If your goal is to stumble through 2026, burn out early, and frustrate everyone around you, good news. I have a practical guide for a terrible year. Follow these three proven steps to experience your worst year yet!

1. Set Zero Clear Goals
While others waste their time on new year’s resolutions, don’t even bother. Don’t set goals. Don’t define what you want. Don’t decide who you want to become. And definitely don’t write anything down. The more vague you are, the easier it is for the year to slip away without you noticing.

Let your days run you instead of you running your days. Wake up with no direction and hope things magically fall into place. Don’t plan. Avoid priorities. Live without structure. When people ask what you are working toward, give the most unclear answer possible. That way no one, including you, knows whether you’re moving forward or just going in circles.

A lack of clear goals is the perfect way to look back at the end of the year wondering where the time went and why nothing changed.

2. Follow Your Feelings
Forget emotional intelligence and discipline. Follow your feelings. Wait until you feel it before you do it. So if you don’t feel like it, just skip it. Forget routines, schedules, or any consistent habits that could help you get better this year.

I can guarantee that if you follow your feelings, in only a few months you’ll have a pile of unfinished projects, unmet goals, and the perfect excuse: “I just didn’t feel like it.” You will be proud to know that your feelings helped you accomplish nothing this year.

3. Avoid Support or Accountability
This may be the most important step. Make sure you navigate this new year alone. Be aware, there will be people who will try to challenge you, encourage you, and hold you accountable. But whatever you do, refuse help, coaching, or advice. Ignore friends, mentors, or anyone else who might challenge you or offer to help you grow. 

Growth almost always happens in community, but failure thrives in isolation. So close the doors of your life and live in isolation. By doing everything alone, you’re guaranteed a year of repeated mistakes, missed opportunities, and the perfectly frustrating feeling of wondering why nothing ever changes. Is there a better way to ruin a new year?

I realize some of you may be rejecting my advice, and that’s ok. If you want to have a year of growth, productivity, and success, that’s your decision. So if you’re going to be stubborn and make 2026 your best year yet, just do the opposite of what is stated above and you’ll do just fine.

Here’s to whoever you choose to become in 2026!

What is the Pride Survey?

The Pride Survey for Grades 6-12 is a comprehensive tool that we distribute bi-annually to 7, 9-11 grade students in the Alabaster City School System. This survey helps us to assess student behaviors and perceptions related to substance use, school climate, and various risk and protective factors.

This helps us in understanding issues like alcohol, tobacco, and drug use, as well as students' feelings of safety and disciplinary concerns. The data collected supports both our school system and community in creating effective programs to enhance student well-being and secure funding for prevention initiatives.

Arrive Alive returned again this year for Red Ribbon Week at THS. We were proud to host this incredible prevention experience for hundreds of students. Along with our community partners, we were able to host over 500 students across three days.

Each student that sat in the drivers seat and experienced the simulation responded with a survey. We have attached those responses below.

Join us for Raising Resilient Children Webinar Series Season 2. This webinar series will cover a variety of topics relevant for any parent and provided free of charge. Plan to join us as we share how you can raise resilient children while navigating risky behavior in today's culture.

There will be a variety of topics and something for everyone.

Galaxy Gas: What is it and what are the dangers of misuse?

Ryan Bass

Updated: Sep 18, 2024 / 07:37 AM CDT

(NewsNation) — It started with a video of a man in a fast-food restaurant taking a hit from a flavored whipped cream canister called Galaxy Gas.

He showed off how deep the can made his voice, racking up millions of views and shares as others followed.

Now, when you search “Galaxy Gas” on TikTok you’re met with a warning that some substances can be dangerous when misused. The app has scrubbed many of the viral clips, but that was after hundreds of thousands of similar videos were posted of people “whiffing” Galaxy Gas to get high. The cans are easily available online or at big brand-name stores.

When you visit Galaxy Gas’ website, you now must agree to a disclosure statement before scrolling. The company sent NewsNation a statement saying its products are for culinary use only, and misuse of any kind is prohibited.

What is Galaxy Gas?
Nitrous oxide is so-called laughing gas. Dentists and doctors use it for procedures but say it’s not safe for teens to use without medical assistance because it could be deadly.

