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Action Family Counseling Founder, CEO Addresses State Ballot Measure To Legalize Marijuana

After California became one of eight states that will vote on a ballot measure to legalize marijuana in November, Action Family Counseling Founder and CEO Cary Quashen is sharing his perspective on the matter with the community.


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“It’s not the legalization I’m worried about,” Quashen said. “I’m worried about the lack of concern about that drug in particular.”

One major concern for Quashen is the short- and long-term impact marijuana can have on youth, and the range of marijuana products that are now available.

“It’s not just pot that you smoke anymore,” he said. “It’s pot that you eat — it’s in candy, lollipops and suckers and food. It’s so enticing for our youngsters, and you’re getting these kids that are using this high-grade THC now even easier than ever, and their brains are not even developed yet.”

At Action Family Counseling, Quashen is seeing a rise in youth whose lives are being impacted by several symptoms caused by marijuana use.

“What we’re seeing in treatment right now is kids that are completely losing their motivation, their short-term memory is gone, long-term memory is getting affected,” he said. “So we’re seeing a real crisis when it comes to adolescents that are smoking pot.”

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Another concern for Quashen is the fact that THC stays in the users’ system for a certain amount of time, meaning that motorists may get behind the wheel of their car or kids may arrive at school while under the influence. 

“How do you test for it?” he pointed out.

Marijuana also has the potential to be a gateway drug that could lead to serious substance abuse down the line.

“I don’t think that every pot smoker is going to become a heroin addict, but I believe that almost every heroin addict I’ve ever met started with cigarettes and pot,” Quashen said.

At a young age, kids tend to make what Quashen called “contracts” with themselves to never try drugs– including marijuana. But once they break that first contract using the justification that pot isn’t a “serious” drug, it becomes easier to break other contracts as well, which can lead to experimenting with other drugs.

Even parents have begun breaking their contracts in what they now consider acceptable behavior for their kids, according to Quashen.

“I think the worst thing about this whole thing is how we’re looking at THC today,” he said. “When it used to be, ‘Oh my God, my kid is smoking pot, this is terrible,’ (now) it’s ‘Oh, my kid’s only smoking pot.’ … I consider marijuana an extremely dangerous drug when it comes to kids.”

As Santa Clarita Valley residents consider how to vote on the upcoming ballot measure on Nov. 8, Quashen advised them to consider the current state of things when it comes to drug use.

“We’re in the midst of an epidemic when we’re talking about overdoses, losing 50,000 a year — and that’s just in accidental overdoses,” he said. “All drug abuse starts innocently. Right now everybody’s believing that marijuana is a very innocent drug, but it’s not so innocent.”

Ed. Note: This article is a KHTS Feature story based on a recent interview with Action Family Counseling.

Action Family Counseling is a Santa Clarita drug and alcohol rehab center. Action has drug and alcohol residential treatment locations in Santa Clarita, Piru and Bakersfield, as well as intensive drug and alcohol outpatient programs in Santa Clarita, Simi Valley, Ventura, Pasadena and Bakersfield. Action Family Counseling supports and reinforces changes in behavior patterns so that adolescents and adults, or clients and their families, can fully indoctrinate the philosophies and principles needed to remain abstinent and stabilized for life.

Action Family Counseling

22722 Soledad Canyon Road

Santa Clarita, CA 91350

Office: 661-297-8691

24-Hour Helpline: 800-367-8336

Do you have a news tip? Call us at (661) 298-1220, or drop us a line at community@hometownstation.com.

KHTS AM 1220 - Santa Clarita Radio

Action Family Counseling Founder, CEO Addresses State Ballot Measure To Legalize Marijuana

18 comments

  1. This article is misleading. The ballot isn’t to legalize marijuana for “kids” to use. It’s to legalize for responsible adults. The overdoses he talks about are not from pot. Legalized marijuana would bring much needed tax revenue to our state. The pros for legalization far out way the cons. Don’t be fooled.

    • Correct, King, the vote is to legalize for adults or persons 21 and older. The problem is, the brain isn’t fully developed until the age of 25 and some science suggests into the 30’s. That is the danger the article points out. Scientists know any physical or emotional trauma, or altering of the developing brain has can have life long consequences to that brain, and therefor the individual. THC alters the brain balance. Many proven studies go into those life long side effects of users with developing brains. Why knowingly produce a society of people with lower IQ’s? Doesn’t make sense to me.

  2. I would say the same thing if I owned a rehab…..

  3. I think Cary and this article are spot on. I also think that If we legalize marijuana it will make it all that more easy and acceptable for our youth use. I for one am not willing to sacrifice our future so a bunch of people can get high and be unproductive. And YES, most stoners are unproductive and end up living with there parents. Anyone who tells you marijuana will brig tax revenue to the state are fools. The cost marijuana legalization will bring to our state will far outweigh the tax revenue it will bring in. Marijuana grows like a weed and anyone with half a brain can grow it. So if you want to be surrounded by stoners and marijuana growers, vote to legalize marijuana.

    • Interesting view on Marijuana Chris. It has been quite a few years since people have smoked the kind of weed you are talking about. The marijuana growing industry is actually very sophisticated with millions of dollars invested in the science, yes science of grow businesses. I think it is partly true what you say about losing motivation, but I have knoiwn a lot of beer drinkers that don’t have much motivation either. It’s all in the person and not a generalization but I have a feeling that you are the kind of person who isn’t interested in other viewpoints.

      • I would like to say that u guys are talking about marijuana for recreation use …for me is medication..
        I am 59 years old and few years ago I was 230 pound with very severe stress , anxiety , and depration..wich led to high blood pressure, diabetic And led to a 6 hrs heart presider …
        So I started with hi cbd cannibus …and now 2-3 years later I am functioning better …
        ( I couldn’t leave my house and sty home for days)…
        Today I am 135 pounds (-95pounds) healthy and happy…and I would like to say that’s only in hands of the people to figure out what’s work for them.

