GP Mendie

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FAMU Medical Marijuana Education and Research Initiative

GP Mendie, Interim Executive Director, Medical Marijuana Education and Research Initiative (MMERI), Florida A&M University

FAMU is ranked as the number one Public Historically Black College and University (HBCU) by the U.S. News & world report for four consecutive years, a historic academic legacy.  Given the University's historical role in educating students, FAMU is uniquely positioned to educate Florida's multicultural populations about medical marijuana.  MMERI is operating under the legislative mandate to Educate Floridians and multicultural communities about medical marijuana and the impact of the unlawful use of marijuana in Florida.

This presentation provides an overview and assessment measures of how MMERI’s Public Education Plan (education, community engagement, and communication) has educated and engaged individuals using education modules, print and broadcast media, public service announcements, virtual technologies, including E-Newsletters and Virtual Forums.

Under the direction of the University's Vice-President for Research, the Executive Vice President/COO, the President, and the Board of Trustees, GP Mendie serves as Executive Director (Interim) of the Florida A&M University (FAMU) Medical Marijuana Education and Research Initiative (MMERI).

In this leadership role, GP collaborates with the incredibly talented MMERI Team and a broad spectrum of internal and external stakeholders and partners to successfully execute MMERI's statewide legislative mandate. GP is responsible for overseeing MMERI's mission to educate Florida's rural, urban and suburban populations about the medical and unlawful use of marijuana. In executing MMERI's mandate, GP brings extensive, richly diverse decades of experience in public health, education campaigns, strategic planning and administration, policy, and finance, among others, in government and the private sector. Knowing the immense power and importance of education, GP is proud of the unique and expanding leadership role Florida A&M University holds in the cannabis space, especially the privilege of educating Floridians on this crucial public health matter with a profound socioeconomic impact on our communities. Among other things, GP believes in FAMU's unique place and expertise in overseeing, implementing, and managing politically and culturally sensitive programs.

GP earned a bachelor's degree in Theology (Nigeria) and a master's degree in Social Work (FSU) and is pursuing a doctorate in Pharmacoeconomics and Health Outcomes at Florida A&M University. He enjoys reading Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Reports and is a Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholar.