This Ivy Leaguer left football behind to normalize cannabis on campus

Nadir Pearson’s SMART organization is working to remove stigma that is holding back research, business development and sentiment in colleges across the country

When Nadir Pearson pondered what to call Brown University’s first cannabis advocacy group, he wanted the name to speak for itself. For this reason, the Clifton, New Jersey native started with the full acronym SMART before choosing “Student Marijuana Alliance for Research & Transparency” for each letter.

SMART founder Nadir Pearson attends the Hall Of Flowers 2021 in Santa Rosa, California

“I wanted a name that broke the stigma of how we say it,” says Pearson. So far, the SMART Alliance lives up to its name and the brilliant vision of its founder. As the organization’s quarterback, Pearson remains focused on passing the power of the legal pot to all open doers and shakers in the fast-growing field.

Mapping of SMART’s national campus network

SMART has eight chapters, including Pearson’s Alma Mater, Brown University, as well as Rutgers University, The University of Texas-Austin and Cornell, which now have a medicinal cannabis chemistry program on campus thanks to SMART’s advocacy. Chapters have also developed at Stockton University in New Jersey, which offers a minor in cannabis studies, and at Tuskegee University in Alabama, which is currently studying industrial hemp with the help of SMART’s free resources.

Pearson plans to expand the organization’s national presence by bringing cannabis research and opportunity to every campus he can reach. “We want to be a hub for the best sources of information and lower the entry barrier for people,” he explains.

“I never did this to make a shipload of money. I did this to help as many people as possible, because that’s what this industry needs. “

– Pearson

A life changing listening experience

Pearson was moved to start SMART after leaving Brown’s football team. The lifelong exercise student suffered a number of concussions and had side effects that he couldn’t ignore.

“I went to see some doctors on Brown’s campus who recommended that I stop playing football,” he recalls. “I brought that back to my coach and they basically tried to motivate me to keep playing. They said, ‘We’ve had people who got concussed and we can just do these exercises to strengthen your neck.’ “Pearson was unsuccessful, especially because he had a concussion in high school.

“The coaches said, ‘Why didn’t you tell us you had a concussion? We would never have recruited you! ‘ And it was one of those moments like, ‘Wow, thanks for making me feel worse.’ But I’m glad I played my cards the way I did because you really don’t care. ”- Nadir Pearson

From gridiron fame to ganja advocacy

Pearson continued after the disappointment by learning media production and digital marketing through on-campus programs and internships. In his spare time, he also began immersing himself in the emerging New England cannabis scene.

After class, Nadir searched LinkedIn for black or brown faces in the room that he might be able to connect to. He even drove to nearby campuses for 420-friendly events and used his new camera and editing skills to get through the door. The camera was also a great bait for getting the attention of the biggest influencers in the room.

“Every time I took pictures, they had to contact me to get them,” Nadir fondly recalls of his clever network strategy. Its first major event was the Freedom Rally in Boston, one of the largest annual gatherings of cannabis enthusiasts in the country.

“I just went over there, grabbed my camera, and went to the salespeople for interviews. I asked them all a question: ‘What would you say to someone who said cannabis was bad?’ “

Pearson applied the work ethic he’d acquired on the soccer field to his new passion and saw results quickly. “I knew I could be good at whatever I can practice,” he says. And after the success of Colorado’s recreational cannabis law, he knew it was only a matter of time before other states followed suit. But even with the increasing legalization around him, Pearson knew he would need more help connecting the big dots that his phrase lined up for SMART.

The pot power circle

As Nadir’s influence on campus grew, it wasn’t enough to meet with Massachusetts Recreational Consumer Council (MRCC) lobbyist and president Kamani Jefferson, who took the SMART leader under his wing after a cold email on LinkedIn took. After meeting lawyer, entrepreneur, and restorative justice advocate Shanel Lindsay, he had another all-star in orbit and felt ready to take off. Lindsay supported the “Yes I’m For It” campaign for legalization and social justice in Massachusetts, one of the few states that gives priority to license applicants with a social impact.

As his circle of power expanded, Nadir felt it was time to bring together all of the key local players he knew. With the right team, he knew SMART could drive even more research, legislation and normalization.

“I wasn’t equipped at the time,” he admits. “I’ve spoken to the right people, Brown Medical School, the deans, but the state illegality made it difficult.” It was then that he saw the opportunity to bridge the gap between this exciting new space and the prestigious campus of his school.

“I was the only 18 or 19 year old at these events and thought, ‘Where is the audience under 21? Oh, are you not here? Cool, let me get it. ‘”His next step was obvious:“ I have to start a cannabis association on campus! ”

Legitimize the sheet

SMART officially kicked off Pearson’s sophomore year after learning that it only needed 10 signatures to admit a new club. “I made sure I had 50 people because I knew it was going to be a bigger hurdle.” From then on, he planned to use his “Ivy League-ness” as a shield from the stigmata most cannabis users still face.

Early on, SMART worked to “educate, not promote,” cannabis normalization, and contributed to the Cannabis Center of Massachusetts initiative of Dr. Marion McNabb helped conduct qualitative surveys on cannabis that do not violate federal law.

In late 2020, the team launched a SMART directory on AirTable that includes a profile system and is resuming to encourage new connections as the organization continues to host marquee events and local get-togethers.

“When we start connecting people to jobs and opportunities, we want a place where we can come and say, ‘Okay. Where are the other Brown folks on that network? ‘ People rely on their college to develop new connections and opportunities. So I saw that the directory was in great need. Not just to have chapters, but to get involved internally within our community. “

The more his vision grows, the SMART this founder looks. “Our next steps include creating a virtual career fair and developing other ways to educate and connect people about the power of cannabis,” says Pearson.

It seems perfectly aligned with its purpose as it promotes a new hybrid product box at this year’s Hall Of Flowers meeting in California, titled DROP # 001: NOT FOR EVERYONE.

Here’s to work smarter and harder.

Calvin Stovall

Calvin Stovall writes and produces media in Atlanta, GA and runs the day-to-day business for The Artistic Unified Exchange, a nonprofit that protects intellectual property on behalf of independent artists and underserved communities.

View article by Calvin Stovall

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