Creating Family Leaders
Empowering those having experiences with a loved one’s marijuana use to advocate for healthy drug policies.
Family-First. Science Based. Common Sense. Accountability.
Educate. Empower. Engage.
Today’s marijuana is not the “Woodstock weed” of the past when THC potency hovered around 2-3%. Today’s marijuana has been engineered to maximize THC potency with many dispensaries selling products that are up to 99% THC, often delivered through products that are easily concealable. Consequently, more families are suffering the harms of THC use and dependence believing that marijuana is harmless, natural, and even “medicine.”
The Parent Action Network (PAN) is a grassroots initiative of Smart Approaches to Marijuana that seeks to raise the voices of families who have been negatively impacted by the legalization and commercialization of marijuana. Our mission is to equip these families with the tools and resources they need to tell their stories and enact change. PAN not only seeks to educate parents on current issues, arming them with science-based facts, but also seeks to train and empower families so they have the confidence and tools to encourage decision-makers to make informed decisions that protect our public health and safety.
We are a diverse group of parents and family members with one goal in common-to make sure no one else endures the devastating experiences these families have.
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The Parent Action Network was created with the belief that families have a lot to lose if decision-makers aren’t held accountable for making smart, science-based actions on the legalization of marijuana. We believe that most people are naïve to the real harms of today’s marijuana. They are confused by the messaging that cannabis is a safe, medically-based product, that is harm-free for recreational use. The true reality is… marijuana is more potent and harmful than ever before. Take the PAN Interest Survey here
Parent Action Network’s Fortitude Podcast: access all episodes here
Helpful Resources
- SAM Rescheduling Resource Page
- SAM Delta-8 Resource Page
- Parent Action Network Flyer
- Parent Action Network Delta-8 Farm Bill Talking Points
- Parent Action Network SAFER Banking Talking Points
- Tips for Parents
- Tips for Preparing to Visit Your Legislator
- What Parents Need to Know About Delta-8 THC and the Farm Bill
- Smart Approaches to Marijuana Talking Points
- How a Bill Becomes a Law: Federal
- How a Bill Becomes a Law: State
- Marijuana Impaired Driving: More people are driving impaired
- 2023-2024 SAM Impact Report: Lessons Learned from State Marijuana Legalization
- Smokescreen by Dr. Kevin A. Sabet, PhD
- September 2024: Recovery from Marijuana Addiction: There is Hope!
- August 2024: The Link Between Marijuana Use and Opioid and Other Drug Use
- June 2024: Rescheduling of Marijuana
- April 2024: Is Marijuana Medicine: The potential benefits, risks, and limits of cannabis and cannabinoid products
- March 2024: PAN Families in Action (contact PAN@learnaboutsam.org)
- January 2024: Testifying Before Legislators (contact PAN@learnaboutsam.org)
- October 2023: PAN Media Training (contact PAN@learnaboutsam.org)
- September 2023: Marijuana Use Disorders: Navigating reliable recovery options for families, substance abusers, and advocates
- August 2023: Driving Under the Influence of Drugs: THC per se laws
- July 2023: Healthy Outlets and Resources for Drug-Free Family Time
- June 2023: Grassroots 101: Amplifying Your Voices
- May 2023: Lowdown on High Potency THC and the Associated Mental Health Risks
- September 2024: Recovery is Possible!
- August 2024: Changing Minds/Changing Policy
- July 2024: Summer Retrospective
- June 2024: Victories and Actions on Marijuana Policy
- Featured article: Victories, Updates, and What YOU Can Do to Help By Jaime Zerbe
- May 2024: Marijuana and Mental Health
- Featured article: Brain Health = Mental Health by Dr. Kristen Gilliland
- April 2024: Grassroots Advocacy on Delta-8 and Kratom
- March 2024: PAN Families in Action in Washington, DC
- Featured article:
- February 2024: What Families Need to Know About Proposed Marijuana Rescheduling
- Featured article: Rescheduling Marijuana: What Parents Need to Know By Marcia Lee Taylor
- January 2024: Why Should Families and Coalitions Keep Advocating on Marijuana?
- Featured article: Why Talk About Marijuana? By Nancy Pasquale
- December 2023: Message from MADD and PTA: It’s time to talk about marijuana
- November 2023: Your Voice Matters
- Featured article: Health Risks of Marijuana Use By Alan Hopewell, Ph.D., MP, ABPP
- October 2023: Why Keep Advocating?
- September 2023: National Recovery Month: Helpful Resources and Guidelines for CUD
- Featured article: The Roadmap to Recovery
- August 2023: Back to School: In the Classroom and On the Road
- Featured article: Prevention Works If…
- July 2023: Safe and Drug-Free Summer Strategies
- June 2023: Summer is Here – Conversations on Marijuana and Driving
- May 2023: Marijuana and Mental Health
- April 2023: One Year of PAN
- Featured Article: The Original Parent Movement By Sue Rusche