CIP AND ME: How Cannabis-Induced Psychosis Ruined My Mind and My Life, and How I Came Out the Other Side

The true stories in this book, compiled by Laura Stack, were written by ten individuals who experienced cannabis-induced psychosis.

Laura Stack is Johnny Stack’s mom and the Founder & CEO of the nonprofit, Johnny’s Ambassadors Youth THC Prevention. In the business world, Laura was known by her professional moniker, The Productivity Pro®. For over thirty years, she was a Hall-of-Fame professional speaker, corporate spokesperson for many major brands, and bestselling author of eight previous books on employee productivity.

On November 20, 2019, Laura suddenly acquired the undesired wisdom of knowing what it’s like to lose one’s child. Her nineteen-year-old son, Johnny, died by suicide after becoming psychotic from dabbing high-potency THC concentrates.

Laura’s world took a one-eighty. She filed for and received 501(c)(3) nonprofit status for Johnny’s Ambassadors, Inc., with the mission to educate teens, parents, and communities about the dangers of today’s potent THC products (marijuana, dabs, vapes, edibles)—youth addiction, effects on adolescent
brain development, and mental illness—through school assemblies, educational resources, and conference presentations.

Laura wrote the bestselling book about Johnny’s life and death story, The Dangerous Truth About Today’s Marijuana: Johnny Stack’s Life and Death Story. Her second volume on the subject, The Impact of THC on
Our Children: A Parent’s Worst Nightmare, amplifies the voices of other parents whose children have experienced CIP.

Described as a woman with unstoppable drive and unwavering purpose, Laura hopes to help other teens, parents, and all adults with teens in their lives by honestly and boldly sharing Johnny’s story of his high-potency marijuana addiction, psychosis, and suicide.

The devastating loss of her child gives Laura a powerful voice and a platform for change. Laura sees it as her responsibility to share Johnny’s warning to prevent other families from having to go through what she did and save other young lives from the harms of marijuana.

Laura now travels around the US with her husband, speaking at school assemblies and prevention conferences. Her platform brings education about youth THC use, mental illness, and suicide. She presents in-person and virtual keynotes, breakout sessions, and training for parents, teens, schools, anti-
drug coalitions, communities, and healthcare and government agencies.

In July 2026, Laura testified at hearings conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration for the US Department of Justice regarding the proposed rescheduling of all recreational marijuana. She spoke against it being moved from a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act to a Schedule III substance. Laura is the recipient of the Drug-Free America Foundation’s Moxie Award for protecting youth from substances, the Leadership in Advocacy Award from the National Speakers Association, and the American Association of Suicidology’s Loss Survivor of the Year Award. Johnny’s story has been told
in People Magazine, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and on PBS and Dr. Phil.

By sharing Johnny’s own warning about marijuana, “Marijuana has ruined my mind and my life,” Laura is determined to start a movement to bring teen marijuana use, mental illness, and suicide into the spotlight. There are now over 20,000 Johnny’s Ambassadors around the world who share their stories
and education to save others.

Laura lives with her husband, John, in south Denver, Colorado, and has two surviving adult children and two grandsons.

“Forge ahead despite your pain and give meaning to your loss.”
– Laura Stack