Welcome to the Every Brain Matters monthly newsletter. We are a trusted educational resource for families wanting to stay safe from the harms of marijuana and the expanding drug crisis. We counter the false narratives pushed by the Big Cannabis industry with facts, statistics, peer-reviewed scientific data, and real-life stories. Our primary mission is to support and advocate for protecting families and communities.

The Oregon Drug Experiment Failure: A Cautionary Tale of Misguided Drug Policy

In November 2020, Oregon made headlines by pioneering the decriminalization of illegal drugs, marking a bold departure from traditional punitive drug policies in the United States. 

However, the state reversed its course this Spring, reinstating criminal penalties for drug possession with House Bill 4002. The reversal of Oregon’s drug experiment offers valuable insights into the complexities and challenges of drug policy reform. 

Let’s delve deeper into the reasons behind the failure of the Oregon drug experiment and its implications for broader drug policy discussions, particularly concerning the expansion of drug culture without due consideration for societal impacts.

Keep reading...

We feature a story that occurred on Feb. 6, 1986.

Marijuana, even in low concentrations, can cause psychotic violent episodes. Today's state-legal industrial-grade high-potency marijuana results in these psychotic incidents coming on faster and stronger.

"Only a few of my friends know this story. I have a hard time sharing this, and I am shaking as I write with tears in my eyes. I was the only one who understood the conditions that caused this, so I could not think of abandoning my son. I know some people thought I was wrong to forgive Kurt, but despite the horrific event my son created, he’s still my son. I knew what he really was like without being on marijuana."

Click the image to keep reading...

The EBM team is growing!

A big welcome to our new team members!

April 16 - Helping a Loved One with Cannabis-Induced Psychosis.

April 17 - Climbers Family Support Meeting

April 18 - Vaping: History Repeating Itself?

April 20 - 420 Soberthon - Event with Marijuana Anonymous

This online support group is for families affected by a loved one’s marijuana use. We openly discuss how we can contribute to it positively or negatively. It’s difficult for families to know what that means, so by discussing these situations, we gain clarity on the best response for our families. Click the image to register.

A Class Action Lawsuit against the marijuana industry is close to being filed in Colorado.

We need at least one more lead plaintiff who meets the following criteria: Been diagnosed within the last 2 years with cannabis use disorder, cannabis-induced psychosis, or cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome caused by any THC-containing (non-CBD) cannabis product purchased at a legal Colorado retail dispensary, with no previous history of mental illness (or digestive issues) and is no longer using cannabis products of any kind (including CBD).

For more information, please contact Aubree Adams at aubree@everybrainmatters.org or Aaron Cress at aaron@latenightlaw.com.

Parent Action Network (PAN), an initiative of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), is focused on training parents and families to effectively tell their stories to enact change. Through leading experts in grassroots advocacy, news and media, and legislative strategy, we provide the tools and training you need to tell your story to any audience.

Our parents are bringing awareness to the negative impact marijuana legalization has had on families by sharing their stories with their state and federal lawmakers and sharing their stories in national news outlets like on Fox News and The Wall Street Journal and state outlets like the Billings Gazette and the Grand Forks Herald.

We want to hear from you! Please participate in our Parent Action Network Interest Survey so that we can learn more about you, what you know about marijuana legalization, what you want to learn more about, and the skills you want to learn to better advocate for change.



Because of parent and family voices, more decision-makers are aware of marijuana's harmful effects on public health and safety. If you are interested in becoming a PAN advocate, sign up on our webpage or contact us at pan@learnaboutsam.org.