Tag Archives: Jennifer’s Messengers

She’s Gone and She’s Not Coming Back

By Corinne Gasper, director of Jennifersmessengers.org

“She’s gone and she is never coming back” that was the harsh statement I heard one morning after making my way to my mailbox three weeks after my daughter was killed by a marijuana-impaired driver. I was confronted by a neighbor who had recently lost his wife of 50 years. He thought I needed to hear the truth so I wouldn’t delude myself. It was shocking, but perhaps it was something I needed to hear. Before that, I was slowly trying to process her loss and live without her in my life. No more phone calls, no more plans, no more Jennifer to love and worry about. Even now, 9 years later, tears stream down my face as I write this.

I knew I could not let this tragedy be in vain and happen to another innocent person. I heard that finding a “new purpose” is the last step in grief process. I also have learned that in helping others, we help ourselves. So slowly, I learned all about today’s marijuana and how I was going to make a difference through advocating and educating about the horrible outcomes stemming from the marijuana expansion in our country. Continue reading She’s Gone and She’s Not Coming Back

Mother of woman killed by ‘high’ driver: Brown must stop marijuana banking to save others

Corinne LaMarc-Gasper, Guest columnist  

This column appeared in the Columbus Dispatch last week.

I received the worst news a parent can get nine years ago: my 22-year-old daughter had been killed in a car crash.

Even more heartbreaking was the fact that my daughter’s death could have been avoided if the other driver hadn’t been high on marijuana.

With stories like mine becoming tragically more common, we must reassess and slow the rapid expansion of the marijuana industry.

Last week, the House of Representatives voted to include the deceptively named SAFE Banking Act in the National Defense Authorization Act. Continue reading Mother of woman killed by ‘high’ driver: Brown must stop marijuana banking to save others

Donations needed so we can continue this important work

Please help us continue our important work by making a donation to Parents Opposed to Pot.  

With many stories in the news recently, it’s an opportune time to get out the truth about marijuana in America,  We must tell the public, especially parents, what legal pot is doing to our kids. Parents Opposed to Pot will be starting a podcast soon, and your donations will help our cause.

On Sunday night, NBC Nightly News reported about the teens hospitalized in Colorado for psychosis and vomiting illnesses. 

Colorado was forced to reckon with its problem due to the large number of teens using marijuana concentrates, particularly those concentrates used for “dabbing” and “vaping.”   Laura Stack, a Colorado resident, published her important book, The Dangerous Truth about Today’s Marijuana, on July 10.  The book about Johnny Stack, who died by suicide at age 19, is getting extraordinary reviews.  

A marijuana regulatory bill, HB 1317 passed in the Colorado House and then passed in the Senate by 37-0.  The provisions of the bill, which go into effect next year, include the creation of a registry system and closing loopholes for teens buying medical marijuana. We hope it can put a dent in Colorado’s pot problems, although cannabis proves to be a regulation-resistant drug.

Where do your donations go

Parents Opposed to Pot supports three other projects: Moms Strong, Every Brain Matters (a recovery community) and Jennifers’ Messengers.  

Your donation will help us continue our important work, such as distributing information about testimony in the Colorado State legislature in May.   At that time, some of the legislators’ children and relatives spoke about how pot legalization in 2014 affected their families. Their speeches were powerful and very moving.  

Parents Opposed to Pot and our three sub-groups travel to drug prevention conferences. We need donations to continue our work.

Think ya Know Is it Safe to Drive on Marijuana?

December is Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month.

* Reader discretion is advised, content describes details of violent crimes.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) helped wake up the country to the dangers of drunk driving. They succeeded in getting laws changed, nationwide in the United States. Now that four more states have legalized marijuana, what about stoned or high driving? Driving under the influence of a drug (DUID), is this something to be concerned about or, is it, as many stoners believe, people drive better while impaired?

https://youtu.be/OWwGZjIaiqQ
A sobering video by PopPot.org

Download this meme to share and educate others!

Continue reading Think ya Know Is it Safe to Drive on Marijuana?