Every Brain Matters (EBM) is a nonprofit founded as a project of Parents Opposed to Pot. Grounded in scientific research and real-life experience, EBM educates about the real risks of marijuana, advocates for public health and safety over profit and ideology, and provides compassionate family recovery support—so no one has to endure this alone. 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.

Legal Marijuana, Contaminated Products: Is Government Regulation Protecting Consumers?

Legal does not necessarily mean safe. And government-regulated does not guarantee consumer protection.

Mold, pesticides, heavy metals, prohibited chemicals, inaccurate THC levels, failed testing, and delayed public warnings are raising serious questions about the safety of marijuana products sold in state-licensed businesses.

Consumers are told that legalization brings oversight, testing, and protection. But what happens when contaminated products reach store shelves, testing systems fail, and public warnings come too late?

In our latest article, Every Brain Matters examines the troubling gaps in marijuana regulation and asks an important question: Are taxpayers funding a system that protects public health—or one that legitimizes and promotes products with serious health risks?

Read the full article by clicking the image below:

Advocacy In Action

Every Brain Matters is committed to turning truth into action. We are the powerful voice of families affected by marijuana, working to protect and strengthen families and communities while promoting public health. Together, we can challenge misinformation, advance prevention, support recovery, and create lasting change—because every brain matters. Learn how you can get involved in our advocacy efforts by visiting this link.

ACTION NEEDED: TELL CONGRESS — DO NOT REOPEN THE HEMP THC LOOPHOLE

Congress has already acted to close the federal hemp loophole by establishing a 0.4 mg total-THC-per-container limit for finished hemp-derived cannabinoid products. Now we need to make sure that protection is not weakened before it takes effect.

There are efforts to preserve a commercial market for intoxicating hemp-derived products, including THC beverages. We are asking Congress not to attach language to the December spending bill—or any other must-pass legislation—that creates exemptions, delays implementation, or weakens the 0.4 mg standard.

This matters to every family and community. THC can cause addiction and psychosis and can increase the risk of schizophrenia. It can also cause cannabis hyperemesis syndrome (CHS), a serious condition involving recurrent nausea, vomiting, and even death.

Please take a few minutes to copy and paste the letter below and send it to your members of Congress and key federal leaders. Then ask others to do the same.

WHO TO CONTACT & HOW TO REACH THEM

Your U.S. Representative

Find your representative and contact information:

https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

Both of Your U.S. Senators

Find your senators and contact information:

https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson

https://mikejohnson.house.gov/contact/

Senate Majority Leader John Thune

https://www.thune.senate.gov/contact/

Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins

https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/

Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee Chair John Hoeven

https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/subcommittees/agriculture-rural-development-food-and-drug-administration-and-related-agencies

House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee Chair Andy Harris

https://appropriations.house.gov/subcommittees/agriculture-rural-development-food-and-drug-administration-and-related-agencies

President Donald Trump / The White House

https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

Attorney General Todd Blanche / U.S. Department of Justice

https://www.justice.gov/contact-us

DEA Administrator Terry Cole / Drug Enforcement Administration

https://www.dea.gov/who-we-are/contact-us

COPY AND PASTE THIS LETTER

Dear Members of Congress and Administration Officials,

I urge you to preserve the federal standard limiting finished hemp-derived cannabinoid products to no more than 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container.

Please do not attach language to the December spending bill—or any other must-pass legislation—that creates an exception for intoxicating THC beverages, delays implementation, or otherwise allows the continued commercial sale of intoxicating THC products under the definition of hemp.

Congress acted to close a loophole that allowed intoxicating THC products to proliferate in ordinary retail settings. That policy should be allowed to take effect. A THC beverage should not receive special treatment simply because THC is delivered in a drink rather than a gummy, vape, or other product.

