Providing Science-Based School Assemblies to Educate Students About the Impacts of Youth Cannabis (THC) Use
We teach middle and high school students (7th to 12th grade) what the active ingredient in marijuana (THC) does to their developing brains using a non-scary, non-judgmental approach. Our evidence-based, data-driven talk gives students the knowledge and skills they need to avoid using THC products (vapes, dabs, edibles, marijuana). Current research is the foundation of our youth substance use prevention presentations.
Who is Laura Stack?
Laura Stack is Johnny Stack’s mom and the Founder & CEO of Johnny’s Ambassadors Youth THC Prevention. For 30 years prior to starting her nonprofit, Laura was better known in the business world by her professional moniker, The Productivity Pro®. She is a Hall-of-Fame Speaker and corporate spokesperson for many major brands. Laura is a bestselling author of eight books on time management topics with a large social media following, and she has given keynote speeches and training seminars to major corporate, association, and government audiences for three decades.
But Laura suddenly acquired the undesired wisdom of knowing what it’s like to lose one’s child, when her 19-year-old son, Johnny, died by suicide. He became psychotic after dabbing and vaping high-potency marijuana concentrates and thought the mob was after him.
Laura’s world took a 180. She knew so little about the harms of marijuana and was determined to teach other parents and teens what she had learned, so the same thing wouldn’t happen to them. She filed for and received 501c3 nonprofit status for Johnny’s Ambassadors, Inc., with the mission to educate parents, teens, and communities about the dangers of today’s high-THC marijuana on adolescent brain development, psychosis, and suicide.
Laura wrote the bestselling book, The Dangerous Truth About Today’s Marijuana: Johnny Stack’s Life and Death Story, with 300 pages and 176 scientific notations about what happened. Described as a woman with unstoppable drive and unwavering purpose, Laura hopes to help other parents, grandparents, teachers (and frankly all adults with teens in their lives) by honestly and boldly sharing Johnny’s story of his high-potency marijuana use, psychosis, and suicide.
Speaking Opportunity
The devastating loss of her child gives Laura a powerful voice and a platform for change. Johnny’s story has been featured in People Magazine, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, PBS, and Dr. Phil, among others. Laura sees it as her responsibility to share Johnny’s warning that “marijuana ruined my mind and my life” to prevent other teens and families from having to go through what she did and save other young lives from the harms of marijuana.
Laura’s platform now brings marijuana education, awareness, and prevention curriculum around the U.S. to raise awareness of the harms of THC use for youth. She speaks to students at middle schools (7th and 8th grade), high schools, and universities across the U.S. sharing Johnny’s warning with young people. She also gives in-person and virtual keynotes for drug prevention conferences, suicide prevention conferences, law enforcement/safety conferences, coalition community events, parent nights, and government agencies.
Laura does not use “scare tactics” or a “just say no” judgmental approach. Her talks are heavily science-focused and research-based, while weaving in Johnny’s story, with the intent to provide information for young people to make informed choices about marijuana use. Her conversation around Johnny’s suicide is minimal, as it’s secondary to her focus on youth marijuana prevention. Laura is trauma-informed and does not discuss method of suicide with student audiences. While the end result of Johnny’s life is sad, her talk is hopeful, upbeat, and encouraging.
Laura is the recipient of the 2020 Drug-Free America Foundation’s Moxie Award for protecting youth from substances, the 2021 Leadership in Advocacy Award from the National Speakers Association, and the 2022 Loss Survivor of the Year award from the American Association of Suicidology. By sharing Johnny’s own warning about marijuana, Laura is determined to start a movement to bring teen marijuana use, mental illness, and suicide into the spotlight and get them to #StopDabbing.
Laura lives with her husband near Denver, Colorado and has two surviving adult children.

“Forge ahead despite your pain and give meaning to your loss.” – Laura Stack
Click one of the icons below to see program titles, descriptions, and objectives that fit your audience:
Student Assemblies and Prevention Conference Keynotes






Formats
Laura prefers a one-hour student assembly. At drug prevention conferences, she is generally the opening, luncheon, or closing keynote. Laura can also give a breakout following her keynote or a virtual webinar on these topics (reduced fee when added on):
- Delta-8, Delta-10, HHG, THC-O and A! Understanding the THC Alphabet Soup
- The Duty of Care for “Medical” Marijuana: How Law Enforcement and Prevention Professionals Can Keep THC Out of the Hands of Our Youth
- The Effects of Marijuana Legalization in Colorado: the Harsh Reality 20 Years Later
- CO HB 1317 Regulating Marijuana Concentrates: How Guardrails Were Put in Place in CO to protect our youth
- The Gifts of Grief: Unexpected Blessings After My Son’s Suicide
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 THC 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.
Here is a sample of the results following a pre/post evaluation done with 489 students at a private high school in Indianapolis, IN. We want all students to DISAGREE with each statement, so the goal is following Laura’s presentation, students will more STRONGLY DISAGREE. You can see how the data tracks up (positively = more disagreement), which is exactly the result we want to prove the presentation has changed perceptions.










Audio-Visual Needs
Laura uses a PowerPoint show, so she will need a projector and screen. Her student assemblies also include video, so she will need audio from the computer. Laura needs a microphone no matter the size of the group. She prefers to operate her laptop (PC with built-in HDMI) from the front of the room. See this page for full requests.
Program Fees
All speaking fees are paid to the order of the nonprofit 501(c)3, Johnny’s Ambassadors, EIN 85-0593925.
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). Our daily rate comes out to $3,500 per school including expenses for an unlimited number of students (only subject to your space limitations). We also have a speakers bureau with certified trainers teaching the same content for less. Inquire with Laura at [email protected]
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.). 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. Or we can provide a recording of a previous event to send to your parents. Laura only does evening programs when it is the only presentation that day and no morning assemblies follow. Our staff instructors do provide evening events.
Options:
1. IN-PERSON presentation: flat fee plus 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 our program fees are on the last page.
Marketing Handles

Spokesperson. Laura has been a spokesperson for Fellowes, Xerox, Dannon, Belvita, Microsoft, 3M, WB Mason, Office Depot, QVC, and Day-Timer.
Media-savvy: Laura has appeared on Dr. Phil, CNN, QVC, CBS “This Morning,” Fox News, and countless local and national TV and radio programs, as well as in print and web publications such as People Magazine, USA Today, CNN.com, The Chicago Tribune, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal.
Platform. Laura has given 60-80 keynote speeches and seminars a year for over 30 years. She has 25K+ X followers and 17K+ LinkedIn followers. She has personally talked to over 250,000 students so far!
Notoriety. Laura enjoys a high profile, visible industry presence as a member of the Speaker Hall of Fame. She was the 2011-2012 President of the National Speakers Association and on its board for 10 years.
Laura’s Expertise
35-year for-profit entrepreneur of The Productivity Pro® and Leadership USA and now Founder & CEO of Johnny’s Ambassadors.
- Calvina Fay MOXIE Award winner from the Drug-Free America Foundation
- QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper
- LivingWorks Start Training in Suicide Prevention
- Youth Mental Health First Aid Certification
- Hall of Fame keynote speaker, CPAE
- Certified Speaking Professional, CSP
- Masters of Business Administration, MBA
- Past President of the National Speakers Association
- Experienced media authority
- Experienced with obtaining high-level sponsors and partnerships
- Spokesperson for large brands
- Large existing community of followers
- Author of nine books by major publishers including The Dangerous Truth About Today’s Marijuana: Johnny Stack’s Life and Death Story.
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 our program fees are on the last page.
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