Marijuana Prevention Summit a smashing success

More than 100 people attended the Marijuana Prevention Summit, presented July 31 at The Denver Press Club by the Colorado Child & Adolescent Psychiatric Society.

The event focused on the latest science on adolescent addiction and marijuana use, public drug policies and effective strategies in community prevention and intervention. The day’s speakers included world-recognized, drug-policy expert Kevin Sabet, and John Redman, executive director of San Diego-based Community Alliance for Drug-Free Youth.

I presented a talk titled, “How Marijuana Harms Youth.” You can find my slides here.

Attendees represented a wide range of industries, nonprofit sectors and professional disciplines. They were elected officials, law enforcement officers, lawyers, educators, county and military drug-prevention coordinators, gang-prevention specialists — and plenty of healthcare professionals seeking continuing medical education credit from the Colorado Medical Society.

My thanks to the event’s co-sponsors:

• Core Values Consulting. This Colorado-based firm provides project management, business development, executive coaching and an array of other executive business services. I also appreciate the company’s willingness to give back to communities through its Junior Executive Leadership Program for Youth. Chief Executive Officer Ann Speer explained to the room that she is a “product of Boys and Girls Clubs.”
• braveTracks is a new nonprofit organization aimed at helping Colorado youth align their personal interests with outstanding educational opportunities that lead to professional success. The organization consulted with several Colorado teens to produce a  fantastic marijuana information card that is “on track” to be delivered to the state’s public schools this year.

I’m also a big fan of Silver Mine Subs, which generously provided a great lunch at great price.