In minority communities, and especially the Black church, marijuana is taboo. But that appears to be changing as more and more states make it legal for medical use. Register to join the next Conversations on Cannabis virtual forum on Thursday, April 29 at noon to hear from Pastors Erta Livingston, Lonnie Wesley, and Leo Stoney talk about cannabis and religion, with a focus on the changing attitudes in the Black church.
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Welcome
Florida A&M University (FAMU) established the Medical Marijuana Education and Research Initiative (MMERI) to educate minorities about marijuana for medical use and the impact of the unlawful use of marijuana on minority communities. Funding is provided by the Florida Department of Health at the direction of the Legislature.
Educate
Historically, FAMU has played an outstanding role in educating minority students and is in a unique position to educate Florida’s diverse minority populations about medical marijuana while developing and delivering curriculum and certified training programs to increase knowledge and understanding of these subjects.
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Learn
At the core of MMERI’s mission is a vigorous community engagement campaign that leverages multiple platforms to raise awareness among minority communities. Through such outreach efforts as community forums and events, partnerships, radio talk shows, public service announcements, and multilingual informational materials, MMERI has built a foundation for educating racially and ethnically diverse communities about Florida’s medical marijuana law and the impact of the unlawful use of marijuana.
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Talk
MMERI leverages multiple media platforms to reach minority communities throughout Florida with factual information on the state’s medical marijuana law as well as inform them of the potential consequences of the unlawful use of marijuana. Working hand in hand with the other three components of the MMERI program — Education, Research and Engagement — a comprehensive communications strategy is establishing Florida A&M as a leading authority on medical marijuana in Florida and beyond, and as a trusted resource on the legal and illegal uses of marijuana.
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Executive Director's Greeting
Thank you for visiting mmeri.famu.edu, the website of Florida A&M University’s Medical Marijuana Education and Research Initiative (MMERI). This is the starting point of MMERI’s mission to enhance the knowledge of Florida’s minority communities about the state’s nascent medical marijuana law (Section 381.986, Florida Statues) and the impact of the unlawful use of marijuana.
It is our intention to educate people of color and inspire them to learn and talk about the positive attributes of medical cannabis, as well as help them better understand the legal and health consequences stemming from the unlawful use of marijuana.
Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug in the United States, with 37.6 million users in the past year.
Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, US Department of Health & Human Services
3.73
Marijuana use is roughly equal among Blacks and Whites, yet Blacks are 3.73 times as likely to be arrested for marijuana possession.
Source: American Civil Liberties Union
8
Marijuana affects your brain development. Use by adolescents has been linked to a decline in IQ scores – up to 8 points! Those are points you don’t get back, even if you stop using.
Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, US Department of Health & Human Services
