Educate. Empower. Advocate. Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a web page. The Impact of Marijuana Legalization Note: Prevention Action Alliance is fortunate to be governed by a board of directors who are committed to its mission of leading healthy communities in the prevention of substance misuse and the promotion of mental health wellness. Each of our board members has their personal motivations for serving; some have been directly impacted by substance misuse and abuse. We are grateful for their service and for their willingness to share their personal stories. Corinne Gasper is the Director of Jennifer's Messengers and a member of the Prevention Action Alliance Board of Directors. Her family was forever impacted by the misuse of medical marijuana. As the state of Ohio considers the consequences of full marijuana legalization, Corinne wanted to share her family’s story and her concerns for our state should full marijuana legalization occur. She's Gone and She's Never Coming Back “She’s gone and she is never coming back” that’s 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 fifty 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 yet another innocent person. I learned that finding a “new purpose” is the last step in the grief recovery process and 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. Jennifer’s story is amazing. She earned a lacrosse scholarship to college. She worked hard and achieved dean’s list status every semester and became a lifeguard, tutor, mentor, and coach to a high school lacrosse team. Her major was Intelligence and Analysis Research. She knew 3 languages fluently, including Arabic. In her HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area) internship she excelled. She then decided that she wanted to pursue a career in fighting illicit drugs. She accepted another position in the meantime, as the funding for HIDTA had not come through yet. One evening, shortly after graduation, she was called into work. As she was on her way, a man driving impaired and speeding through a red light (82mph) slammed directly into the side of my daughter’s car as she passed under a green light. Her car was hurled through the intersection crashing through the front of a building. She died instantly. He was uninjured. People at the scene said his eyes were glazed over and did not even realize what had happened. He was from Michigan and using medical cannabis as he drove through our state. The sad truth is, once marijuana is more accessible through legalization, causing more people to think it is safe, those tragedies with be more frequent. There is no warning, nothing one can do to avoid it and it ends life in the blink of an eye. Jennifer never saw him coming. Yes, it’s true, MY daughter is gone and she’s not coming back, but that doesn’t mean there are not countless other lives we can protect by stopping the train barreling our way to expand the legalization of marijuana. We need to hold our politicians accountable and pass laws that protect our children, not sacrifice them on the cannabis altar. We encourage all Ohio citizens to reach out to their state legislators and make their opinion known. Visit our Resources for Prevention Advocacy page on our website for tools and tips. Learn More About Marijuana The Facts About Marijuana Use and Driving Marijuana use is not without risks and has potentially dangerous consequences - especially for drivers on the road. Since medical marijuana is now legal in Ohio, it's important to understand the risks of marijuana use and driving. While we all know that impaired driving is problematic, driving while high on marijuana carries unique risks. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there has been a 48% increase in nighttime drivers who tested positive for THC - the chemical responsible for marijuana's psychological affects. Marijuana can slow reaction time and the ability to make decisions. Driver's high on marijuana hit more pedestrians, exceed the speed limit more often, make fewer stops at red lights and make more center line crossings. Drivers who consume both marijuana and alcohol and then drive experience impaired judgement that leads to some of the most dangerous driving on the road. According to the Traffic Safety Culture Index, drivers who use both marijuana and alcohol were significantly more prone to driving under the influence of alcohol. They are more likely to speed, text, intentionally run red lights and drive aggressively. Prevention professionals understand that legalization of substances lowers an individual’s perception of risk, altering an individual’s judgement about the likelihood of negative occurrences related to that substance. As Ohio considers expanding marijuana legalization, it is important to understand the dangers it will pose to traffic safety. Prevention Action Alliance is committed to equipping you with factual resources that address the risk of marijuana use, impaired driving and marijuana legalization. Our Marijuana Fact Sheets are designed to give you facts and resources in shareable pdfs so that you can keep your community informed. You can also stay on top of proposed legislation and ballot initiatives by attending PAA's monthly advocacy webinar. Marijuana Fact Sheets Advocacy Webinar Registration Marijuana Task Force Reconvenes ADAPAO and PAA join to tackle marijuana legislation Ten years ago we took up the mantle to address marijuana legalization in Ohio and we're back again stronger than ever. A Marijuana Task Force, convened by ADAPAO and Prevention Action Alliance, is developing a multi-faceted response to legalization initiatives. The task force expects to launch a toolkit for concerned Ohioans by early next year. If you're interested in this issue, sign up for Prevention Action Alliance's Advocacy newsletters and learn how you can support a healthier and safer Ohio. Subscribe to PAA's Advocacy Newsletter Mark Your Calendars! Ohio Adult Allies Summit: Building Relationships for Positive Change Join the Ohio Youth-Led Prevention Network as we virtually host the seventh annual Ohio Adult Allies Summit on December 3, 2021, from 9 am to 4 pm. This year we will be joined by special guests Emily Chiariello and Dr. Lee Porscha Moore who will facilitate conversations on diversity, equity, and how you can support young people in today's climate. REGISTER TODAY! Save the Date! SPCA, the Statewide Prevention Coalition Association will host the annual Coalitions Rising Conference will be held virtually December 7-9, 2021. Registration and conference agendas will be available soon. 'Tis the Season to Give Gift Responsibly Research indicates that early exposure to gambling activities like lottery play increases the risk of gambling addiction later in life. This holiday season, avoid the long lines at the lottery counter and #GiftResponsibly. For more information on how to prevent problem gambling and gaming, visit our website. Surprise Volunteers with a Prevention-themed Gift Are you looking for a way to show appreciation to your volunteers or staff? Check out our Prevention Gift Line. For a limited time only, get a free heart lapel pin with every purchase over $50.00. Don't delay - shop today! Invest in Prevention...Support Healthy Childhoods Your donation allows Prevention Action Alliance to expand prevention to our most vulnerable citizens with support they need to prevent substance use disorder. Donate today and join us in leading healthy communities. Your Holiday Shopping can benefit PAA Sign up for Kroger Community Rewards Choose Prevention Action Alliance as your non-profit and every time you shop, we receive a portion of your total bill. Shop at Kroger, use your Kroger Reward card and help prevent substance use disorder and promote mental health wellness.  Sign up for Amazon Smiles 1) Visit www.smile.amazon.com 2) Sign in/create your Amazon account 3) Search “Prevention Action Alliance” 4) Select PAA as your beneficiary 5) Start at www.smile.amazon.com every time you shop Amazon for PAA to receive a portion of your total purchase. Thank you for supporting Prevention Action Alliance and playing YOUR role in prevention! Prevention Action Alliance | 6171 Huntley Road, Suite G, Columbus, OH 43229 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected] powered by Try email marketing for free today!