The Florida A&M University Student Government Association will host an educational forum on the medical and unlawful use of marijuana Tuesday, featuring a panel of eight speakers.
Held in partnership with the FAMU Medical Marijuana Education and Research Initiative, the on-campus event is free and open to the public from 6 to 8 p.m. and will take place in the Perry-Paige Auditorium.
According to Alexys Lynn, SGA chief of staff, the forum will be educational and is designed for FAMU students and non-students alike. She encourages students and the surrounding community to attend.
“Being knowledgeable on medical marijuana is a huge thing, especially in the African American community,” Lynn said.
SGA president Rochard Moricette announced the significance of Tuesday’s event in a university-wide release.
“As the governing body that students look to for direction, it is incumbent on us to present information to our student body that is important for their survival both on and off-campus,” he said in a release. “Information on the unlawful use of marijuana is that kind of information, and we are proud to bring such a distinguished panel to our campus.”
The MMERI has collaborated with SGA to host the event. The MMERI represents a program funded by the Florida Legislature specifically for educators, researchers and students at FAMU to address the complex issues related to legal and illegal use of marijuana by minority populations in the state, according to Cynthia Hughes-Harris, dean of the School of Allied Health Sciences and MMERI research chair.
“The MMERI program has conducted community forums throughout the state of Florida to gain insights and perceptions of community members in the various regions of the state,” Hughes-Harris said. “The FAMU student forum is designed with the same goals in mind.”
Hughes-Harris will be on the panel discussing issues surrounding marijuana with seven other experts. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and express their thoughts.
“At the forum, students will be able to hear from experts regarding the impact of marijuana in our communities including representatives from the following arenas: medical, pharmaceutical, legal, political, psychological and faith-based,” Hughes-Harris said. “The student forum will allow opportunities for students to ask questions of the panelists as well as to present their perspectives and points of view.
“Additionally, current research and educational initiatives will be discussed,” she added.
For more information on the MMERI visit mmeri.famu.edu