Posted on March 30, 2025 View all news
My son, Sam, died in Colorado on April 3, 2021, after a 12-minute altercation with Douglas County police during a cannabis-induced psychotic (CIP) episode. He was 23 years old and one semester away from graduating from the University of Colorado.
Sam was a high-achieving athlete and student in high school. He graduated with honors and earned scholarships, looking forward to college life. He enjoyed spending time with his sisters and his beloved dogs, which brought him great happiness. Sam was a sensitive kid who often took things quite literally and struggled with being overly honest. He asked many questions, and when he inquired about marijuana use, people he trusted in his life responded with familiar statements like, “It helps with anxiety,” “It’s natural,” and “Just don’t smoke too much.”
After 2012, when marijuana became legal in Colorado, access to it became very easy. Sam was 15 years old and starting high school at the time. For the most part, he managed his life well, as evidenced by his good grades and participation in sports. However, we now believe that he may have used THC more than we realized.
By the time he joined his college fraternity, we began to notice significant changes in him. His relationships started to suffer, his obsession with conspiracy theories intensified, and his paranoia led him to purchase guns for protection. He became someone we hardly recognized; he even described seeing lights in the sky that he believed were sending him messages. I now wonder if he was experiencing voices or hallucinations that he concealed from us. How frightening and isolating that must have been for him at the time. As his mother, it pains me to reflect on this. I wish he could have talked to me so that I might have been able to support him and help him feel less alone. Of course, this hurts to think about as his mom. I wish he could have talked with me so that I might’ve been able to support him and help him not feel so alone.
He described his one and only hospitalization 8 months before he was killed as a living hell. He was diagnosed with THC-induced psychosis. For 9 days, they pumped him full of Haldol, Atavin, and Prozac. He begged me to get him released, and by the time we were able to bring him home, he was like a zombie. He had to withdraw from school in the fall semester to wean himself off the drugs, as the side effects were debilitating. During this period, he wrote me this note. He left it on the counter before I went to work: it read, “Thank you for taking care of me right now. One day, I will make you proud. I love you. Love, Sam”
His struggle continued after that, as THC is an addictive substance. On the day he died, he went hiking with a new friend he met in one of his classes, and if they had time, they planned to go to a shooting range afterward. What his friend didn’t know was Sam had quit using pot 4 days before, so he was in withdrawal. While on the hike, his new friend pulled out a joint and offered it to Sam. He agreed. It triggered a psychotic episode, and Sam ran back to the parking lot, saying he was afraid there were people after them.
An argument ensued between them, and his friend made Sam get out of his car on the side of the highway. He got out of the car, taking his rifle with him. His friend then called 911, saying they had smoked a joint together; he believed Sam was hallucinating and that he had a weapon with him. Sam had no idea his friend called 911, so when police showed up, it was his worst nightmare coming true, confirming his delusional thinking, and he was not in his right mind. Refusing to hand over his gun, he fired shots in the direction of the police and gave them no choice but to shoot and kill him.
I struggle daily with thoughts that somehow I failed him as a mother. An underlying sadness forever taints anniversaries, holidays, and birthdays that I push against for the sake of my partner and my two daughters. Time, indeed, heals wounds. Life goes on, but this hole in my heart is forever.
I recently texted a friend of mine whose son also died while experiencing Cannabis Induced Psychosis. I shared these feelings with her. I want to share her reply with you: “Hi, Whitney. You didn’t fail, Sam. I didn’t fail (my son). I think society failed our boys. We loved them; we tried to support them. We didn’t know what we were up against.” After I read that text, I realized she was right. Had we known the research we have today that proves marijuana causes anxiety, depression, suicide ideation, and schizophrenia…had our sons known that sometimes the psychosis caused by high potency THC is reversible and sometimes is it is NOT…had the Schools of Public Health at their university educated them on the dangers of marijuana…had there been labels on the cannabis packages warning them of potential harms the same way the Surgeon General does on cigarette packages, they might have been warned or been able to make an informed decision.
Have you ever considered the reason why Colorado has led the nation in suicide between the ages of 10-24 for so many years? I believe it’s in part because of CIP. The THC content in pot from the last century was 4-5 %. Today, it can be as high as 95%.
Much more work has to be done to prevent our sons and daughters from ruining their brains and dying young. I believe that developing educational campaigns about cannabis-induced psychosis for young people is crucial.
Whitney Yeager. Colorado Mom
Thank you for sharing Sam’s story. Much love to you as you advocate for education and awareness.
So brave and beautiful to share Sam’s story. It will help others and he is proud of his Mom 🌲
You are an incredible friend and mom. Thank you for sharing your story and for continuing to save others. You are so brave and an inspiration.
You are such an amazing woman and an incredible mother! Sharing Sam’s story is so important – thank you!
I agree with your friend. You did not fail Sam as a mother. Society failed him. I know what a loving and engaged Mother you were to Sam. He knew every day how loved he was. 💜
Thank you for being so brave and honest to share this tragedy. Sam’s story will help others to understand the risk that so many young people expose themselves to daily. Your love for your children is without question. Sam’s battle was bigger than us all💔
Whitney, Thank you for having the courage and will to share Sam’s story. My heart yearns for you and your family. I truly can’t imagine the pain and anguish you and your family have been through. I’ve shared Sam’s story with our son who has had CIP and currently in a treatment program for cannabis. And our son has shared Sam’s story with other boys in treatment, and with his 2 cousins. Sam story is being told and bringing light to so many young kids who are struggling. Thinking of you, your family and Sam this week. ❤️