Henry MacDougall (2001-2017)

My heart is broken. I taught my son the dangers of peer pressure. I told him action is never justified simply because someone else says it’s okay.  On the evening of October 6, 2017, a knock on my front door brought a parent’s worst —a police officer informed me Henry had been in a horrific car crash.  He died at age 16.  No father should ever have to bury his son. The cause?  Recreational marijuana.

Henry was at the home of a 19-year-old young man, “dabbing,” which is a process that uses an inhaler to ingest extremely potent cannabis.  This 19-year-old took videos of Henry both while he was dabbing and also after he passed out.  He then allowed Henry to get into his car and drive home.  Apparently, Henry passed out again, only this time it was behind the wheel.  Driving through a stop sign, he hit a semi-trailer truck.  He died a few hours later, and my life has never been the same.

Medical marijuana in Michigan was badly abused before the state legalized recreational marijuana. In spite of parents’ best efforts, when a dangerous substance is so easily within reach (often cloaked in gummy bears and brownies), children and teenagers will find access.  Making medical and recreational marijuana legal increases abuse of this dangerous drug.  It does not curb its danger or protect children.  My son was dabbing, something that became popular with the advent of medical marijuana.  Teens start using this drug with the strongest, most potent strains available.

When you lose a child, you ask yourself, “How can I honor his legacy to make sure this never happens again to someone else’s child?”  We must do all we can to empower law enforcement and the justice system to address those who are using marijuana irresponsibly in our communities.   Legalizing marijuana, even with regulations, floods our streets and homes more than they already are.  Children are too important to make marijuana more accessible! 

I lost my son because of his misuse of this terribly misrepresented drug.  I am interested in truth and in protecting other parents from having to experience the pain I felt and still feel.  I would do anything to go back in time and keep my son from going to that house on that fateful night.  

– By Gordon MacDougall, Ludington, taken from the Healthy and Productive Michigan website.)