Tag Archives: suicide

Addiction, Reviews, Suicide

Finding A Higher Love: Heather Shares Her Son’s Story

A Higher Love, by Heather Bacchus, is the latest of a number of books by parents who write the story of losing a child because of cannabis.  Despite her intense grief and the unexpected loss of her son, Randy Michael Bacchus III, Heather provides a model for finding hope and love as she shares the story of her loss. The book’s subtitle is  “A Journey through Addiction, Cannabis-Induced Psychosis, Suicide and Redemption.”

Randy was born in November of 1999 and died in July of 2021.  He started using marijuana at age 15. As Heather recounts her story, the reader is tempted to look for clues.  What were the reasons to worry?  Although the parents, Randy and Heather, discovered their son’s pot use and did not shrug it off, they didn’t know how dangerously different today’s marijuana is.  Nor did they understand all the new forms of high-potency marijuana, including dabs and vapes. Continue reading Finding A Higher Love: Heather Shares Her Son’s Story →

Testimonies

Our Lives Were Changed Forever

On March 27, 2019 our lives were forever changed.  We were devastated by the reckless and untimely death of our second child, Aaron Reddy, at the age of 18.  Considering that marijuana is the drug that killed my child directly,  the drug that was in his blood when he died, I am furious that our state just voted to legalize marijuana, without understanding its dangers. But now there is a growing group of parents whose children died from marijuana.  We need to stand together, just like those whose kids died of opioids stand together.  We will also make ourselves heard.

When cannabis becomes legal, its dangers intensify, as the experiences of Colorado and California prove. When medical marijuana becomes legal, its dangers intensified in Maryland, as the story of  my son Aaron proves.  Here is Aaron’s story. Continue reading Our Lives Were Changed Forever →

Testimonies

A Poem in honor of International Survivors Of Suicide Loss Day

Suicide, such a loss.                                                                                           Marijuana taking our children, oh at what a cost!

Grieving, yet driven, to let all be told. There’s a price to be paid, all is not gold!

Mothers and Fathers are hurting, yet staying strong, to spread the word. Marijuana can be dangerous, it’s hurting our world.

Pain relief is great, except when it starts to abate. Then the demons take over, for some it’s too late!

Mental health and marijuana, “Buyer Beware”, it’s got a bite to take your life, not even all of the Doctors are aware.

Science is talking, but many people don’t care. The almighty buck, they’re taking more than their share.

Please start to pay attention, it’s taking our land, killing off nature, and placing a line in the sand.

It’s ok to want help, to be free from the pain. But let’s work together to research, to find the best plan.

Please, please remember, there’s families grieving all around the land, another child buried, help us to take a stand!!

By Sharon Southard  11-20-2020

In memory of Tyler Southard who died on July 28, 2018, and the other parents who shared a memory of their sons who died because of marijuana-related suicides.

                     Plus all the families and children remembered here and on the MomsStrong.org website.   Shane’s story, as well as Andy’s storyes, and all the other stories.    

A special thank you, Sharon, and a shout out to all the other parents who have the courage to share your story.   

Drug Policy, Medical Documentation

Medical Societies of five states speak out against marijuana legalization

Recently the medical societies of Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania joined together to express mutually shared concerns about efforts to legalize marijuana by state governments. Also in late October, the family of a California woman brought a wrongful death lawsuit against the maker of an edible product bought at a San Diego pot shop.

Legalization continues to present serious public health concerns.  The societies issuing the warning represent tens of thousands of physicians. Their statement echoes our view that marijuana legalization is an anti-science policy. Continue reading Medical Societies of five states speak out against marijuana legalization →