal perspective is also easy thanks to the internet. There is no shortage of online resources available for those with questions and curiosities regarding the relationship between legal recreational marijuana and their school of choice.

Updated Policies and Procedures

Now that marijuana is legal in many states, colleges have been forced to examine their existing policies and procedures and update them accordingly. Some of the older and more traditional institutions around the country have student handbooks that do not reflect the recent times and now must be looked at with fresh eyes and in some ways, students have marijuana to thank for this. This is also important to note for the overall college experience because although your state may have legalized the drug this does not mean that your college and campus cannot penalize you in certain capacities related to this topic. As time move forward do not forget that it is still your responsibility as a student to adhere to the guidelines that accompany your tenure at your school of choice.

Coursework and Topics

You may also notice legalization creeping into your studies, and not just as a user. With so much focus and controversy on this topic in general, many professors and universities have added this to their curriculum. Social causes and changes are impossible to ignore so some colleges have taken advantage of that fact and used these changing times as motivation to educate the next generation. By including cannabis education in terms of its history, scientific contributions, and legal considerations in their syllabus, teachers provide an opportunity for constructive dialogue about a social topic that has pushed its way to the forefront of our culture as of late.

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or management of EconoTimes