Over the past 12 years, One Chance to Grow Up has taken up the mantle of fighting for the safety of kids and young people in the face of growing normalization of marijuana and a booming marijuana and THC industry mostly focused on how to capitalize on market opportunities. Many of you have been an integral part of that fight and all of you are needed. It is fair to say that right now is a critical moment in our work to fight for kids. With a new administration in Washington DC and new governors and legislatures taking actions in the states, please be on the lookout for targeted actions from One Chance when your voice can be incredibly impactful to your elected representatives. Your representatives care about what you think and are there to represent your interests as their constituent!
🔦 One Chance to Grow Up Spotlight
Senate Bill 25-076
One Chance to Grow Up, a lead coalition partner, strongly supports and thanks the sponsors, Senators Judy Amabile(D) and Byron Pelton(R) and Representatives Kyle Brown(D) and Anthony Hartsook’s (R) for their leadership to introduce this bill that will help protect Colorado’s youth from the dangers of high-potency THC and other intoxicating substances. This bill addresses the alarming rise in ultra-potent marijuana products by aligning THC serving sizes for inhaled products, and ensuring clear labeling to prevent accidental overconsumption. With evidence linking high-potency THC to addiction, psychosis, and cognitive harm—especially in developing brains—this legislation prioritizes public health over industry profits.
As highlighted in this week’s Colorado Politics op-ed authored by the bill sponsors, SB25-076 also extends lessons learned from marijuana commercialization to newly approved substances like psilocybin. Already, poison control centers have received calls about accidental ingestion by young children. By prohibiting the manufacturing of psilocybin in candy, this bill puts kids safety first. Read the full article here:
https://www.coloradopolitics.com/opinion/bill-enhances-consumer-info-youth-protections-for-marijuana-mushrooms-opinion/article_ff39bf62-f4aa-11ef-b5e9-2b3e93482725.html
🔎 State Laboratories
Here is a rundown of some of the major stories in different states around the country. If you happen to live in one of these states, please contact us about how YOU could be involved in advocating for safe and healthy outcomes for our children and young adults.
Ohio’s Regulatory Battle:
A legislative committee is considering reforms to Ohio’s recreational marijuana program. Senate Bill 56 would also prohibit marijuana growing at residences operating in-home childcare programs and regulate the transportation of cannabis products in motor vehicles. The bill’s provisions to reduce permissible THC levels and ban youth-targeted marketing represent critical steps toward protecting our children. Read the article here: https://www.wjer.com/news/carroll-county-prosecutor-testifies-in-support-of-senate-bill-56/ All Ohio residents are urged to to voice your concerns with a.hand-written note to Governor Mike DeWine (358 N. Parkview Ave., Bexley, OH 43209).
California’s Lounge Concerns:
An op.ed from a pediatric nurse practitioner has raised concerns that consumption establishments, potentially located near schools and communities, could normalize marijuana use and increase youth access to high-potency products. The concern is particularly worrisome for Hispanic youth, who face heightened vulnerability to cannabis business proximity. Read the article here:
https://lookout.co/cannabis-lounges-pose-a-risk-to-the-health-of-santa-cruz-county-youth-the-board-of-supervisors-should-vote-no/
Pennsylvania’s Budget Initiative:
Governor Josh Shapiro’s $51.5 billion budget proposal includes recreational marijuana legalization. Any legalization framework must prioritize robust youth protection measures over revenue generation. Read the article here: https://whyy.org/articles/pennsylvania-medical-marijuana-cannabis-josh-shapiro/
Missouri’s Mixed Results:
The Missouri Department of Mental Health’s latest survey reveals marijuana use remains steady, with teenagers dangerously perceiving it as low-risk. “A higher percentage of teens said that occasional marijuana use posed no risk at all, Read the article here: https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/02/04/missouri-teens-nicotine-vapes-cigarettes-alcohol-2024/
Tennessee’s Infrastructure Proposal:
The “Pot for Potholes Act” aims to legalize both medical and recreational marijuana to fund road repairs, but we remain concerned about increased youth access and exposure. Any legalization framework must prioritize child protection over infrastructure funding. Read the article here: https://www.newschannel5.com/news/tn-lawmakers-push-for-pothole-repairs-through-legalizing-marijuana
Texas’s Policy Divide:
