Laura Stack’s Pathway Session on Cannabis a Big Success

Laura Stack more than met my lofty expectations when she presented to parents and concerned citizens at NCPSG’s May 7, 2025 Zoom Pathway Session. The session intermingled her son Johnny’s story of cannabis use in Colorado with the latest findings on the impact of THC on the brain and body.

Her son Johnny, who died at age 19 by taking his own life, had started to use at age 14 when offered weed at a party. He later started dabbing, which is heating THC concentrate on a hot surface, and then inhaling the vaporized oil through a dab rig. Laura noted that while Woodstock weed, or flower, contained 1-2% THC, the average potency in the flower in recent times had surpassed 20%. Dabs, the concentrated form that is made through a chemical process, ranges from 60-90% THC or even higher. Thus, 1 marijuana dab of today is the equivalent of 50 Woodstock joints.

In an easy-to-understand way, Laura described the impact of using today’s THC products on the brain, in terms of addiction, IQ, and the prefrontal cortex which is the executive center for decision-making. She noted that of the 3M teens that have used cannabis in the past year, 44% are classified as having cannabis use disorder.

Laura discussed what her life was like with Johnny in Colorado, where medical marijuana cards were readily available for those 16 and older in addition to adult-use marijuana being legal as of 2014. By 16, his mood had shifted significantly, by 17 he was often defiant, angry, and vaping THC openly. His grades plummeted, he tried to take his life during his freshmen year in college, and he had more than one psychotic break (cannabis-induced psychosis, or CIP).

It’s a sad state with CIP in our country and around the world. As Laura noted, results from a 2021 Danish study prove that 30% of cases of schizophrenia could have been prevented if cannabis use disorder (CUD) wasn’t present. In Canada, a 2023 study detailed what has happened over 3 years with young men aged 14-18 that visit hospital ED’s with CIP: 41% transition to schizophrenia. Sad indeed!

When Johnny moved into a condo at age 19, acquired a puppy, and pledged to live a drug- and alcohol-free life, things were looking up. At one point, however, Laura’s son decided to drop taking his anti-psychotic meds cold turkey, which triggered suicidal thinking and his death on December 20, 2019. Laura then referred again the Canada study, which also covered suicides. Within 5 years of receiving hospital care for cannabis use disorder, individuals were 9.7X more likely to have died by suicide.

The Death of a Son and the Birth of a Mission: Laura started a nonprofit, Johnny’s Ambassadors, in her son’s honor exactly 5 years ago from the date of our Pathway. Her mission is all about saving lives. In Laura’s state of Colorado, suicide is the #1 cause of death for youth 15-18. “Somebody has to tell everyone, because if I don’t, who will?”

Specifics about Laura’s impact: Over a half million teens have heard Laura’s prevention presentation; there are 15,000 Johnny’s Ambassadors; over 2000 family members have joined the Cannabis-induced psychosis online support group. Additionally, she’s working on her third book on THC, this one featuring authentic testimonials from those in recovery from CIP and CUD.

Q&A, How to contact Laura, and Replay Video:

Laura ended the presentation with a Q&A session in which she answered questions, including ones about safety and if there are ANY indications of marijuana being medically efficacious. (The anwer to the latter is no.) It was a comprehensive Zoom presentation that was informative and touching. At the end, Laura gave her email and said she would respond to questions promptly (laura@johnnysambassadors.org). To view the Pathway Session replay, CLICK HERE.

NOTE: Laura also gave us links to: 1) Treatment Resources https://johnnysambassadors.org/treatment; 2) How parents can find help for their child https://JohnnysAmbassadors.org/parents; 3) The Parents of Children with Cannabis Induced Psychosis online support group https://www.facebook.com/groups/POCCIP; 4) Asking young people 18-30, who have experienced CIP, to tell their stories for inclusion in Laura’s third book CIP & Me. https://JohnnysAmbassadors.org/bookguidelines; and 5) The JA Facebook page which includes video testimonials from parents.