Welcome, Johnny’s Ambassadors of Texas!
Thank you for visiting this page. We hope to provide information and motivate you to be willing to educate others in Texas on the dangers of THC. Education of the general public and specific other groups, such as pediatricians, ER doctors, therapist and psychiatrists, school counselors, principals, superintendents, organizations such as Lions Clubs and Chambers of Commerce, city councils, the media and many others is important.
Please get in touch with Christine Scruggs at [email protected] if you would like to be involved in upcoming activities specific to Texas.
Please include your email address and the city in which you live. If you are comfortable including your phone number, please feel free to do so.
Like some other state page representatives here at Johnny’s Ambassadors (JA), we have some similar goals. Taking inspiration from the JA state specific groups (IL, MI), in Texas, we aspire to:
- Present a strong public education program and campaign about the negative impacts of THC
- Offer in-person meet-ups in Texas to offer emotional support, near large cities such as Houston, Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, if there is interest. Meeting via Zoom could also be an option.
- Activate more Texans in education/advocacy efforts.
- Create documentation that others can use as a starting point to send to their school districts, specifically to encourage them to bring in a Johnny’s Ambassadors presentation.
- Gather information from YOU on what efforts YOU have had success with in your cities, so that others can replicate it in their communities.
Thank you for your efforts. They will make a difference.
Below is a sample email you can read, then perhaps copy and modify, inserting your own experience, and send to your school district personnel. Maybe you can use portionsof it, such as the THC facts, the info about how the Johnny’s Ambassadors presentations are done, etc., in an email you compose and send to your district.
Sample Email
“Good morning [superintendent, principal, counselor, school board member, other ISD personnel, etc.],
I am reaching out to you all in [your school district] ISD with hope and belief that you can help with an important and life changing matter. I want to let you know about the very negative effects that cannabis/THC/marijuana has had on our son, a Top 100 graduate of [your school district] High School. I want to encourage you to bring in Laura Stack from Johnny’s Ambassadors to educate our students and the community about today’s THC products. Johnny’s Ambassadors is a 501(c)(3) dedicated to Youth THC prevention. Laura’s goal is to save the youth of our country from the harms of THC by educating them early about the dangers of this increasingly potent and addictive drug.
In the last ## months, I have learned so much more than I ever wanted to know about the cannabis industry and the major psychological effects that using cannabis can have on the brain. These effects are magnified in the brains of youths that are not fully developed until age 25, some scientists have now raised that age to 30.
Two of my sons were [school district] Band Presidents and one was a Vice President in their senior years. All were in band leadership from sophomore year through senior. All were excellent musicians, one making Texas All-State Orchestra 3 times, one making All-State Band his senior year, and one being 2 away from All-State. All made region band, area band, region orchestra. All graduated in the top 100 of their class. All were in National Honor Society. One graduated fourth in his class. We, and they, had a lot of pride in their accomplishments and the recognition those accomplishments brought to the school district. My husband and I were presidents of the [school district] band booster club and worked extremely hard for that organization.
I say all this not to brag, but to highlight that addiction to substances can happen even to the kids with the best home lives, many friends, academic and extra-curricular success, leadership positions, and involved parents.
Addiction has happened to one of our sons, and it will continue to happen to other sons and daughters in the [school district] ISD community. The difference these days is that the extremely addictive, potent product that is being pushed on our youth is THC/cannabis, which is now available at gas stations and smoke shops at every corner, online, through apps, and more. Another important difference is that education and information presented in a well-organized and compelling format can change the trajectory of many students’ lives.
I am trying to spread the information, knowledge, and scientific evidence that I have learned to help answer any questions you may have about THC, its detrimental psychological affects for thousands across our country and even more worldwide.
My son became addicted to THC, which he did not use until he graduated from college. Within one year, he was using every day and he had developed a delusion and paranoia, two classic symptoms of Cannabis Induced Psychotic Disorder. We did not find out about this for multiple years. He was formerly a normal young man with no mental health symptoms. We were finally able to force him into a dual diagnostic facility that could address his THC addiction and the ensuing mental health issues that use of THC had created. Our son has been sober for ## months and has worked through a Residential Program, Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP), and an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP). He does not yet have full insight into the mental health issue that his addiction to THC caused, but he does recognize that he was quite addicted and that maybe he “did go a little psychotic for one month”. That is a start.
