Saving Our Youth from the Harms of THC
By Laura Stack
One of the least publicized but arguably most damaging cannabis-induced physical disorders, as defined by the Diagnostics and Statistics Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (a.k.a. DSM-5), is pregnancy complications. Unfortunately, many expectant mothers are either deliberately misled or simply ignorant about how marijuana can harm their developing babies.… Read the rest
Hello, Johnny’s Ambassadors! Did you know in a few weeks, teens and young adults around the world will celebrate 420 DAY? Do you know what 420 Day is and why it’s meaningful in marijuana culture? And more importantly, do you know where your teen will be at 4:20 PM on Tuesday, April 20?… Read the rest
By Laura Stack
The more powerful the marijuana product, the more likely it will damage your brain. Probably slowly, but possibly immediately. That’s not anti-marijuana propaganda; it’s proven scientific fact.
Less than a century ago, this would have been enough to put most people off marijuana for good.… Read the rest
By Laura Stack
Like all Substance Use Disorders, Cannabis Use Disorder comes with a suite of telltale withdrawal symptoms. Indeed, Cannabis Withdrawal Syndrome (CWS) is a clinical indicator of CUD, and it’s one of the factors that’s convinced most health care professionals marijuana is, in fact, addictive.… Read the rest
If you’re a regular visitor to Johnny’s Ambassadors blog, you no doubt know Johnny’s story, and the stimulus for my fight against marijuana use by young people. For those who may read this in other venues and don’t know me, I’m a concerned, grieving mother, who is active in the movement to discourage young people from using marijuana in any form until their brains are formed—and hopefully never.… Read the rest
By Laura Stack
The short answer is, “Of course it is,” though that’s way too glib.
We’ve already asked and answered this question in a previous blog; however, many people don’t understand how marijuana can be addictive. Sadly, according to recent surveys, the percentage of the population (both youth and adult) who consider marijuana harmful has decreased significantly in recent years.… Read the rest
Guest Post by Ben Cort
How do you convince someone that they really don’t know anything about something that they believe they know a great deal about? Seriously, if you wanted to explain to a bunch of strangers who don’t know you from the next guy that something they have held onto as fact just isn’t, how would you start?… Read the rest
By Laura Stack
Art continues to accurate imitate life. In a recent episode of a popular television series, the son of the main character—a high school student—is self-medicating after his father dies. He suffers repeated hallucinations, and at one point, a minor psychotic break.… Read the rest
By Laura Stack
Vaping was supposed to be a good thing. We know better now.
Some clever person invented electronic cigarettes—little vaping pens that heated nicotine-infused liquid and released it as a vapor (technically an aerosol), rather than smoke. Initially, vaping was perceived as a safer way to ingest nicotine; indeed, it was going to help many people quit smoking cigarettes.… Read the rest
By Laura Stack
Every other year since 1991, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have conducted a study of youth behavior in six significant categories, with the intention of monitoring and managing negative behavior. One of the categories they monitor is Alcohol and Other Drug Use.… Read the rest