On Wednesday, Apr. 16, 2025, the WELL held a painting and podcasts event focused on cannabis education on the first floor of the Integrated Wellness Complex (IWC). During the event, students were provided with canvases and paint to either follow along with a guided painting video or paint something else. In the background various podcasts on cannabis education were played to facilitate discussion.
Priya Hanoeman, a second-year clinical mental health counseling graduate student and graduate assistant for health promotion at the WELL, helped run the event.
“We held this event to give students an opportunity for a creative outlet away from academic work,” Hanoeman said. “Along with this, we recognize that ‘4/20’ was around the corner and wanted to provide education on cannabis. Through podcasts we were able to provide this education with different voices and perspectives.”
In Aug. 2023, Minnesota legalized recreational marijuana for use by adults over 21. After legalization, the state still needed to set up licensing and regulatory system for the new industry. Seltzers, gummies and other consumable products made using up to 5mg of hemp-derived THC have been widely available since the legalization.
However, recreational cannabis dispensaries are still in the process of gaining cannabis retail licenses. As licensing is granted to businesses, more and more dispensaries will begin opening throughout MN.
Lexie Yanta-Green is the health and wellness promotion coordinator with health and wellness services here at Winona State University. She stressed that the WELL is focused on a harm reduction approach.
“Cannabis was legalized 2 years ago and we anticipate that we’re going to start seeing dispensaries popping up. Now we’re starting to see the product of that, so we’re expecting to see cannabis in general become more accessible,” Yanta-Green said. “Especially moving into the next academic year, we anticipate well see an uptick in use, so we wanted to provide some education.”
Despite the legalization in MN, due to cannabis not being legal federally, it is a federal offense to use on Winona State’s campus. By educating individuals on safe and legal cannabis use, the WELL hopes that individuals can make the right choices when using cannabis.
“Honestly, your kind of alienating a lot of the population if you pretend like it’s not happening and if you don’t give them reasonable ways to use. I think a lot of people, once we start providing cannabis education, almost kind of shut down, like we’re saying that it’s bad, but no, just do it educated,” Yanta-Green said. “If you’re going to do it, at least know the risks and know how to use it more responsibly, to minimize the harm done.”
The WELL has only one more event planned this semester, an environmental health fair for Earth day. Once the fall semester starts, they will go back to holding around 2 events a month. A part of those events will be more cannabis education as more and more dispensaries open up.