“These children have underdeveloped brains,” Dr. Sulagna Misra, founding physician at Misra Wellness, told NewsNation. “They’re getting instant gratification high, and there’s no oversight. … You can die from one use of this. One prolonged, abnormal, wrong misuse, no supervision — you can die.”

What are the long-term effects?
A U.S. substance abuse study suggests that about 13 million Americans ages 12 and older had misused nitrous oxide in their lifetime. Misra said it’s all about reminding teens the short-term high isn’t worth the potential long-term brain damage.

In the United States, the misuse of nitrous oxide is rising rapidly.

“People have this sort of super hero syndrome where they think nothing’s going to affect them until they wind up in a hospital sick,” psychotherapist Dr. Lisa Palmer said.

Misuse of nitrous oxide can impair the body’s metabolism of vitamin B12, which is essential for maintaining the insulation and protection of nerves in the brain and spinal cord. Long-term misuse can lead to range of neurological, blood-related and psychiatric complications, including nerve damage and psychosis, according to a January study from the Yale School of Medicine.

original article

School is back in full-force. Can you remember the stress and anxiety that going back to school can bring? As a parent, you still experience that, only in a different way. I had the privilege of speaking with Becca Poe, Owner of A Confident Hope. Becca served as a school counselor for over a decade before offering services through A Confident Hope. Today, she shares her insights with us on how we can better serve our students as we begin a brand new school year.

How can families manage the transition from summer break to the school year?
The shift from summer to early school mornings is no joke. Many families gradually return to household rhythms before the first day of school: gradually pushing back meals, bedtimes or movie nights. For older kids - consider plugging in devices earlier or cut the wifi off at a decent hour. Make the most of these final summer days with movement to wear everyone out for a good night’s rest!

Most importantly, once that first day of school arrives, set realistic expectations for the whole family. At my house, we expect that the first week will hit like a freight train, and we brace for it. Normalize the fact that everyone might be a little tired, nervous, over-stimulated, and plain grumpy! It’s okay and it will pass. As much as possible, protect your family’s schedule in the evening and weekends to allow for time to decompress. Ask your child how you can best help them recharge, and let them! Same goes for you - maybe you freeze meals ahead of time or make peace with fast food this week. Grace for yourself and everyone else is the name of the game.

What role do you think parents and guardians play in supporting their child's emotional well-being as they return to school and how can they help?
These roles can be absolutely pivotal. An image that comes to mind is the middle school open house where the student and parent stand together to conquer the great adversary: THE LOCKER.

They start strong. Child: Confident. Parent: Proud. “Wasn’t Pre-K just yesterday?!” Yet, somewhere between the photo opp and the 17th time of counter-clockwise not meaning anything to anyone, the wheels start falling off. All of the child’s worst fears and doubts are now confirmed by this tangible display of failure. Both parties are red-faced and snippy as the reality sinks in that this is just the beginning.

Our kids need to know that they can do hard things, but guess what, it’s hard to do hard things! And it’s even harder to watch your kid struggle through hard things. The best way you can support your child’s emotional well-being is to support yours first.

Our little empaths are sponges and they’re an expert on the grown-ups in their lives. They are masters of every inflection, every furrow, and every sigh. If you’re worried, they're worried. If you're cool, calm and collected, they know that they will be, too. Even if they don’t feel it yet.

If you find yourself in a panic or anxious about your child's school experience, talk to someone who can help you flesh that out. It may be a tangible concern that can be quickly addressed, or it could be your own anxieties that are creeping up from your own experiences. It’s worth it to make time and space to know exactly where those fears are coming from.

For students who might be anxious about the new school year, what do you suggest to help them manage their stress and build confidence? 
Connection, connection, connection. Can academic struggles play a role in this?  Sure. But I’d bet that if a kid knew that he could fail math and still be completely loved and accepted by adults and peers alike, the math would be a lot less scary.

Think about the connection implications for a child who is anxious about school. They are leaving established relationships, norms, and comforts of home and replacing them with everything new: teacher(s), peers, and social structures. Not to mention a brand new schedule with very little margin that no one is even quite adjusted to yet! It’s not hard to empathize with the struggle here.

