The shiny packaging and storefronts made it look safe. Grace grew up in Colorado as legalization took hold, where dispensaries and medical cards normalized access for teens and reframed weed as a healthy, natural, risk-free choice. What followed wasn’t a mellow haze—it was an escalation to high potency THC concentrates, dependency, and a terrifying slide into cannabis-induced psychosis. Grace opens up about the vacant eyes in old photos, the constant vape in her pocket, the paranoia that kept her in her dorm, and the shock of experiencing psychosis even after quitting.

We talk about how “regulated” can still be risky when potency is the problem, and how the social ecosystem of weed—friends, routines, identity—makes stepping away incredibly hard. Johnny’s death forced a painful reckoning. Reading Laura Stack’s book gave Grace the language to see what was happening, to admit she needed help, and to seek intensive outpatient treatment, psychiatric care, and medication that finally steadied her life. She shares the moments of resistance, the grief, and the relief that comes with telling the truth out loud and becoming your own hero.

Today, Grace co-leads Together, Johnny’s Ambassadors’ virtual group for young adults who’ve experienced or want to prevent cannabis-induced psychosis. We explore how small wins rebuild confidence: reclaiming hobbies, finding non-using friends, and practicing simple steps like showing up with your camera on. If you’re a parent, educator, or young listener, you’ll get practical insight into recognizing warning signs, navigating care, and keeping hope alive. Recovery is real. Potency matters. Community saves lives.

For the parents out there who might have a teen or young adult ready to explore recovery learn more about the Together group at johnnysambassadors.org/together.

Follow PAN and SAM:

PAN:
https://parentaction.network/
https://x.com/parentactionSAM
https://www.facebook.com/parentactionnetworkSAM

SAM:

https://learnaboutsam.org/
https://x.com/learnaboutsam
https://www.facebook.com/learnaboutsam