Amy Ronshausen is the Executive Director of both Drug Free America Foundation, Inc. and Save Our Society From Drugs (S.O.S.), national nonprofit organizations that work prevent substance abuse, increase access to evidence-based treatment, and promote sustained recovery.

Mrs. Ronshausen has dedicated most of her adult life to the work of drug demand reduction. In her sixteen years with Drug Free America Foundation and S.O.S, she has assisted in coordinating successful grassroots advocacy campaigns to promote sound drug policy, analyzed and tracked state and federal drug policy legislation, and trained prevention professionals at local, national and international conferences. Mrs. Ronshausen regularly testifies on issues related to drug demand reduction on the local and global stage.

Prior to coming to DFAF, Mrs. Ronshausen spent three years as a program specialist with the Pinellas County Adult Drug Court, working under four judges. While in drug court, Mrs. Ronshausen linked defendants with treatment providers and monitored their progress through the criminal justice system. Mrs. Ronshausen started her work in drug prevention with Operation PAR, where she started off as a call specialist in their access center and then worked as a juvenile certified GAIN assessor. She also worked as a juvenile counselor for PAR’s Adolescent Recovery Intervention Services and the Juvenile Enhancement Treatment Services and is trained in Motivational Enhancement and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

Mrs. Ronshausen volunteers as the Executive Director for the Florida Coalition Alliance, representing over 30 community anti-drug coalitions. She chairs the Marijuana Task Force as part of the Hillsborough County Anti-Drug Alliance, and serves on the Pinellas County Opioid Task Force. Mrs. Ronshausen serves on the board of Informed Families, is an advisory board member for the Foundation for a Drug Free World, a member of the International Society of Substance Use Professionals (ISSUP) and a master trainer for the Universal Prevention Curriculum (UPC).

 After being reelected in 2022, Mrs. Ronshausen serves as International President of the World Federation Against Drugs, a multilateral community of non-governmental organizations and individuals.

In 2023, Ms. Ronshausen was appointed by Florida Governor, Ron DeSantis, to serve as a member of the Statewide Council on Opioid Abatement.

 Mrs. Ronshausen received her Bachelors of Arts Degree from University of South Florida.

 MarijuanaKnowTheTruth.org

Thomas E. Freese, Ph.D., received his doctorate degree in clinical psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology in 1995. Dr. Freese is currently the Co-Director of UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs and Co-Director of the SAMHSA-funded Pacific Southwest Addiction Technology Transfer Center (PSATTC, HHS Region 9). Dr. Freese has served as Principal Investigator on numerous projects funded by the California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs and Department of Health Care Services to train providers in a variety of evidence-based substance use disorder treatment practices (including medications for addiction treatment, SBIRT, contingency management, and motivational interviewing). Dr. Freese has also led several large training and technical assistance projects that assist providers in implementing integrated treatment for co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. He has been a featured presenter at conferences and meetings nationally and internationally on the impact and treatment of methamphetamine and opioid dependence. In addition, Dr. Freese has served as the Project Director on a number of studies including research on methamphetamine use. He has worked in the addiction field since 1983, and has developed and conducted trainings in 45 states and internationally, providing training and workshops for clinicians-in-training at the all levels.

Melissa Baldwin is a storyteller at heart.  She received her degree in theatre and spent over 20 years performing and teaching.  In addition, she immersed herself in various training opportunities around the topic of trauma informed care. Melissa currently oversees kNOw MORE!©, a drama based human trafficking prevention and awareness program developed by the Center for Justice and Reconciliation at Point Loma Nazarene University. This highly relational and interactive curriculum is geared for middle school and high school students and uses the dramatized story of Amanda, a San Diego high school student who is lured into the life of trafficking, to discuss vulnerabilities, red flags and safety. Amanda’s Story – Short Film Version

kNOw More Promotional Video

CDC has several different units working on different diseases and injury prevention, even one dedicated to cannabis.

To learn more about the CDC’s Cannabis Strategy Unit, I reached out to

Douglas Roehler, PhD, MPH

Health Scientist, Division of Overdose Prevention (DOP)

Douglas Roehler, PhD, MPH, serves as a Health Scientist for the Cannabis Strategy Unit in the Division of Overdose Prevention at CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. His work has focused on coordinating and implementing CDC’s cannabis strategic plan, expanding cannabis surveillance and research, and building surveillance and prevention capacity for drug-related overdoses.

Prior to joining the Cannabis Strategy Unit, Dr. Roehler served as a Health Scientist on the Overdose Morbidity Team in the Epidemiology and Surveillance Branch in the Division of Overdose Prevention. In this role, he provided technical assistance to funded states to build and enhance their nonfatal overdose surveillance systems.