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s firm stance against THC access near schools aligns with our mission to protect youth. This nuanced public understanding of THC risks provides an opportunity for targeted education and advocacy. Read the article here: https://www.tpr.org/government-politics/2025-02-05/a-new-poll-suggests-texans-favor-legalizing-recreational-marijuana-but-banning-thc
Florida’s Ballot Initiative:
Following Amendment 3’s failure, Smart & Safe Florida (the proponents for legalization) has filed a revised proposal addressing previous criticisms about public use and child-friendly packaging. Read the article here: https://www.wusf.org/politics-issues/2025-01-16/new-proposal-recreational-marijuana-emerges-planned-2026-ballot
🔬 Science Corner
Secondhand Smoke Exposure Crisis:
A landmark study published in JAMA Network Open by Dr. Osika Tripathi’s team has revealed disturbing evidence of children’s vulnerability to household cannabis smoke. The research definitively shows that children in homes with reported cannabis smoking are exposed to higher levels of THC. Read the article here:
https://www.healthday.com/healthpro-news/child-health/child-urinary-cannabinoids-elevated-with-in-home-cannabis-smoking
Devastating Impact on Brain Function:
Groundbreaking research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association has demonstrated that cannabis use significantly impairs brain activation in regions critical for working memory. This evidence of marijuana’s lasting impact on cognitive function points to particular concerns for young people whose brains are still developing, underscoring the urgent need for protective measures and informed public health strategies. Read the article here: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2829657
Mortality and Mental Health Risks:
Recent large-scale studies are shattering the myth of marijuana’s safety, revealing shocking statistics: Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD) is linked to a 2.8-fold increase in mortality risk and an almost 13-fold increase in schizophrenia risk. Even more concerning, research at Massachusetts General Hospital found that medical marijuana often leads to CUD without providing many of the claimed benefits, challenging widespread narratives about cannabis as an important medical therapy. “The appropriate medical use of marijuana is increasingly understood to be much more circumscribed than many would like. Far from being a miracle cure, cannabis can sometimes do more harm than good.” Read the article here: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/experimentations/202502/taking-cannabis-claims-with-a-grain-of-salt
⚖️ Legal Developments
Push for Warning Labels:
The American Medical Association is championing crucial legislation requiring warning labels on cannabis products. This model bill aims to protect vulnerable populations, particularly youth and expectant mothers, through mandatory warning labels and restrictions on advertisements near child-frequented areas. These measures represent essential steps toward protecting young people from predatory marketing and uninformed use. We applaud the AMA for pushing for these needed reforms. Read the article here: https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/public-health/if-it-s-marketed-cannabis-it-needs-warning-label
⚠️ What We’re Up Against
Alarming Rise in Teen Drug Use:
Wellbrook Recovery’s latest report reveals a disturbing trend: 2.9 million kids under 18 are using marijuana, making it the most commonly used drug among youth. The growing societal acceptance of marijuana as “less harmful” has contributed to this crisis, with teenage girls showing particularly concerning increases in usage. This trend demands intervention to protect our young people from marijuana’s documented dangers. Read the article here: https://dallasexpress.com/health/study-reveals-top-drugs-used-by-teens/
Vaping: A Growing Threat:
New research on marijuana vaping trends exposes serious safety concerns, including the presence of unregulated chemicals and synthetic THC residues. “The increased potency of THC in vape products poses an acute risk to adolescent users, who face heightened addiction vulnerability.” Read the article here: https://news.wfsu.org/all-npr-news/2025-02-04/vaping-weed-is-very-popular-but-users-should-be-aware-it-carries-risks
👥 Parent to Parent
Understanding Cannabis and Psychosis:
A powerful narrative in Scientific American follows the harrowing journey of a teenager whose casual marijuana use led to severe psychosis. This case study highlights the heightened risks of today’s high-potency cannabis products, particularly for adolescent users. Parents must understand that modern cannabis strains, with dramatically increased THC levels, pose unprecedented risks to developing brains. Read the article here: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-link-between-cannabis-and-psychosis-in-teens-is-real/
Together, we can ensure that state-level policy experiments prioritize the protection of our children and youth.
Best regards,
The One Chance to Grow Up Team
