Miami's 15th Annual Medical Marijuana Benefit Concert Is Gonna "Change People's Minds"

"I really got into the issues and started understanding it. I just felt that it was something that should be discussed."

And discuss he has. Flash, who only smokes "on occasion," says the annual Medical Marijuana Benefit Concert is the largest of its kind in the Florida, drawing in large crowds of supporters from all walks of life.

"There's a diverse selection of performers because we're reaching to different creative tastes and a broad demographic," he says. "We want to be able to educate people and build a critical mass of supporters. We want people to feel comfortable."

However not comfortable enough to hold a public smoke out like the one held in front of Seattle's Space Needle last year or the campus of the University of Colorado-Boulder each April. Marijuana, medical-grade or not, is illegal not just in Florida, but the entire United States.

"I think there is a need for public victory celebrations," Flash says. "But I think there's also a time for sensible discussion. People should be responsible when they smoke."

Berke agrees.

"I think you're going to have enemies no matter what you do," he says. "But if anything, having public smoke outs with police monitoring the entire situation is a good way to get police on board. I don't think the police are afraid of a couple of thousand people getting together for a celebratory smoke. I think they'd be a lot more scared of a couple of thousand people getting absolutely shit-face wasted."

15th Annual Medical Marijuana Benefit Concert. With Steve Berke, Johnny Dread, Sweetbone, Florida State Senator Dwight Bullard, Florida State Representative Katie Edwards, South Miami City Commissioner Walter Harris, Ric Zweig, and others. Saturday, March 2. Tobacco Road, 626 S. Miami Ave, Miami. The event begins at 6 p.m. and tickets cost $10 in advance or $12 at the door. Call 305-374-1198 or visit ploppypalace.com.


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