 UC Santa Cruz is also well known for its cannabis culture . On April 20 , 2007 , approximately 2 @,@ 000 UCSC students gathered at Porter Meadow to celebrate the annual " 420 " . Students and others openly smoked marijuana while campus police stood by . The once student @-@ only event has grown since the city of Santa Cruz passed Measure K in 2006 , an ordinance making marijuana use a low @-@ priority crime for police . The 2007 event attracted a total of 5 @,@ 000 participants . The university does not condone the gathering , but has taken steps to regulate the event and ensure security for all participants . On April 20 , 2010 , the school administration shut down the west entrance to campus and limited the amount of buses that could drive through campus . 