Previously, Dr. Roehler focused on building and improving road safety surveillance systems in low- and middle-income countries, preventing youth violence, and investigating sudden unexpected infant deaths. He earned his PhD and MPH in Health Behavior and Health Education at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. Following his doctoral work, he completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Rush University Medical Center in the Department of Pediatrics. He has published extensively on cannabis, drug overdoses, traffic safety, youth violence, and child injury prevention in peer-reviewed journals, MMWRs, book chapters, and governmental reports, including serving as the lead author of the 2019 Annual Surveillance Report of Drug-related Risks and Outcomes.

Is it just pot and an inconsequential debate on changing the schedule of marijuana or is it much more?

Are we talking about individual rights, marijuana as medicine, public health implications, the integrity of the FDA medication approval process , or the reliability of the USA in keeping international treaties.

INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY ON THE SCIENCE AND IMPACT OF CANNABIS

DOCTORS EDUCATING ON MARIJUANA

IASIC is an organization of international experts on cannabis who are guided by medicine and science to provide accurate and honest information that guides decision-making. We recognize that the use of cannabis is potentially harmful, and that policies or practices which enhance or increase the use of cannabis risk serious medical and social consequences.

Check out the IASIC Library.

Eric A. Voth, M.D., FACP

Dr. Voth is a specialist in Internal Medicine, Pain Management, and Addiction Medicine. He serves as the President and Chairman of the Board of the International Academy on the Science and Impact of Cannabis (IASIC). Dr. Voth is a pioneer in the appropriate prescribing of controlled medications and is recognized as an international authority on drug use, drug policy-related issues, pain management, and appropriate prescribing practices.

He also serves as an advisor on alcohol and drug abuse issues to the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts, is a former member of the National Advisory Committee for the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment of HHS, and is a Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Kansas School of Medicine.

 Dr. Voth has advised Reagan, Clinton, both Bush, and Obama administrations, and has advised or testified for numerous Congressional offices on drug related issues. He has appeared on or consulted to, numerous other radio media, and has been quoted by numerous international print media.

Elizabeth ‘Libby’ Stuyt, MD

Dr. Stuyt is a board-certified Addiction Psychiatrist and has worked in the addiction/behavioral health field since 1990. She was the Medical Director for the Circle Program, a 90-day inpatient treatment program, funded by the state of Colorado, for persons with co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse who have failed other levels of treatment from 1999 to 2020. She retired from this position in May 2020 in order to spend more time attempting to educate as many people as possible on the un-intended consequences she has seen from the commercialization of marijuana in Colorado, focusing primarily on the deleterious effects of high potency THC on the developing brain and mental health.

About Bertha Madras, PhD

 Current position. Professor of Psychobiology, Harvard Medical School (34 years) with office based at McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA; cross-appointment at the Massachusetts General Hospital. Educated at McGill University, Montreal with post-doctoral fellowships, MIT, Cambridge, MA.

Translational Research. Addictive and therapeutic drugs: behavioral, molecular responses. Drug discovery: Novel brain probes, candidate therapeutics for neuropsychiatric disorders. Drug Policy

Authorship.  Author of over 200 scientific manuscripts, articles, book chapters, co-editor of books “The Cell Biology of Addiction”, “Effects of Drug Abuse on the Human Nervous System”, “Imaging of the Human Brain in Health and Disease”

Inventions.  19 U.S. and 27 international issued patents, with collaborators

Government service and public policy. Numerous NIH committees and other advisory boards

Educator, Public Service

Recognition

Her experiences in research, brain biology, education, government and public service offer her a unique perspective on

Is it just pot and an inconsequential debate on changing the schedule of marijuana or is it much more?

Are we talking about individual rights, marijuana as medicine, public health implications, the integrity of the FDA medication approval process , or the reliability of the USA in keeping international treaties.

INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY ON THE SCIENCE AND IMPACT OF CANNABIS

DOCTORS EDUCATING ON MARIJUANA

IASIC is an organization of international experts on cannabis who are guided by medicine and science to provide accurate and honest information that guides decision-making. We recognize that the use of cannabis is potentially harmful, and that policies or practices which enhance or increase the use of cannabis risk serious medical and social consequences.

Check out the IASIC Library.

Eric A. Voth, M.D., FACP

Dr. Voth is a specialist in Internal Medicine, Pain Management, and Addiction Medicine. He serves as the President and Chairman of the Board of the International Academy on the Science and Impact of Cannabis (IASIC). Dr. Voth is a pioneer in the appropriate prescribing of controlled medications and is recognized as an international authority on drug use, drug policy-related issues, pain management, and appropriate prescribing practices.

