This page is a sample of letters written by members of Johnny’s Ambassadors to educate various sectors about the harms of youth THC use. Their authors have given permission for you to copy/modify/use them in your efforts to educate others.
This letter is from Jennifer McKinney she posted on her Facebook page and other articles when working to educate the public:
It may surprise you to learn that over a decade ago, I voted to legalize recreational marijuana use in my state.
(And it probably doesn’t surprise you that I found a pink anti-marijuana t-shirt. I mean of course I did.)
The legislation didn’t pass, and weed is still illegal here, but that didn’t stop my 18-year-old from easily getting his hands on it.
I have done a complete 180° on this issue since my son was diagnosed with Cannabis Induced Psychosis. And don’t get me wrong. I was anti-marijuana use then as well. But I figured people could decide for themselves.
Here are some things about weed I wish I knew before it damaged my son’s brain:
* Marijuana in all forms contains THC, which can be catastrophically devastating to the developing brain (under age 30).
* Kids can get THC in all 50 states (Legally!) because the addiction-for-profit industry hijacked the Farm Act and started making synthetic THC out of natural hemp as a loophole. It’s even in CBD products!
* Weed usage in teenagers is linked to depression and suicide. Suicide in teens is high in states where recreational marijuana is legal.
* THC use can cause Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder. Even where there is no genetic propensity or family history.
* THC vapes don’t really smell like weed. And they can be easily confused with nicotine vapes. Figure out the difference.
* Watch initially for social withdrawal, lack of interest in hobbies or sports, isolation or stomach pain and later for paranoia, nonsensical speech, excessive sleepiness, confusion and even seeing or hearing things that aren’t really there.
* So many kids have tried THC or regularly use it. I hope your child isn’t, but please know that they could easily be. Even if you’re a great parent. My kid got it at his Christian school.
* There is hope and healing for people addicted to cannabis who want to become well and heal their brains!! I’m watching it unfold before my very eyes with my son!!!!
I didn’t know these things, friends. But now I do. And now you do, too
Jennifer McKinney
Johnny’s Ambassadors – Wisconsin
This is a letter from one of Johnny’s Ambassadors to a podcaster. It’s a good one to modify for letters to reporters and media channels.
Dear Dr. Puder,
I have listened to a few of your podcasts and found the most recent one about Clozapine & Schizophrenia with Michael Cummings, MD, very informative, interesting, and thought-provoking. What has drawn me to your podcast is that our son suffered Cannabis Induced Psychosis (CIP) and recently started on clozapine to treat the mental illness that was caused by smoking high potency THC.
I found both you and Dr. Cummings to be extremely knowledgeable and was impressed with your granular expertise on the clozapine subject matter as well as how clearly you care about your patients. I have taken it upon myself to research all aspects of my son’s addiction and subsequent mental illness.
Many teens gravitate to THC vapes, for example, which can be 90%+ THC. THC levels in marijuana in the old days predating legalization was in the 3-4% range. This is not the same drug. These vapes caused my son’s mental illness. I say “cause,” because the sheer potency of the THC caused it. He would not have developed his mental illness had ne never smoked marijuana – especially high potency THC vapes. We see this repeated over and over in the stories of parents whose children were 100% fine—good students and athletes—and then marijuana destroyed everything.
So, what caught my attention was Dr. Cummings noting the 80/20 rule for schizophrenia developing because of genes vs. environment. I see that Dr. Cummings has extensive experience working in a California state mental hospital, so I do not doubt his expertise on this subject. But since he’s semi-retired, I wouldn’t be surprised if he hasn’t kept up on the most recent research as it pertains to the connection between adolescent THC use and the onset of serious mental illnesses ranging from bipolar disorder to schizophrenia.
Historically, most schizophrenia developed due to genetic predisposition, and his 80/20 rule likely held true. However, today’s high potency THC has changed that equation. As a result of marijuana legalization, more teens are developing cannabis use disorder, driven by these higher THC levels. The increase in dose and duration can result in cannabis induced psychosis and then schizophrenia and related mental health disorders.
Please allow me to share some of the most recent studies/developments:
Study no.1 Conclusions: Regular use of high-potency cannabis remains a strong predictor of psychotic disorder independently of schizophrenia PRS, which does not seem to be associated with heavy cannabis use.
Study no. 2 Conclusion: The proportion of new cases of schizophrenia associated with a cannabis use disorder has risen from 4% pre-legalization to 10% after cannabis legalization in Ontario, according to new research.
Study no. 3 Conclusion: Researchers found strong evidence of an association between cannabis use disorder and schizophrenia among men and women, though the association was much stronger among young men. Using statistical models, the study authors estimated that as many as 30% of cases of schizophrenia among men aged 21-30 might have been prevented by averting cannabis use disorder.
Study no. 4 and here. Conclusions and relevance: This population-based cohort study found that CUD was associated with an increased risk of psychotic and nonpsychotic bipolar disorder and unipolar depression.
Study no. 5 Conclusion: Cannabinoids likely contribute to chronic psychotic events and schizophrenia, especially if taken during adolescence. This effect likely increases with a high cannabis THC concentration and increased frequency of cannabis use and is stronger in males than in females.
Most recently this development from Canada, “WARNING: Using cannabis before age 25 increases your risk of mental disorders like psychosis and schizophrenia. The more often you use, the greater the risk.”
I know both you and Dr. Cummings share a common interest in finding ways to help prevent the onset of schizophrenia and recognize adolescent THC use is harmful to the developing brain. Might I suggest that you consider reading those studies and perhaps even reach out to some of your colleagues in the field of psychiatry such as Dr. Erik Messamore who notes how research now suggests cannabis causes schizophrenia. I met him last year at Laura Stack’s parent conference and both he and Dr. Cyril D’Souza (Yale) were willing to make the leap from correlation to causation based on the most recent research. Dr. Bertha K. Madras, PhD, Harvard Medical School is also a valuable resource on the dangers modern high potency THC presents to the young brain.
I share all this with you as you seem extremely knowledgeable and caring. I hope that I can get you to engage in further research into the connection between today’s high potency THC and the significant increase in number of cases of schizophrenia. We both share a common goal, which is to protect future generations from the devastation that schizophrenia does to one and one’s life trajectory.
Kind regards,
Anonymous Dad