I am here to implore you to get in contact with Laura Stack of Johnny’s Ambassadors. Laura’s son died by suicide in 2019, at the age of 19, as a result of his THC addiction and how it had messed up his brain. Laura was, and still is, a fantastic public speaker, though now many of her speeches are about THC. She travels the country giving talks to students is middle, junior, senior high schools, and in universities, and also educates parents. She gives them the important and little-known, or publicized, facts about the harmful effects of THC use.
Here are some of the facts that the cannabis industry, some medical professionals, and some people in various governments have known for years, much of which has been brushed under the rug in favor of the money that can be profited off of the sale of THC/cannabis/marijuana products:
• Long term (defined as 1 year or more), heavy (defined as just 3 times a week or more) cannabis/marijuana/THC use is scientifically proven to increase both anxiety and depression, two of the very issues that cannabis is touted as helping.
• “Old-school” marijuana from the 1970’s averaged 2-3% potency. The average potency of today’s THC products is 18-23% potency, with the resins (budder, wax, shatter, dabs) reaching 90+ and up to 99% potency. The potency is now a selling point of the cannabis producers and sellers. They want to offer the highest high possible, since that is what many consumers are looking for. Most kids do not know these details. Today’s THC contains almost no CBD, just THC, the psychoactive component in marijuana.
• Doing “hits” of THC lowers a person’s own naturally occurring production of dopamine, the “feel-good”, pleasure inducing hormone/neurotransmitter. This leads to a vicious cycle of using THC to get the “feel good” effect of raising dopamine with the THC, which in turn decreases the body’s own production of dopamine even more. It is a never-ending cycle of lower natural dopamine and needing dopamine from alternate sources. This results in addiction.
• The psychosis inducing aspect of cannabis use has been recognized for 180 years. In 1893 the British government arranged for the Indian Hemp Drug Commission to study what was causing so many cases of psychosis (what they termed “insanity”) in their territory of India. They decided that psychosis was more likely to affect heavy users, not so much those using mildly or moderately. Therefore, they chose as long ago as 1894, to tax and regulate cannabis. They brushed the mental health consequences under the rug. The big difference now is that the potency, availability, and normalization of use has increased so much that many, many more people are having long-term psychotic symptoms. Even earlier, in 1845, well respected French psychiatrist Jacques-Joseph Moreau wrote about the psychotic symptoms that cannabis produces in his 1845 book ‘Du Hachisch et de l’aliénation mentale’, later translated into English and published as ‘Hashish and Mental Illness’.
It is commendable that you have [whatever pages, links, or resources they offer on their school district website regarding drug use]. Very few parents know about the extremely negative consequences of using today’s THC and even fewer are going to go to your website, search for ‘Guidance Service’, find the ‘Mental Health Support’ menu item, and click on ‘Substance Abuse’ in order to find those resources. It would be great if this were not true, but it is true. This is a bigger problem than a page on a website can address. We need to make it much easier for parents and youth to get the correct information.
Our school district, and our city and community, need to take a more proactive, super-informed, science-based stance on this widespread issue before any more young people choose this negative path. Bringing someone in with lived experience to talk to the students when they are highly likely to start (or already are) using, or even younger, is vital. Having that same person educate the parents is just as vital. Laura’s student vs adult presentations are different, as the adult presentation shows drug photos and tells heavy details about Johnny that could be upsetting for young people. It is not Laura’s intention to scare children, make them sad, or incite their curiosity about drugs.
Laura recently finished a 3-day presentation in [a nearby school district] ISD, visiting both [high school names]. The counselors at those schools recognize the issue facing their student population and sought out a THC educator. They also had principals who were proactive about this type of education and recognize the significance of educating about THC’s effects. I think [your school district]’s students and parents deserve the same proactivity. Will you consider contacting personnel at those schools to get their feedback on how the presentation went, what the student’s response was, and whether they would recommend getting this education to come in to [your school district] ISD for our students and parents?
Laura Stack can be reached at [email protected]. Her website, which SO much more information than I can put in an email, is https://johnnysambassadors.org/ .