So what can parents do to help?
Add expected connection points where you can. Be creative with it! Have you ever heard of “window time”? I heard it from a college student reminiscing about her own childhood. Her mom would carve out 10 minutes of one-on-one time before bed - nightly. It was her “window of opportunity” to connect, hear a hard thing, or even answer an embarrassing question. It was a constant when everything else felt unpredictable. I’ve also seen this done as a shared journal that’s written in daily. It might not look like anything more than a collection of scribbles, but it's a tangible offering of connection.

As kids get older, they desperately desire to find “their people”. This can be a gut punch to kids who are struggling to connect socially. As much as it’s possible, facilitate connections and accept their people like your own. Lead with curiosity, not judgment. Embrace the school events, host the playdate, see if a carpool can work, even if just one day a week. Local churches, teams, and service clubs allow for kids to build real connections sharing common experiences and working toward shared goals!

Thank you to Becca Poe for sharing with us. You can connect with her at confidenthope.cc. Connect with us at For Tomorrow at alabasterfortomorrow.com

Have an incredible back to school season!

Brandon Matthews
Program Director
Alabaster For Tomorrow

With great confidence he ascended the steps of the ladder to the diving platform overlooking an olympic pool equivalent to a three-story building. He had practiced, prepared, and planned his routine with great precision. As he walked to the edge of the board he boldly stated to himself, “you’ve got this.” With certainty he launched himself into the air flipping, twisting, and turning before his entry into the water. Swimming to the surface he was confident in his dive.

Awaiting what was sure to be a perfect score from the judges, his smile suddenly disappeared as each score card was revealed. After seeing that his personal judgment of the dive differed from that of the judges, he launched into protest demanding to review the replay of his performance. It was at this moment that his perspective began to change. Upon review, he could see things differently. Seeing his dive from their perspective, he could see that his form wasn’t right. He noticed his entry into the water wasn’t straight. You see, he realized that his feelings and his reality were two different things. It was the perspective shift that helped him realize he was wrong. After the review he said, “I will admit, I was wrong.”

For many of us, pride is what prevents us from our progress. No one likes to be wrong. Most of us don’t even like to be challenged. Studies show that when others challenge us, we often drop them from our lives. In the moment of challenge it physically impacts your body. Your shoulders tighten, your breathing gets shallow, you get embarrassed, get your feelings hurt, or become intimidated. This is where pride and ego begins to filter everything you hear, everything you think, everything you say, and everything you do.

What could change in your life today if you were willing to take a look at the replay and see things from another perspective? As the old saying goes, “admittance is the first step to recovery.” That simple phrase “I will admit…” can change so much in your life. It can free you from the stress of thinking you have to have it all figured out on your own. It gives others permission to come along beside you and provide support. It also allows you a fresh start to begin again. We are all thankful for second chances.

So as you are mid air flipping, twisting, and twirling your way through life, maybe there is another perspective. Maybe those with a front row seat to your dive can offer some input and assistance in order to help make the next dive just a little bit better. Don’t let pride or ego get in the way. Just for practice, simply start with repeating after me. “I will admit…”

Steve Jobs once said in what is now one of the most famous quotes, “The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.” As we begin this brand new year, I can’t think but ask the question “How crazy are you?”

What in your world would you like to see change? What are you tempted to bring into this new year that needs to be left behind? Steve Jobs also said “I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?" And whenever the answer has been "No" for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.”

It is said that 1 out of every 3 people don’t feel that they are living to their fullest potential and are held back by their past. Maybe you feel as if you are going in circles, going in reverse, or going nowhere at all. I say if you feel the need for change be crazy enough to take the steps. Here are three ways to help you live an unordinary life in 2024.

1. Unordinary Goals
   What do you value the most in life? Does the order of your life reflect your values? The order of your life communicates the priority of your life. What you do first impacts the rest. Set some unordinary goals for yourself this year.
   