      • Kent s, the science of marijuana has been mainly in the strains of the plant themselves which has produced a higher THC producing plants. Hydroponic growing, which is the most effective way to grow a plant, is actually very simple. Again, anyone with half a brain can buy some seeds or some clones and grow the “type of weed you talk about.” I know plenty of people who have grown quality weed and convince themselves they are geniuses for doing so. Yes, there are plenty of problems with alcohol but that isn’t a valid excuse to legalize another intoxicant. Next time you get a “feeling” about someone you don’t know, maybe you should do some self evaluation.

        • Also who do you think supports businesses. Not non growers. Growers spend money at home depot. I guess it’s more acceptable to leach of welfare than to pull your weak ass up by your boot straps and go make a good living not working some stupid job = juggling of bills. I make more keep more and you suckers sit at home eating your box dinners my family has disposable income where my sons at 2yrs old have been enjoying, prime rib, filet Mignon, etc. How does that fit into your lazy stoner ideology?

    • I own my own house, as in paid in full. Not living in my parents. Haven’t lived with my parents since I was 15. I’m now 31. Have been medically retired from injuries sustained while serving in Iraq. Wasn’t till the VA had me on a dozen meds, which made me feel suicidal, homicidal etc. I have been happily married for 8+ years have 2 wonderful smart boys and a 1 yr old daughter. I own all I have outright no lien holder. I smoke pot on a daily basis, pay my bills, raise my children with morals and god. I own my home, 6 trucks/SUVs, where am I a lazy stoner. Please enlighten me with where you became subject matter expect. I can tell you I not non stoners have donated my personal time, resources and money to plow 28 driveways 25 for absolutely nothing. I also donate my time money and resources to my local elementary school which is always in need of $$$ Colorado has-been roads, schools, library’s, prisons etc I guess where you live those things don’t matter or just don’t concern you.

    • “Chris” -you must not be familiar with the subject apparently. In fact, I am surprised to see how you can comment on something you know nothing about. “And YES, most stoners are unproductive and end up living with there parents”. That honestly made me giggle. I can personally say I owned my first home at 21 years old (meaning moving on to number two) with no help from anyone! To add to that I have two children and a husband to take care of with a full time job and will be done with my degree next semester! Guess what I do my friend to ease the anxiety and deal with my other personal ailments!? You guessed right MARIJUANA. Try 10 years of it. anyone that has taken antidepressants and anxiety pills knows they suck! Pros and cons have been out weighed and MJ HELPS ME OVER PHARMACUTICALS !
      SO SAD TO SEE SOMEONE SO UNWISE as yourself. Selfish actually.
      So you must be a grower to know it’s solid easy right?! Haha haha a this is actually comical to see .
      You don’t know the half of it with that half of brain of yours.

    • I do understand your concern. I am one that don’t drink or smoke anything. Due to the way my parents raised me. But it is important for us to remember there has always been some kinds of substance . We need to teach our kids at an early age about a lot of things. People always want to complain or put blame on something or someone. There is always going to be an age restriction. Kids are doing far more than smoking marijuana. How about looking for rules like no driving during or a time period. So people don’t get killed etc. leagal or not leagal Adults/ kids if that’s what they want there going to get it. I believe it has a lot of good that comes along with this prouduct . Every prouduct has side affects . There are people with goals and without . I know lots of people that use and are very productive.

  4. Wonderful article. I have seen first hand the horrible long-term effects of this plant that people claim is so benign. It ruins lives. However, no daily smoker will admit that. They are too invested in their drug.

    • I’m daily smoker. I can tell you I can do with or without pot. However without pot you would like me as I have an antisocial personality disorder, PTSD from my service in Iraq. Generally speaking I dislike most ppl. How would you like it if we state facts. Alcohol kills significant numbers of ppl. If not directly the alcohol the drunk behind the wheel. Outlaw cigs and beer they have no medicinal properties.

  5. If marijuana should be illegal, then alcohol and tobacco should also be illegal. Anyone who petitions for one to be illegal and not the others is being hypocritical.

  6. Interesting that comments get deleted here if they contradict the very obviously paid for article by this company with a vested interest in keeping marijuana illegal…..

    • Hi Bob, I just wanted to clarify that we do not delete comments, they simply require approval before being published. With the fire this weekend there has been a delay in approving some comments, but they should all be there now. Thanks for your comment! -KHTS AM-1220 Newsroom

  7. I’m pro-legalization for too many reason to bore you with. In my opinion the best points here have been made by Rich and George P. Here’s some light reading for some of you:

    A “stereotype” is a cognitive shortcut — that is, it allows your brain to make a snap judgment based on immediately visible characteristics such as gender, race, or age. Your brain is hardwired to make quick calls, and that’s ok. The problem comes when we start to apply those stereotypes beyond that immediate impulse. That’s called “bias,” which is basically a belief that a stereotype is true.

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About Melissa Lampert-Abramovitch

Melissa Lampert-Abramovitch has been writing for KHTS since Feb. 2014. She currently writes “Community Spotlight” and feature stories, and coordinates all aspects of both the”KHTS Adopt a Pet” video feature series and “Top Things to Do in Santa Clarita.” She is the creator of “KHTS Adopt a Pet” and acted as News Editor from 2019-2020, as well as Features Director and Newsroom Manager from 2016-2018. A former Valley Publications Staff Writer, Melissa was a contributor to the Santa Clarita Gazette and Canyon Country Magazine from 2015-2016. She has published feature stories with Pet Me Magazine, The Pet Press, The Signal, COC's Cougar News, and KJAMS Radio.