As a rising senior in college, this summer was especially important for my career. I knew I needed to find an internship that was not only in my field of interest, but also one that would offer me applicable skills for any future position I may apply to. Luckily, NORML was a perfect fit for me.
If you’re like me, and are interested in pursuing a career in cannabis (whether in advocacy, in the commercial industry, etc.), I would highly recommend interning with NORML. My tenure with NORML was extremely valuable and fulfilling because I became well informed about emerging legislative and scientific developments. As someone who was already interested in this topic, I was already fairly aware of these developments, but I gained a far greater understanding of the intricacies of cannabis policy during my time at NORML.
If you’re someone who is interested in politics or advocacy, but not necessarily cannabis law specifically, I would still recommend NORML for you. Whether you are interested in learning more about engaging in public outreach, research, or bill-monitoring, NORML has opportunities for you to broaden your skill set and knowledge. Each project I worked on, even the smaller daily tasks, advanced my understanding of what advocacy work looks like, and what its relation to both legislation and media looks like behind the scenes.
My biggest recommendation for anyone interested in interning with NORML is to volunteer for projects. Avail yourself as much as possible and reach out to your supervisors for extra work or ask if they need help. By doing this, I was able to work on a wide variety of tasks, from providing background research to drafting Action Alerts to helping produce Live with NORML. Each project will allow you to work on and hone in on a different set of skills. Like any internship, you get out what you put in. So take initiative, be open-minded, and apply for an internship with NORML!