TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — Marijuana use is on the rise in college-age adults.
Tuesday night, the Student Government Association at Florida A&M University made sure students are informed about the reality of marijuana use.
At Tuesday's marijuana forum, the goal was to expand the knowledge base of students. The panel was made up of law enforcement, medical professionals and student representatives that discussed the do's and dont's of marijuana use.
FAMU's student government collaborated with the university's Medical Marijuana Education Research Initiative to put on this event.
Data from The National Institute on Drug Abuse shows an increase in marijuana use among college students over the past five years. Student government officer Chloe Lafaille says the general public can't learn enough about ,marijuana regulation.
"It's becoming more of a norm in the healthcare system, it's being used more for people whether it's cancer or other illnesses," said Lafaille. "So it's something that is being researched but as far as the general public, we just don't know enough about it."
Anthony Tate struggles with anxiety.
He came to the Marijuana Forum in hopes of finding a way to access medical marijuana to help his condition.
"You will risk the possibility of getting kicked out of school. So you still can be arrested I don't care if you say I don't know what it is I don't think I know what it was. I don't care," said FAMU's Chief of Police Terence Calloway.
He expressed to student about the reality of getting caught with marijuana.
A reality that makes Tate think about proper ways to solve his anxiety.
"I feel like it encouraged me to like to be safe about it and to really just use it legally," said Tate.
Now this medical marijuana education research is made possible by funding that the Florida Legislature approved for minority education about marijuana.
