Do you know what 420 Day is? Why is today meaningful? And more importantly, where will your teen be at 4:20 PM today?
Because today, 4/20, is International Weed Day, the day people around the world celebrate a drug that remains illegal in the U.S.: marijuana. 420 Day started in 1971, when a group of five teenagers would smoke weed every day at 4:20 PM, after school and before their parents got home. You can read about its origins here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/420_(cannabis_culture).
If you’re reading this, wrinkling your brow in confusion, and thinking, “What? I’ve never heard of 420 Day, and why does that matter to me? I’m 40 (50, 60, 70) years old and don’t smoke marijuana.” The point is that EVERYONE under the age of 25 knows what 420 Day is. If you’re a parent or grandparent or aunt or uncle or have adolescents, teens, or young adults in your life, you need to understand what this holiday is, so you can discuss it with them intelligently when you hear the term. This isn’t a “drug culture thing” or “pro-pot” industry term. Most parents are in the dark. I was in the dark. I wish someone would have told me what 420 Day was.
My son, Johnny, died by suicide in Nov. 2019 after he become psychotic from dabbing THC concentrates. You can read about dabbing here: https://www.justthinktwice.gov/facts-about-marijuana-concentrates. Today’s high-potency marijuana is very different from the version you grew up with. Even one hit of THC carries risk for inducing psychosis.
Human brains don’t finish forming until the mid to late 20’s. Adults must understand that marijuana alters the normal development of the adolescent brain and causes damage. We need our children to NOT use marijuana as a coping mechanism during stressful times like these! There is NO psychiatric condition made better by THC. Someday, your teen will have “that friend” who shows up with a dab pen at a party someday soon. Have you prepared your young adults to know how to respond?
At Johnny’s Ambassadors, our mission is to educate parents, teens, and communities about the dangers of today’s high-THC marijuana on adolescent brain development, psychosis, and suicide. Our goal is to prevent any other senseless deaths like that of our son Johnny, who died by suicide because of this drug. Will you help us? We try not to ask for donations too often, but we do operate due to your kind gifts. Contributions in any amount will assist us in spreading the word to as many people about the harms of youth marijuana use.
If your teen mysteriously wants to leave the house at 4:20 today, MAKE SURE THAT SHIP DOESN’T SAIL! I have made this post public and would be so grateful if you’d share it on your Facebook to loop in other parents.