More information from Laura’s website:
- NOTE FROM LAURA ABOUT SCHOOL ASSEMBLIES: I speak to middle school and high school students. They are essentially the same talk, with the middle school science taken down a notch. I use a science-based, research-based approach that is non-judgmental and non-preachy. I teach students why THC is bad for their brains and encourage them to consider the science when making decisions for themselves in the future. We discuss why today’s THC products are different; how concentrates, vapes, and edibles are made through extraction; how potency is calculated and what it means for dosage; how the adolescent brain forms; how THC makes people high; how THC mimics our natural endocannabinoids; what the Endocannabinoid System is and why it matters; where CB1 and CB2 receptors are located in the body; what happens when THC gets into the developing mind; the possible negative outcomes that can happen to teens who use; the research tying marijuana use to increased mental illness, psychosis, and suicidality; what they will experience if using and attempt to stop; what to do and say when offered marijuana at a party and they don’t want to use; what the FDA has approved as medicine and what is not; what to do if a friend is using and they see warning signs; and how to get help for themselves if needed. Throughout it all, I weave in Johnny’s story to anchor the science point and keep them engaged with the challenges he experienced. The talk is NOT a suicide prevention talk and is not upsetting. I am very trauma-informed and have not had youth leave my presentation from getting upset. This is a Youth THC Prevention talk without the scare tactics. Please contact me at [email protected] if you have any questions about my approach!
- Laura offers “Sustainable Programming – no additional charge.
Prior to Laura’s presentation, we offer a 10-question pre/post survey of students, so we can measure behavior and perception change before and after Laura’s presentation. A report is provided with the final metrics to give to your administration, coalition members, or board. After Laura’s presentation, we can provide copies of our 16-page glossy bound Youth Marijuana Prevention Magazine to use in classes (taught by a teacher, not as a leave-behind). If a student is caught with vapes or THC products at school, we offer a self-paced, 8-module online curriculum to use as a suspension alternative or education while in suspension at school.
- Laura can give a maximum of three, one-hour assemblies in a day. Fees are reduced for multiple programs in one day. All three assemblies must be during the day (usually 1st, 2nd, and last periods). You can partner with neighboring schools or communities to split fees (90 minutes maximum distance). Parent nights are NOT well attended (due to conflicts with sports, homework, dinner, childcare, etc.) and incur additional expenses (two hotel nights, car, meals, etc.). Johnny’s Ambassadors charges an additional $2,500 as program #3 if you still decide to hold a parent night. We recommend parent coffees or lunches, which are much better attended. You can also invite parents to attend the student assembly. Or forego the student assembly and hold a joint district student/parent night and give credit for attendance as an incentive to participate.
- Options:
1. IN-PERSON presentation: flat fee plus travel (sometimes we have a grant to cover travel)
2. VIRTUAL WEBINAR presentation: complimentary use of our GoToWebinar platform if desired
3. VIDEO VIEWING: license to show a prior presentation to your group - Email [email protected] for more information on inviting Laura to speak at your meeting or check dates. Or fill out our Contact Form with the details of your event. Or download our program brochure, and the program fees are on the last page.
My son’s brain will likely never be the exact same. We believe he may be better off than many, possibly because he delayed the start of THC use until he was in his 20’s. However, the consequences to him, and to our family, are no less devastating.
I recognize that this is a big ask. My feeling is that if we do not speak up when we know something is wrong or we have information to share, nothing will change and people will not get educated.
Let’s join together to educate our teens, young adults, and older adults about the harms of today’s very potent and very addictive THC products before so many more choose the wrong path.
If you have any questions or comments, please let me know, and please talk to Laura Stack.
Thank you so much for your time. If one of the recipients of this email could acknowledge receipt of it, I would truly appreciate it.
Sincerely,
[your name]”
That was a long email. The superintendent DID respond this year. Perhaps some of that documentation will be useful in your efforts.
Separately, to you Johnny’s Ambassadors Texas members, remember:
Nothing changes if nothing changes.
Sincerely, and with appreciation for you,
Christine Scruggs
p.s.
Here are two acronyms I’ve thought of while trying to develop something catchy and attention grabbing, like MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) did:
- MMWWM: Marijuana Messed Withthe Wrong Mom
- We are POTHcEADS: People Opposing THC’s Harmful Effects And Devastating Symptoms.
The “c” is silent, but we won’t be!