|
Every Brain Matters (EBM) is a nonprofit founded as a project of Parents Opposed to Pot and developed by Aubree Adams, who personally witnessed the devastating effects of marijuana normalization and commercialization on her own family and community.
Grounded in scientific research and real-life experience, EBM educates the real risks of THC, advocates for public health and safety over profit and ideology, and provides compassionate family recovery support—so no one has to endure this crisis alone. We reject the false narrative that marijuana legalization is merely about personal freedom or that commercial marijuana offers a solution to the drug crisis.
Together, we can protect our families and build a healthier, safer future—because Every Brain Truly Matters.
*Throughout this newsletter, the terms “marijuana” and “cannabis” are used interchangeably.
| | |
In this eye-opening article from Every Brain Matters, we expose how common claims made by the marijuana industry — like “no one dies from marijuana” — are misleading and ignore well-documented harms related to THC products. These myths mirror tactics once used by Big Tobacco: omitting data and minimizing risks while serious consequences accumulate.
The piece highlights real-world dangers linked to THC, including:
- Deaths and injuries involving polysubstance overdoses, motor vehicle crashes, and pediatric ingestions.
- Increased risks of suicide, cardiovascular events, and severe physical reactions like cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome.
- How the lack of systematic tracking allows industry voices to dismiss the harms of today’s potent THC products.
Misinformation makes it harder for families, schools, and policymakers to make informed decisions that protect youth and communities. Reading this article equips you with evidence-based facts and strengthens your voice in advocacy work.
Please read the full article and download the companion graphics to share at schools, community boards, and social media — help spread the truth and counter misleading narratives where you live.
Together, we can elevate science-based education and support healthier choices for all.
| | |
Every Brain Matters Director Aubree Adams shares a powerful firsthand account of what it’s like to speak honestly about the harms of marijuana in a culture where misinformation is widespread and opposition is organized. She explains that advocating for evidence-based awareness isn’t just challenging — it can come with real personal costs.
As Every Brain Matters continues its advocacy, this article underscores how critical it is to amplify evidence-based information about cannabis harms — even in environments where speaking up can be difficult and controversial.
Read the full piece to understand the challenges advocates face and join us in promoting truth, compassion, and informed decision-making for families and communities.
| | |
Every Brain Matters is more than an organization — it is a growing national movement of families who have turned their pain into purpose. Together, alongside a strong network of partner organizations, we are educating our communities, raising awareness, and advocating urgently for meaningful change.
The information and action steps below are here to empower your family to speak up, share your story, and help protect other families. Your voice matters — and it can make a difference.
If you’re ready to stand with other families and be part of this important work, please contact us at info@everybrainmatters.org. You are not alone, and we would be honored to have you join our team. You can find all of our current advocacy actions and opportunities to get involved at this link.
| Every Brain Matters partners with the Parent Action Network to elevate family voices, share our stories, and advance policy changes that protect more families from the harms of marijuana commercialization. If you would like to learn more about advocating with PAN, please reach out to info@everybrainmatters.org | If your family was harmed, time matters. Evidence matters. Accountability matters. Contact us at info@everybrainmatters to connect with lawyers and learn more about your legal options. Take the first step toward justice today. Accountability protects families. Taking legal action can help stop dangerous practices and prevent other families from enduring the same harm. | |
Families across the country are watching their loved ones suffer serious mental and physical health effects from today’s dangerous hemp products — and too many feel powerless to respond. But silence only allows these products to remain on shelves, marketed as “legal” and “safe.”
Even though these products are scheduled to be banned in November 2026, the hemp industry is actively lobbying to delay this change. We cannot afford to wait. If you or your loved one has experienced adverse health effects or you have safety concerns, you can take meaningful action by filing a report with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). When multiple families report the same product or vendor, it can lead to warnings, legal pressure, and greater accountability.
One voice matters. Many voices create change. We must continue reporting these dangerous products — and refuse to stay silent.
| | Through our Dispensing Truth project, Every Brain Matters equips communities with the latest science-based tools to challenge marijuana misinformation using appealing graphics and clear facts. The following graphics are available for free and linked to the resources. | | “Voices of Marijuana’s Harms” invites individuals and families to share personal stories that reveal the real human costs of marijuana legalization. As marijuana use becomes more widespread, its risks—addiction, psychosis, violence, illness, and impaired driving—are increasingly overlooked, affecting users and non-users alike. These harms represent a growing public health crisis. Every Brain Matters elevates these voices to show that current policies are failing and that urgent action is needed. | | Struggling to understand how marijuana really affects young minds beyond the hype? In this powerful personal account, a family shares how marijuana didn’t bring calm—it changed their son’s life in ways no one expected. Their story sheds light on the unseen consequences of today’s high-potency cannabis and why honest conversations about mental health and drug use matter now more than ever. Read on, reflect, and share to help others see the realities behind the myths. | | We understand that families often feel isolated in a world where marijuana use is becoming increasingly normalized. Supporting a loved one who is affected by marijuana can be overwhelming. To assist you, we have created recovery resources for families that will help you navigate this new era of widespread marijuana use. We aim to help you discover healing pathways, gain valuable recovery tools, and build healthier relationships. We invite you to attend our family support meetings and utilize the resources available to you. All the meetings we offer are located under the meeting tab on our website. | |
This month, we are honored to feature Dr. Kristine M. Gilliland, Ph.D., an organic chemist, educator, and national advocate for adolescent brain health.
After her 17-year-old son, Anders, developed schizophrenia — likely associated with high-potency THC use in early adolescence — and following his tragic passing in 2019, Dr. Gilliland dedicated her life to educating youth and families about mental health and substance use risks.
Although Dr. Gilliland is a highly effective and sought-after educator, at our monthly speaking meeting she will share her personal recovery journey — offering a message of hope, resilience, and healing in the face of unimaginable loss.
We hope you will join us for this powerful and inspiring conversation.
| Join Our Support Meetings! | | Join our bi-weekly online support group led by a licensed professional counselor for families impacted by a loved one’s marijuana use. This compassionate, confidential space offers practical recovery tools and peer support for challenges such as addiction, psychosis, and other harmful behaviors. Families learn the 3 C’s of addiction—we didn’t cause it, can’t control it, and can’t cure it—and explore a hopeful fourth C: how to contribute to healing and strengthen relationships. Whether you’re just beginning or well into the journey, all are welcome. Donations are appreciated but never required. Learn more here. | | |
The Every Brain Matters Memorial is a place of honor, healing, and remembrance. We celebrate the lives of those we’ve lost and stand with the families and friends who carry their love forward. By sharing these stories, we break isolation, reduce stigma, and help others find hope and support.
Our memorial publicly remembers the life-changing effects of marijuana and serves as a reminder of why we continue this critical fight.
If you’d like to add your loved one to the Memorial, we welcome their story—in your words. Please share a photo, a favorite memory, and anything that captures who they are. Please reach out to us at info@everybrainmatters.org or submit your tribute at this link, and we’ll be honored to include it. Your voice is essential and may inspire change in others. Together, we can advocate for a better future.
– Every Brain Matters Community
| | |
Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter. I hope it provides meaningful insight, encouragement, and resources you can use and share with others.
Your support makes this work possible. Because of you, we can continue educating families, raising awareness, and expanding our efforts to protect and support policies that improve our communities' health and safety. I’m truly grateful to be doing this alongside you.
With appreciation,
Aubree Adams
| | Every Brain Matters| Contact Us | FAQs | Privacy Policy | | | | |