   
2. Unordinary Habits
   Habits will help you achieve your goals. You may simply need to reprogram your habits. Habits are formed by a cycle of decision, action, and reward. You’ll find yourself in three stages while forming unordinary habits. The honeymoon phase that says “I want to do this.” The fight through phase that says “I don’t want to but I will.” And the second nature phase that says “It’s just what I do.” Take it one day at a time. You can do it.
   
   
3. Unordinary Commitment
   Steve Jobs was diagnosed with cancer in 2003. It progressed as they labored away at creating the iPhone, a device that would change the world. He knew he was in a race against time to finish it. Even through pain his commitment never changed. It was unordinary. Don’t let your commitment follow your feelings, lead your feelings with unordinary commitment.   

2024 will certainly have moments of both trial and triumph, but through it all you can have an unordinary life. Go live it on purpose.

Brandon Matthews
For Tomorrow
Program Director

This webinar series will cover a variety of topics relevant for any parent and provided free of charge. Plan to join us as we share how you can raise resilient children while navigating risky behavior in today's culture.

The Christmas season is here and we want to encourage you to have all the fun, enjoy all the moments, and make good decisions in the process.

Merry Christmas from For Tomorrow.

City leaders, faith leaders, first responders, and Alabaster residents all gathered for a time to connect and pray. This is always an encouraging and refreshing event. We are so grateful for our city to have been able to gather and pray over our world/nation, city, families, and our schools.

We want to thank our mayor and city leadership for not only allowing it but for taking part.
Thank you to those who led us in prayer and those who attended to pray along with us.

Join us for our annual Prayer Breakfast at Alabaster City Hall on Friday, November 17th. The chamber will be open at 8:00 AM for a light breakfast and time to connect and we will begin our time of prayer at 8:30 AM and end by 9:00 AM. Mayor Brakefield will join us and speak a word of encouragement, we will have Chick-fil-A for breakfast, and a time of prayer.

This event is open to everyone.

When:
Friday, November 17

Where:
Alabaster City Hall
1953 Municipal Way
Alabaster, AL 35007

Time:
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM

Arrive Alive 2023 at Thompson High School was a big success. We host hundreds of students with a distracted driving simulator focusing on marijuana, alcohol, and cell-phone usage behind the wheel. This is an interactive and impactful experience for students.

Have a Stress Free Back to School!

It’s an early Sunday morning and two U.S. soldiers sit on a small radar station in the Pacific monitoring a radar screen. Most days this is an uneventful responsibility, but today, things will be different. Around 7:00 AM small dots begin to appear on the radar screen, until one by one the screen is full. In a panic the soldiers notify a young lieutenant of the radar activity. As potential danger is approaching, a proper response is critical.

The lieutenant determines the radar activity must be planes coming from California and speaks three crucial words: “Don’t worry about it.” As the lieutenant ignores the warning signs, three-hundred and fifty-three Japanese airplanes begin an assault on Pearl Harbor. Within a few hours, America lost eight battleships, six major airfields, almost all planes, and 2,400 men. What was thought to be a surprise attack, was actually dismissed only an hour before with the words “Don’t worry about it.”

Early detection and proper response is critical not only in war, but also in life. Here are some dots to look for on your radar screen:

• You feel helpless or hopeless
• You have withdrawn socially
• You eat or sleep too much or too little
• You have no motivation
• You are using substances excessively
• You are thinking of hurting yourself or others

If life indicates an attack is on the way don’t dismiss it. Dismissal often leads to death. Did you know that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., yet 80% of cardiovascular complications can be avoided with early detection? Give yourself a proper response. Your dots deserve more than a “Don’t worry about it.”
 
Our city is equipped with incredible resources, services, and people to assist you when trouble is on the way. For Tomorrow would love to help point you in the right direction. You can connect with us at info@alabasterfortomorrow.com.

Dealing with the dots,
 
Brandon Matthews
For Tomorrow
Program Director

It was the first storm of the 2010 Pacific hurricane season, but one of the most catastrophic. Tropical Storm Agatha began forming on May 29th and became the deadliest tropical cyclone in the eastern Pacific since Hurricane Pauline in 1997. Across Central America hundreds of people were killed and hundreds of people were missing. Yet, amid all the devastation that occurred, it was what happened after the storm that people remember the most.