He also serves as an advisor on alcohol and drug abuse issues to the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts, is a former member of the National Advisory Committee for the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment of HHS, and is a Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Kansas School of Medicine.

 Dr. Voth has advised Reagan, Clinton, both Bush, and Obama administrations, and has advised or testified for numerous Congressional offices on drug related issues. He has appeared on or consulted to, numerous other radio media, and has been quoted by numerous international print media.

Elizabeth ‘Libby’ Stuyt, MD

Dr. Stuyt is a board-certified Addiction Psychiatrist and has worked in the addiction/behavioral health field since 1990. She was the Medical Director for the Circle Program, a 90-day inpatient treatment program, funded by the state of Colorado, for persons with co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse who have failed other levels of treatment from 1999 to 2020. She retired from this position in May 2020 in order to spend more time attempting to educate as many people as possible on the un-intended consequences she has seen from the commercialization of marijuana in Colorado, focusing primarily on the deleterious effects of high potency THC on the developing brain and mental health.

About Bertha Madras, PhD

 Current position. Professor of Psychobiology, Harvard Medical School (34 years) with office based at McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA; cross-appointment at the Massachusetts General Hospital. Educated at McGill University, Montreal with post-doctoral fellowships, MIT, Cambridge, MA.

Translational Research. Addictive and therapeutic drugs: behavioral, molecular responses. Drug discovery: Novel brain probes, candidate therapeutics for neuropsychiatric disorders. Drug Policy

Authorship.  Author of over 200 scientific manuscripts, articles, book chapters, co-editor of books “The Cell Biology of Addiction”, “Effects of Drug Abuse on the Human Nervous System”, “Imaging of the Human Brain in Health and Disease”

Inventions.  19 U.S. and 27 international issued patents, with collaborators

Government service and public policy. Numerous NIH committees and other advisory boards

Educator, Public Service

Recognition

Her experiences in research, brain biology, education, government and public service offer her a unique perspective on

Heather and Randy Bacchus

 Heather Bacchus is a dedicated advocate and mother, whose life was forever changed by the tragic loss of her son, Randy Michael, to suicide as a result of Cannabis Induced Psychosis on July 17th, 2021. Randy’s struggles with marijuana use began at the tender age of 15, eventually leading to a diagnosis of cannabis use disorder by the time he was almost 17. Heather and her husband were deeply shaken by Randy’s passing and embarked on a journey of discovery, delving into the complexities of today’s potent cannabis products and their detrimental effects on the adolescent brain.

Through exploring Randy’s personal videos and journals, they uncovered his battles with marijuana-induced psychosis, depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. Determined to prevent further tragedies, Heather and her husband founded the non-profit organization, Be Extraordinary, Be You, which empowers youth to embrace their true selves and avoid substance use.

Heather and Randy’s mission is fueled by the profound belief that sharing Randy’s story, grounded in scientific research, can help educate students and parents alike, empowering them to make informed decisions regarding substance use.

In addition to their advocacy work, Heather and Randy are proud parents to three daughters and licensed Realtors in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Heather often emphasizes their commitment to ensuring people find happiness in their homes, believing that a positive home environment, free from drugs, is essential for overall well-being.

Gerard Carroll, MD, is the Program Director for the EMS Fellowship at Cooper University Hospital. He is passionate about utilizing physician field response to translate the bedside, apprenticeship model of medical education into the field. His interests include addiction medicine and the role of urban EMS caring for underserved populations. As an undergraduate at Brandeis University, Dr. Carroll became passionate about Emergency Medical Services, and following graduation became certified as a Paramedic . He worked for nearly a decade in the New York City 911 system and was recognized for his service on the morning of the 9-11 attacks. He then earned his medical degree from Dartmouth Medical School where he was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society. He completed Emergency Medicine Residency at Temple University Hospital and completed a fellowship in Emergency Medical Services at Cooper University Hospital. He is triple board certified in Emergency Medicine, Emergency Medical Services, and Addiction Medicine. Dr. Carroll loves the practice of academic Emergency Medicine and Emergency Medical Services and is not satisfied with the status quo. He believes strongly that EMS is a practice of medicine and as such needs to constantly be refocused on patient outcomes while optimizing its place in the healthcare system. He helped spearhead the movement of addiction medicine into the field by educating paramedics about Opioid Use Disorder and training them to rescue patients in withdrawal with Medication Assisted Therapy using buprenorphine. Dr. Carroll loves the varied practice environments of EM and EMS making academic, rural, prehospital, austere disaster deployment, and even cruise ship medicine a part of his regular medical practice.