When Jeanne “Magic” Black-Ferguson found a stash of pot in her son’s room 30 years ago, she did what most parents would do: She got angry. She yelled. She flushed it down the toilet.

But then, Black-Ferguson, a nurse, did some research.

“That’s what got me off the sofa,” said Black-Ferguson, 70. “I understand the problem, and I understand the fear.”

She is now the executive director of Grammas for Ganja, which hosted a public forum last night for Seattleites interested in the plant with a bad reputation.

Panelists State Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, University of Washington researcher Sunil Aggarwal and naturopath Michelle Sexton shared their insight into the plant and took questions from a crowd curious about everything from treating diabetes with marijuana to cannabinoid receptors in the brain.

Black-Ferguson emphasized the point was to make people aware of all the uses of the cannabis plant, including recreation, medicine and hemp.

She and others at the forum expressed frustration that even talking about cannabis is taboo.

“I’m sick and tired of walking on eggshells because I’m even speaking out,” Black-Ferguson said.

The advocates view Senate Bill 5798, which Gov. Chris Gregoire is slated to sign Thursday, as a step in the right direction. The bill states that patients with certain debilitating illnesses may benefit from medical use of marijuana, and they can’t be found guilty on charges of possession.

It also green-lights health-care providers besides doctors—naturopaths, nurse practitioners, physicians’ assistants, chiropractors—to authorize use of the plant.

Kohl-Welles, who sponsored the bill, spoke about why she supports marijuana reform, sharing personal stories about friends who used the plant to numb severe pain.

“We’re talking about individuals who suffer grave medical conditions who are able to find some relief from marijuana, which is a natural plant,” Kohl-Welles said. “Pain and suffering are not partisan.”

During next year’s legislative session, Kohl-Welles said she will push for a major medical cannabis bill. Washington passed Initiative 692 legalizing medical marijuana in 1998. Only 13 other states have adopted similar measures.

“Speaking out on this issue is risky,” Black-Ferguson said. “People look at you funny. I understand those fears because I was there.”

Still, these advocates face challenges with regard to integrating cannabis responsibly into society. Many also aim to completely abolish the criminal penalty.

Forums like this are mere baby steps in increasing awareness about the issue.

Black-Ferguson stated her goals simply: “I want to keep on going until we can grow it in the backyard with the broccoli and carrots.”