Which University Has The Best Marijuana Culture?
Some of my best stoner memories came when I was attending college. Getting really high after a test and pigging out on teriyaki chicken and rice near campus; good times indeed! I was talking with an old college friend today, and we were debating which is the most marijuana friendly college in America. I did some research, and here is what I found people saying online:
According to ‘The Princeton Review, these are the top 20 marijuana friendly campuses (you have to register to view the link, FYI):
- University of California — Santa Cruz
- Skidmore College (Saratoga Springs, NY)
- University of Vermont (Burlington)
- Bard College (Annandale-on-Hudson,NY)
- University of Colorado-Boulder
- New College of Florida (Sarasota)
- Colorado College (Colorado Springs)
- Hampshire College (Amherst, Massachusetts)
- University of California — Santa Barbara
- Eckerd College (St. Petersburg, FL)
- Ithaca College (Ithaca, NY)
- Sarah Lawrence College (Bronxville, NY)
- Warren Wilson College (Asheville, NC)
- Pitzer College (Claremont, CA)
- University of Oregon (Eugene)
- Guilford College (Greensboro, NC)
- West Virginia University (Morgantown)
- Wesleyan University (Middletown, CT)
- State University of New York — Purchase College (Purchase, NY)
- Green Mountain College (Poultney, VT)
Now I don’t know what TWB readers think, but I think this list is total crap. Princeton Review is considered to be a leader in academic based rankings of colleges, but when it comes to marijuana, they really don’t know what they are talking about. No Humboldt State…really? I guarantee College of the Siskyou’s, College of the Redwoods, Humboldt State, and Southern Oregon University smoke down way harder, on better nugs, and more frequently, than almost every college on that list. I can speak from firsthand experience that the University of Oregon is a GREAT college to be a marijuana consuming student…way better than 15th for sure. Skidmore College at number 2? I’ve never been there before, but I don’t think it’s a stretch to assume that they are not the second most marijuana friendly campus in America.
- University of Colorado — Boulder
- University of Wisconsin — Madison
- University of Florida — Gainesville
- University of Oregon — Eugene
- Hampshire College — South Amherst, MA
- University of Michigan — Ann Arbor
- New College of Florida — Sarasota
- Humboldt State — Arcata, CA
- Wesleyan University — Middleton, CT
- University of Vermont — Burlington
While High Times’ list is better than the Princeton Review’s, I still think it misses the mark. The biggest flaw that both of these sources have, is that they are looking at this issue from an East Coast perspective. Almost everyone I have met from the East Coast and Mid-West thought they were smoking on the chronic, until they came to the West Coast and got so high they forgot their own name. I think the best place to start with a list of marijuana friendly colleges is to look at the geographic location. States like Wisconsin and North Carolina are not exactly hot beds for high grade marijuana.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure there is some super nugs in very small pockets in East Coast/Mid-West states, but it does not compare to the marijuana buffet that occurs every day on the West Coast, in Colorado, and the emerging chronic scene in Michigan and Montana (of course, Michigan is in the Mid-West, but they are the exception, not the rule). If the state has a booming medical marijuana program, chances are the potency and availability of marijuana has risen dramatically, and the marijuana laws are more liberal. If I had to name MY top marijuana friendly colleges in America, my list would include:
Humboldt State (Arcata, CA) — In the heart of Humboldt, need I say more?
University of Colorado (Boulder) — One of the most beautiful cities in America, and LOTS of nugs
University of Oregon (Eugene, OR) — Go to the Whiteaker District, it sets the tone for the rest of Eugene
University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) — Very lenient local laws, and an exploding MMJ scene
University of Montana (Missoula, MT) — My best friend attends there, and it’s undeniably awesome
College of the Redwoods (Eureka, CA) — Again, in the heart of Humboldt, speaks for itself
College of the Siskiyous (Weed, CA) — Weed, California…I got so high visiting there I almost passed out
University of California (Santa Barbara) — This was the original ‘hippie’ college, and they still puff hard
Colorado State University (Fort Collins) — I have smoked nugs there, top quality, easy MMJ access
University of Central Florida (Orlando) — Home to one of the oldest NORML chapters in America
I didn’t number my picks, so they are in no particular order. You might notice that a lot of my picks were not found on the previous two lists…I encourage TWB readers to add their own experiences and choices in the comments below. Remember, these are MY top ten campuses, which might not be the same as YOUR picks. With that being said, let the debating begin!
Of course, the undeniable number 1 university when it comes to marijuana friendliness should be Oaksterdam University, but I am referring to universities that are accredited by governing state agencies and credits can transfer from state to state. An argument can be made that Greenway University in Colorado is a top pick, but they are only ‘accredited’ in Colorado, and none of their other branches in other states have that distinction. Until they do, I will put them in the same category as Oaksterdam. They will both arrive at the national level soon enough!