On May 30th, after the storm passed through Guatemala City, Guatemala, the ground began to collapse, swallowing up an entire three-story factory, power lines, and reportedly taking the life of a security guard with it. This collapse left a 65ft wide and 300 ft deep hole in the ground that must be seen to believe.  
 
This picture of unforeseen disaster and destruction is often, unfortunately, very common to us all. Our day begins like any other where everything around us appears to be normal, but suddenly there is a storm that comes our way, and it seems as though everything begins to collapse. Though one happens in nature, and one happens in our lives, they are both caused by the things that are unseen.

Massive holes that collapse into the ground like in Guatemala are called sinkholes. Caused by erosion, integrity is lost beneath the surface causing a collapse that takes everything down with it. This erosion can be both natural and man made. Natural erosion comes from uncontrollable elements like floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and more. Man Made erosion happens from our own actions and decisions in which we alter the integrity of the foundation. As we enter a new year it’s important that we look not only at what is happening at the surface of our lives, but what is happening beneath the surface as well.

When controllable or uncontrollable storms come your way this year, do you have the integrity to stand, or will you experience a sinkhole in your life? Our culture often values charisma over character. We follow style over substance. We concern ourselves with everything that can be seen. However, I want to remind you that it is your private life that produces your public life. When your private life and your public life are healthy, they create a productive life. This year, work harder at what you’re known for rather than just being known. If you’re not healthy beneath the surface it will all just collapse anyway.
 
Wishing you a firm foundation,

Brandon Matthews
For Tomorrow
Program Director

To learn more about this study, visit https://www.fda.gov/tobacco-products/youth-and-tobacco/results-annual-national-youth-tobacco-survey

Addiction is a cruel master, and many of us are slaves. However, there is freedom in the midst of our failure. Today we talk with Daniel Oldham who is no longer bound by addiction.

How did your drug use begin?
My drug use began with smoking marijuana in high school. Mostly due to hanging out with the wrong crowd.

Why did you continue using?
In the beginning I continued to use to have something to do with friends, it wasn’t long until I was addicted, and I didn’t realize until a decade later.

How long were you a user?
I was addicted to drugs, all of them, from age 12 to age 39.

What were some of the worst things you experienced because of drugs?
I overdosed 6 times on heroin and had to be revived with Narcan. When I woke up every time, I immediately wanted some more of the same thing that just almost killed me. It was insanity and chaos constantly for years.

When did you decide to get clean and sober, and what lead to the decision?
After almost 28 years of addiction, at age 39, I finally hit rock bottom and had nothing but the clothes on my back. I was homeless with no one to help me, so I overdosed one last time. When I woke up, I was in in jail screaming for God to help me. Goad has helped me from that day forward. He gave me the strength to overcome the addiction that had taken my whole life and everything I loved.

What ultimately helped you get and stay clean?
Shelby County drug court, the love of God, and staying around people who loved God and had the same goals as I did. Good relationships saved my life. I attended Church and Celebrate Recovery every time the doors opened, served, and became involved in leadership opportunities every time I was given a chance.

What is life like now that you are clean?
I will be clean 4 years April 13th, 2022, so it’s been almost 3 1/2 years since I’ve been a slave to a substance. I’m married to my dream woman who is my best friend. I live in a nice home in Helena and have an amazing job as a peer support specialist helping others find freedom from their addictions. I’m also the ministry leader/director of our Celebrate Recovery at church helping people overcome hurts, habits, and hang-ups. I now have 100+ real friends who truly care about me and treat me like family.

What advice would you give to someone that is struggling?
I would tell anyone struggling with addiction that life is way more fun without drugs and it only takes a little time to change the mess you have made, even if it’s almost 28 years. The people you get high with aren’t your friends! Stay away from them for a month and see what happens, they will disappear more than likely. There is a God who will love you and give you more than you ever can dream of if you only follow Him with a sober mind. There are people who will love you for being different and you can have a purpose for your life. Many others and I are living proof. Nobody has paid me to say any of these things!

Are you struggling or know someone who is? We exist to help connect you with resources that can help. Email us at info@alabasterfortomorrow.com and let us know how we can partner together. We do today for tomorrow.

