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A Higher Love: A Journey through Addiction, Cannabis-Induced Psychosis, Suicide and Redemption
In
A Higher Love
, Heather Bacchus takes readers on an intimate and powerful journey through the heartbreaking loss of her 21-year-old son to cannabis-induced psychosis and suicide. This true story weaves personal experiences backed by scientific evidence about the underestimated dangers of today's high-potency cannabis products.
Heather candidly shares their son's struggles with addiction, his mental health issues triggered by his marijuana use, and the devastating consequences that followed. She also sheds light on the pain, confusion, and guilt that families often endure while navigating a loved one's addiction and mental illness.
More than just a memoir, A Higher Love is educational and a call to action. It combines the Bacchus family's tragedy with research-based insights into the evolving risks associated with modern-day cannabis. Heather draws on her roles as a mother, educator, and advocate to urge parents, teachers, administrators, professionals, and communities to have critical conversations about today's high-potency marijuana products to prevent youth cannabis use.
At its heart, this book is a story of redemption. Heather and her husband, Randy, transform their great grief into a mission to save lives by bringing awareness and sharing a prevention message. They offer hope and healing for others walking a similar path and encourage society to reexamine assumptions about a "harmless" substance.
A Higher Love is a raw, honest, and deeply inspiring book that will resonate with anyone seeking to understand the complex intersections of high-potency cannabis products, addiction, mental health, and family resilience. Above all, it is a testament to the many types of love, the enduring power of love, and how love, trust, and strength can create resilience and help to find purpose in unimaginable loss.
Heather candidly shares their son's struggles with addiction, his mental health issues triggered by his marijuana use, and the devastating consequences that followed. She also sheds light on the pain, confusion, and guilt that families often endure while navigating a loved one's addiction and mental illness.
More than just a memoir, A Higher Love is educational and a call to action. It combines the Bacchus family's tragedy with research-based insights into the evolving risks associated with modern-day cannabis. Heather draws on her roles as a mother, educator, and advocate to urge parents, teachers, administrators, professionals, and communities to have critical conversations about today's high-potency marijuana products to prevent youth cannabis use.
At its heart, this book is a story of redemption. Heather and her husband, Randy, transform their great grief into a mission to save lives by bringing awareness and sharing a prevention message. They offer hope and healing for others walking a similar path and encourage society to reexamine assumptions about a "harmless" substance.
A Higher Love is a raw, honest, and deeply inspiring book that will resonate with anyone seeking to understand the complex intersections of high-potency cannabis products, addiction, mental health, and family resilience. Above all, it is a testament to the many types of love, the enduring power of love, and how love, trust, and strength can create resilience and help to find purpose in unimaginable loss.
246 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 13, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 1, 2025
everyone should read this vulnerable reflection of watching someone you love struggle with cannabis addiction. I’m so proud of my auntie heather for sharing her family’s story.
January 22, 2025
This is an extraordinary moving book. The author courageously shares a deeply personal and tragic loss. In doing so she honors Randy Michael in a touching way. The message about the dangers of marijuana, particularly for youth, is clearly important.
February 19, 2025
Yet another story of a young life lost to marijuana/cannabis...how I wish there will be fewer in the future thanks to brave parents like Heather Bacchus sharing the truth and the science about the risks and harms of today's marijuana/cannabis.
My own son was diagnosed with severe Cannabis Use Disorder and died by suicide in 2014 in Arizona. His suicide note ended with "My soul is already dead. Marijuana killed my soul + ruined my brain." In my years of advocacy for sharing warnings about the risks and harms of marijuana use, I found how difficult it is for a family reeling in grief for their loss to share broadly with others.
Heather's book is masterful in its mix of science and the telling of their son Randy Michael's journey through addiction and ultimately to suicide, then the grief/healing process for the family.
This is an important book, especially for families raising children in this world that is not protecting public health as they promote and protect the cannabis addiction-for-profit industry.
My own son was diagnosed with severe Cannabis Use Disorder and died by suicide in 2014 in Arizona. His suicide note ended with "My soul is already dead. Marijuana killed my soul + ruined my brain." In my years of advocacy for sharing warnings about the risks and harms of marijuana use, I found how difficult it is for a family reeling in grief for their loss to share broadly with others.
Heather's book is masterful in its mix of science and the telling of their son Randy Michael's journey through addiction and ultimately to suicide, then the grief/healing process for the family.
This is an important book, especially for families raising children in this world that is not protecting public health as they promote and protect the cannabis addiction-for-profit industry.
March 7, 2026
Twin Cities mom writes about her son's cannabis addiction and suicide
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews