No, it’s not the setup for a joke—it was the actual scene at Pasco-Hernando State College on January 22. FLCAN members attended “Conversations on Cannabis” a community forum hosted by FAMU MMERI (Medical Marijuana Education and Research Initiative) that focused on medical marijuana, mental health, and community safety.

 It was a true “Bridging the Gap” moment, bringing together a group of people you rarely see in the same room. The goal was simple but vital: to openly discuss medical marijuana, what’s legal, and how it’s affecting the mental health of our community. The panel featured a “who’s who” of local and state experts:   FLCANs  Dr. Barry Gordon and MMCare of Florida Owner Carla Ashburn, lawyer Shanel Lindsey,a pharmacist, local clergy, and deputies Jules and Abe from the Hernando County Sheriff’s Mental Health Mobile Unit; every perspective was covered.

The best part of the evening was that it wasn’t just a lecture; it was a completely open forum where the community actually got to ask the tough questions. People didn’t hold back, asking about what is truly legal versus what isn’t, how the law is being applied on the streets, and how medical marijuana is impacting the mental health of our neighbors.

Having a lawyer and the Sheriff’s deputies right there to answer questions alongside doctors and spiritual leaders made the information feel grounded and real. It wasn’t about being for or against anything—it was about getting the facts straight. We left PHSC with a much clearer understanding of how to balance medicine, law, and safety in a way that actually works for our community.