Brandon Matthews
For Tomorrow
Program Director

Have a Stress Free Holiday Season

It is a once in a lifetime opportunity. With a ticket in hand you board for the very first sailing of this modern marvel. On board the ship features a gymnasium, swimming pool, libraries, high-class restaurants, and beautiful cabins. Some of the wealthiest people in the world are joining you for this historical moment. For several days you live the dream, but around midnight into the fourth day everything changes. Suddenly you hit an iceberg and your life begins to sink.
In this moment of tragedy, what do you do? Do you give up? Do you help those around you? Do you find the lifeboat? Nothing has mattered more than this moment of decision. What you do next will result in life or death. It’s a moment like no other and your life is in your hands.
It’s been over 100 years since the Titanic set sail. It was billed as the unsinkable ship, but history tells a different story. Many of us live as if our lives are unsinkable. It seems that right in the middle of the good in life, there is always the possibility of an iceberg waiting to cause damage. I often think we are either walking out of a problem or into one. So, what do we do?

There is a valuable lesson to be learned from the tragedy we have relived? together. First, there were only 20 lifeboats on board the Titanic, far below its capacity. How many lifeboats are in your life? Do you have the support system to help you when you are struggling? Give someone in your life permission to direct you and correct you when things aren’t right. Second, of the lifeboats available, they were only filled to half capacity. When a lifeboat is offered do you accept or deny it? There is help for you. Counselors, Pastors, Support Groups, etc., are all available if you will only step inside the lifeboat.

Winston Churchill said “Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” Let’s learn the lesson from the tragedy of the Titanic. Fill your life to capacity with lifeboats, and use them when necessary.

Brandon Matthews
For Tomorrow
Program Director

While on a trip to Kosovo, my wife and I spent some time shopping in a downtown retail area. Store after store I was amazed at the low prices. Name brand shoes, sun glasses, clothes, and watches were only a fraction of the price we pay here in the U.S. However, after taking a closer look I made a discovery that put it all into perspective. All of the items being sold in these retail stores were counterfeit.

According to Forbes, in 2018 counterfeiting was the largest criminal enterprise in the world. It is expected to grow to $2.8 trillion and cost 5.4 million jobs by 2022. Clearly, there are negative impacts when we try to sell a lie. Just because you are told it is real doesn’t mean that it is. Just because you are told it is good doesn’t mean that it is. This same scenario is playing out in our culture as well. Don’t buy the lie.

Advocates state to state say that the legalization of recreational marijuana boosts our economy, minimizes teenage usage, and that traffic deaths and DUI arrests don’t increase. However, this is all counterfeit goods. The truth is that The percentage of 12- to 17-year-olds using marijuana is higher in every legal marijuana state than the national average. Marijuana-related traffic deaths rose 62% following the legalization of marijuana in Colorado. Don’t buy the lie.

I simply raise the question: what are you buying? A 2018 Gallup poll found a record-high 66% support for legalizing marijuana. Is it possible we are being sold counterfeit goods? Do your research. Get the facts. Don’t buy counterfeit. Don’t buy the lie.

Brandon Matthews
For Tomorrow
Program Director

At Johnny’s Ambassadors, we educate parents and teens about the dangers of today’s high-THC marijuana on adolescent brain development, mental illness, and suicide. Recently, Johnny’s Ambassadors has been asked about our usage of the term “marijuana” versus “cannabis.” Some people have implied the word “marijuana” is racist, while others say it’s not racist. Some argue the word was popularized in the United States to stoke anti-Mexican sentiment. Other people believe the term became popular because of Mexican influence on U.S. culture, not because of a conspiracy to demonize Mexican immigrants.

Our Scientific Advisory Board has given Johnny’s Ambassadors specific guidance to use the word “marijuana” over “cannabis” in our work. This article explains the four reasons marijuana is the more appropriate term.

