A tragedy can arrive quietly, then all at once. We talk with Texas mom Laura Broom about her son Gregori, a good kid with a bright path who became withdrawn during a major life transition and then encountered today’s marijuana landscape, where high potency THC and easy access can collide with depression, isolation, and pain. What stays with us is how short the timeline can be and how many details remain unknown for families left trying to make sense of the unthinkable.

We also dig into the part of the story that surprises people: Laura’s family ran a drug and alcohol testing business, so they understood more than the average household about substances, labs, and consequences. Even then, the warning signs were easy to misread while juggling health issues, work, and everyday life. Laura shares the real-world red flags she noticed in hindsight, the way vape shop culture can connect young people to stronger products without obvious “deals” happening in the open, and why the commercialization and normalization of marijuana products changes the risk calculus for parents and communities.

From there, we shift to what it takes to keep going. Laura explains “radical acceptance,” her I Cope To Hope Resiliency Framework, and why she chose to turn pain into purpose through mentoring and public health advocacy. We also share how connecting with Parent Action Network and attending the Hill Day with other families profoundly changed Laura's outlook. We also touch on the importance of continued advocacy regarding such federal bills as the No Dedcutions for Marijuana Businesses Act, and enforcing the implementation of the Farm Bill Loophole closure.

If you care about youth mental health, marijuana regulation, high potency THC, and practical ways families can advocate, this conversation is for you. To learn more about how you can advocate with PAN, contact us at PAN@learnaboutsam.org.

Click here to listen to Laura's Podcast, Flourishing After Adversity

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