The public-health consequences are serious. CDC reports that approximately 3 in 10 people who use cannabis develop cannabis use disorder. Cannabis can cause psychosis and is associated with an increased risk of schizophrenia. In August 2026, CDC reported 199,565 emergency-department visits involving cannabis hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) from January 2023 through May 2026. CHS can cause severe, recurrent nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and even death.

There are also serious law-enforcement and national-security concerns, including drugged driving, human trafficking, and damage to the environment. DEA has documented Chinese transnational criminal organizations operating large-scale illegal marijuana cultivation and distribution networks in the United States.

Please do not reopen the hemp loophole. Do not create a carve-out for intoxicating THC beverages. Do not attach provisions to the December spending bill that weaken or delay the 0.4 mg total-THC-per-container standard.

Allow the law to take effect. Protect legitimate industrial hemp—not the commercial sale of intoxicating THC products.

Thank you for protecting public health, families, communities, and the integrity of our nation's hemp laws.



Sincerely,

[YOUR NAME, EMAIL, ADDRESS, PHONE]

Every Brain Matters was proud to attend and be a sponsor at the 9th Annual Arizona Drug Summit, hosted by MATFORCE on September 9, 2026. This important event brought together more than 500 professionals, advocates, law enforcement officials, researchers, and families committed to preventing substance use, supporting recovery, and protecting our communities.

In her article, “Ninth Annual AZ Drug Summit Unites for Solutions,” Priscilla Moore highlights the powerful presentations, personal testimonies, emerging drug threats, and solutions discussed throughout the summit.

The event began with a special screening of “THC Inc.: What Happens When Marijuana Goes Legal?”, a documentary produced by Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) that exposes the consequences of marijuana commercialization and the industry's pursuit of profit.

During the panel discussion, Sally Schindel, a passionate advocate who lost her son Andy to suicide associated with marijuana addiction, drew a powerful comparison to Big Tobacco. She reminded attendees that tobacco companies were eventually forced to acknowledge the addictive nature of their products, raising an important question about accountability in today's marijuana industry.



We are grateful to MATFORCE, the speakers, and the families who continue turning personal tragedy into prevention, education, and hope. Watch Sally Schindel's powerful message below.

Massachusetts has a historic opportunity to protect families and communities from the harms of commercial marijuana. Question 8 will give voters the chance to end recreational marijuana retail sales in November 2026.

Join the movement: https://www.healthierma.com/

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. To share your story, contact us at info@everybrainmatters.org.

On September 25, 2026, Aubree Adams, director of Every Brain Matters and Citizens for a Safe and Healthy Texas, was invited to participate in a speaker panel at the Texas Tribune Festival in Austin.

During the discussion, Aubree delivered an urgent message: The growing push to commercialize and promote THC is having devastating, costly consequences for the mental and physical health of individuals, families, and communities.

Drawing from personal experience and scientific research, Aubree emphasized the serious risks of THC use, including addiction, mental illness, and other health consequences that too often go unrecognized or ignored.

It's time to put public health and safety ahead of THC industry profits.

Watch this video!

FAMILY RECOVERY MEETINGS

Hope for Families: The Family Is the Intervention

Join Every Brain Matters on November 11 from 7:00–8:30 PM CST for our Monthly Speakers Meeting featuring Danny and Emily Deaton, co-founders of Your Living Proof. Drawing from their family’s lived experience and years of work in addiction and recovery, Danny and Emily will share practical tools for helping families respond to addiction, set healthy boundaries, and create opportunities for recovery—without simply waiting for a loved one to “hit rock bottom.” 

Their message is powerful: the family is the intervention, and there is hope. The meeting is free and includes a Q&A. 

Learn more and register: Every Brain Matters Monthly Speakers Meeting – Danny & Emily Deaton

When someone you love is struggling with marijuana addiction, psychosis, hyperemesis, self-harm, or other harmful behaviors, you don’t have to face it alone.

Learn more and join us: 🔗 https://everybrainmatters.org/meetings/

Every step matters—and we can climb together. 💙🏔️