1. Botanical Classification
Cannabis is the botanical name for a genus of flowering plants. The genus contains three species (sativa, indica, and ruderalis) and hundreds of selectively bred strains. The plants produce about 100 chemicals unique to the genus, and these chemicals are collectively termed “cannabinoids.” The most important cannabinoids are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is intoxicating, and cannabidiol (CBD), which is biologically active but not intoxicating.
Both hemp and marijuana plants are different varieties of the same species, Sativa, which both belong to the cannabis genus. As a species, hemp refers to cannabis strains with negligible THC content. Marijuana refers to cannabis strains, or their dried leaves or flowers, which contain THC. Hemp contains CBD but not THC, and marijuana contains CBD and THC. They are both part of the genus cannabis. In other words, all marijuana is cannabis, but not all cannabis is marijuana. By definition, marijuana plants contain >0.3% (THC), as compared to hemp plants, which contain <0.3% THC.

Classification for Kingdom Plantae Down to Species Cannabis sativa L.

Kingdom: Plantae – Plants

Superorder: Rosanae

Order: Rosales – Rose

Family: Cannabaceae – Hemp

Genus: Cannabis L  – Hemp

Species: Cannabis Sativa L. – includes Marijuana and Hemp

“Cannabis” is an umbrella term that refers to both the drug that people use to get stoned, and hemp, which isn’t psychoactive and is used for cloth. So, it isn’t sufficient to define the type of plant. Same plant, different purposes, same word. Therefore, we use the term “marijuana” to describe THC-containing plants, leaves, or flowers from the Cannabis Sativa L species. Cannabis is an umbrella term to describe the entire genus, and marijuana is a specific term to describe the intoxicating species.

2. Government Regulations
These existing governmental organizations use the word ‘marijuana’:

• The National Institutes of Health (NIH) says, “The word ‘marijuana’ refers to parts of or products from the plant Cannabis sativa that contain substantial amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC is the substance that’s primarily responsible for the effects of marijuana on a person’s mental state. Some cannabis plants contain very little THC. Under U.S. law, these plants are considered ‘industrial hemp. rather than marijuana.”
• National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIH/NIDA) – Marijuana Drug Facts
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – What Are the Health Effects of Marijuana?
• Controlled Substances Act (CASA) – Uses the word “marihuana” to refer to the cannabis plant and its derivatives. This report uses the more widely accepted spelling, “marijuana,” unless quoting other sources.
• Office of the Surgeon General – Marijuana Use and the Developing Brain
• U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) – Defines marijuana as a Schedule 1 Substance.
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA) – Learn About Marijuana Risks
• 2018 Farm Bill – removed industrial hemp from the definition of marijuana as a schedule 1 substance.

3. Legal Definitions and State Statute
The majority of state laws that have legalized cannabis have used the term “marijuana.” Johnny’s Ambassadors is based in Colorado, the first state to legalize recreational marijuana. Our Department of Public Health and Environment uses the term ‘marijuana’ to describe the specific variety of the cannabis sativa L species, so we follow this guidance to avoid confusion. For example, the statues refer to a Medical Marijuana Card.
Legal definitions of marijuana in many states are considerably broader and may permit any cannabinoid at any concentration to be called “marijuana.” Highly concentrated products such as vaping oils or solid concentrates (e.g., wax, budder, shatter) are often within the legal definition of marijuana in most states.

4. Language
Google Analytics suggests that more people speak of marijuana than cannabis. Here is Webster’s dictionary definition: marijuana: 1. hemp; 2. its dried leaves and flowers, smoked, esp. in the form of cigarettes, for euphoric effects. Here is Britannica’s definition: Marijuana, also spelled marihuana, crude drug composed of the leaves and flowers of plants in the genus Cannabis. The term marijuana is sometimes used interchangeably with cannabis; however, the latter refers specifically to the plant genus, which comprises C. sativa and, by some classifications, C. indica and C. ruderalis. Marijuana is known by a variety of other names, including pot, tea, grass, and weed. It is usually dried and crushed and put into pipes or formed into cigarettes (joints) for smoking. It can also be added to foods and beverages.
You’re going to want to use the language that corresponds to the way that ordinary people use the drug,” says Geoffrey Nunberg, a linguist who teaches at the UC Berkeley’s School of Information. “I don’t think ‘cannabis’ is ever going to push out ‘marijuana’ in the general lexicon.”
Even Cannabis legalization proponents use the word marijuana in their names. For example, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, the Marijuana Policy Project, Help End Marijuana Prohibition Party of Australia, and the Marijuana Party of Canada all use this term.

