Tasha Wade, forum chairperson and Master of Public Administration graduating senior, addresses the crowd at the Medical Marijuana forum held at the School of Business and Public Administration on April 25. 

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Nearly 100 people attended the Medical Marijuana Policy Forum last Saturday at the University of Guam School of Business and Public Administration. 

Hosted by UOG’s Master of Public Administration program’s Administrative Law Class, the forum was organized to discuss the status and promulgation of rules in regards to the Joaquin (KC) Concepcion II Compassionate Cannabis Use Act of 2013.

It was also an opportunity for members of the public, students, faculty and Government of Guam representatives to generate awareness throughout the island community, said Tasha Wade, forum chairperson and Master of Public Administration graduating senior.

Panelists at the forum included James Gillian, Director of the Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services; Fred Bordallo, Chief of Police at the Guam Police Department; and Matthew Sablan, Deputy Director of the Guam Department of Agriculture.

Wade said it’s important for students to be informed and stay on top of rising topics like the legalization of medical marijuana to deter potential abuse in the future. 

“We’re the first U.S. territory to legalize medical marijuana,” she said. “It’s important the rules and regulations would be thought out carefully. We wouldn’t want any people to abuse medical marijuana so it’s critical for students to be fully engaged and aware of what’s going on.”

Wade said the forum was a continued conversation from last year when the Administrative Law Class presented the pros and cons of legalizing medical marijuana and now, Guam must determine the policy behind it.

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Watch the Medical Marijana Forum held on Saturday, April 25, 2015: