Certified Johnny’s Ambassadors Trainer
Grace Davis, a graduate of the University of Northern Colorado, credits Johnny as a pivotal influence in her decision to complete her degree and quit cannabis. She recognizes that her cannabis/THC use contributed to the progression of her bipolar disorder, which can present with symptoms overlapping psychosis and other mental health conditions.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, students with bipolar disorder are 70% more likely to drop out of college than peers without psychiatric diagnoses. Despite these challenges, Davis earned a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology while completing both the Interdisciplinary and Upper-Division honors programs. She is an award-winning student and undergraduate researcher.
A former advocate and teacher in Douglas County schools, Davis recognizes the importance of drug-free initiatives and accessible mental health resources for youth. She is passionate about reducing mental health stigma and fostering resilience through education, advocacy, and open dialogue. In addition to speaking, Grace co-facilitates the TOGETHER: Preventing and Recovering from CIP program for Johnny’s Ambassadors.
Davis and Johnny first met as children at Camp Id-Ra-Ha-Je (“I’d Rather Have Jesus”) in Bailey, Colorado. In the spring of 2019, they reconnected while living on the same dorm floor at the University of Northern Colorado. When Johnny confided in her about his mental health struggles, including psychosis and suicidality, she repeatedly advocated for and supported him. Her reports requesting mental health interventions for Johnny were not ethically addressed by those who received them.
TOPIC:
The Dangerous Truth About Today’s Marijuana: Johnny Stack’s Life and Death Story
Description:
Laura Stack’s son, Johnny, was a computer whiz with a perfect math score on the SAT and a 4.0 GPA. He started vaping THC at a party at 14 years old and died by suicide five years later after becoming delusional from dabbing. Soon afterward, Laura started a nonprofit organization, Johnny’s Ambassadors, to educate parents and teens about the dangers of youth THC misuse. Three days before his death, Johnny issued his own warning about his THC usage, “Marijuana ruined my mind and my life.” By weaving Johnny’s tragic tale throughout this science-based presentation, Laura educates teens on how THC can disrupt brain development. Laura’s presentation reviews the newest research on the potential harms of vaping, dabbing, and edibles in a teen-friendly way. They stay engaged and focused for the entire hour! Laura gives 200+ assemblies each year all over the U.S., up to three in one day.
Objectives:
- Meet Johnny Stack – Who Was He?
- Define the Terminology: Cannabis, Marijuana, Hemp, Delta-9, Delta-8, THC, CBD
- Understand THC Potency – “Then” vs. “Now” Marijuana
- Learn how THC is Extracted and how Concentrates are Made in a Lab
- Calculate Dosage to Understand How Much THC is Going Into the Body
- Learn how THC Gives Users the High Feeling by Mimicking Natural Endocannabinoids
- Understand how THC Impacts Adolescent Brain Formation and Function by Binding to CB1 Receptors
- Review the Dirty Dozen Impacts of THC Use on the Teen Brain
- Learn What the FDA Has Approved as “Medicine” for Cannabis-Derived Products
- Uncover the Research Between Teen THC Use and Mental Illness, Psychosis, and Suicidal Thinking
- Understand What Happens When People Dependent on THC Try to Stop
- Practice What do To and Say When Offered THC at a Party
- Consider the Science When Making Decisions for Yourself in the Future