Finally, the Associated Press Stylebook provides these guidelines to “Use marijuana on first reference generally; pot and cannabis are also acceptable. Cannabis is the usual term outside North America.”

Conclusion
We hope this article helps clear up the confusion about the difference between cannabis and marijuana. Some components of the marijuana plant, such as the CBD in the prescription drug, Epidiolex, have been used to treat rare seizure disorders. In an attempt to emphasize the marijuana drug’s ‘medicinal’ benefits, the pro-marijuana industry will often incorrectly use the term ‘cannabis’ instead of the scientific term ‘marijuana’ to legitimize itself and attempt to mislead people about the drug’s safety. However, THC has been proven to cause harm to adolescent brain development, so we reject this attempt to demonize the word marijuana.
At Johnny’s Ambassadors, we are less concerned about the terminology we use and more concerned about the harms that occur in youth who use marijuana.

Laura Stack – Johhny’s Ambassadors

Singer-songwriter Ray LaMontagne said “Trouble been doggin’ my soul since the day I was born. Worry just will not seem to leave my mind alone. Sometimes I swear it feels like this worry is my only friend.” You may recognize these lyrics from his famous song Trouble. Not only do many people recognize this song, they relate to it as well.

The storms of life are common to us all. Storms are inevitable. They are going to happen. Chances are, you are either walking out of a storm or into one. Storms are impartial. They do not discriminate. They impact us all. Storms are unpredictable. They can come at any moment, any time, any day, to anyone. However, the greatest news is that storms are temporary. That’s right. The storm you may be facing now is temporary.

If the wind is blowing, the thunder is pounding, and the lightning is flashing, take shelter. Find a place of safety. Your safety may be talking with a friend, a family member, a pastor, a counselor, or someone you trust. Your safety may be a day off, a vacation, time with family, etc. Take shelter so the storm can pass and the sun can shine. Remember, you’re not in it alone. It’s been said that “we may not all be in the same boat, but we are in the same storm.”

Brandon Matthews
For Tomorrow
Program Director

I’ve heard it said that “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond to it.” This means that the things that happen to you are not as important as how you respond to them. In your current season of life, how are you responding to the circumstances that you are dealing with?

One popular response is to choose to live in a fabricated world and call it reality. We have grown accustomed to this in our culture. Mike Fleiss, creator of The Bachelor, said “70 to 80 percent of reality shows are fake.” We watch others buy, sale, renovate, date, etc., and accept an artificial reality as fact. How many of us are living in an artificial world trying to escape our circumstances?

The other response is to accept our reality, take responsibility, and respond accordingly. Millions saw the apple fall, only Isaac Newton asked the question why. The only difference in ordinary and extraordinary is the response. What could change in your life if you were to change your response? Be honest about where you are, hopeful for where you are going, and helpful to those who are helping you along the way.
 
Reading was the easy part; now how will you respond?

Brandon Matthews
For Tomorrow
Program Director

Bruce Lee once said “I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.” There is great value in repetition. There is great strength in your willingness to try again. However, many of us are guilty of giving up and giving in when things don’t work out the first few times.

For some, you have grown so familiar with your struggle that you have convinced yourself things will never change. For some, your fear of failure prevents you from pushing past your circumstances. For some, you have embraced blame and shame for your lens of life. Can you identify what is holding you back? Allow yourself to reveal the reasons that result in giving up.

Don’t look past today in order to see tomorrow. Do the right thing, right now, and then repeat. Repetition helps transition your actions from the conscious to the subconscious. Repetition trains your brain for healthy habits (or unhealthy). Zig Zigler said “Repetition is the mother of learning, the father of action, which makes it the architect of accomplishment.” So, look for a miracle in your mess. Believe the best in the middle of bad. Know you can do it and you will get through it.  

Do the right thing, right now, and then repeat.

Brandon Matthews
For Tomorrow
Program Director