This story originally appeared on MomsStrong.org
It’s criminal to legalize THC marijuana, a powerful and addictive drug, that is killing our youth in so many ways. The death of my innocent 22 year old daughter is another tragic example.
I must admit to you that is gets harder to keep retelling the tragic end of my daughter’s life. I feel compelled not to use the word “story” because it makes it seem like this is fictional account, which this is not!
My daughter Jennifer Corinne H. was vibrant, intelligent, and so driven to be a productive and meaningful member of our society. She was tall, had the most beautiful hair and the brightest smile, with green eyes to match. Jen played lacrosse so well and earned herself a college scholarship to a small school in Northern Ohio where she blossomed into an incredible woman.
She graduated with honors in May of 2012 with a degree in Intelligence and Analysis Research. She now spoke Spanish and Arabic fluently and could translate both languages, which in the world of today is critical in her field.
My heart swelled with pride as she accepted her diploma and glided across the stage. Her goal was to work for the FBI or another intelligence organization. Her work as an intern for HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking of Ohio) earned her a plaque stating she made outstanding contributions to the program. But shortly before graduation, she attended a job fair where another company, which was out of her field of study, offered her a position as a district manager with high pay and many other benefits. She accepted with the understanding, which she voiced to me, that this was a stepping stone to her career.
After a cruise with a friend to celebrate her years of hard work, she began her new job. Not more than a couple of weeks into training, one of the store managers she oversaw called her at about 12:30 a.m. to say there was an alarm going off in her store. She asked Jennifer to meet her at the store, and my daughter, being the responsible person she was, got up, got dressed, and made her way to the location in her new Camry, given to her as one of the perks.
As she crossed an intersection not far from her home, a man came racing through the intersection at 82mph, speeding through the red light. He slammed into the side of my daughter’s car, sending it over the embankment and straight into the front wall of a Lube Stop building, collapsing it on Jennifer’s car.
Jennifer passed away at the scene from the severe injuries she sustained. The 26-year-old man who caused her death was not injured. He was high on “medical marijuana” given to him in his home state of Michigan. He was just passing through our state and decided he would break every law and kill my daughter.
After he took a plea and his charges were severely reduced to a felony 3, he spent a total of only 15 months in prison. This man had several previous OVI charges and run-ins with the law. He admitted he was smoking marijuana before the crash, and there was marijuana in the car. His life goes on with a slap on the wrist and our life is devastated forever. He obtained this marijuana legally which is another slap in the face for our family.
Every day of my life is difficult now. I see all of my daughter’s friends getting married and starting their families. These events were taken away from Jennifer and our family. The pain I live with is so intense that, as I write this account, tears of sadness and pain run down my cheeks. The world has lost a beautiful woman and one who would have made a difference.
My mission is to tell the account of what took her incredible life away so that others become aware of the dangers on our roads. It’s criminal to legalize this powerful and addictive drug that is killing our youth in so many ways. We need to wake up to what this is really about and become aware of how we are just pawns in the game plan of the marijuana industry.
By: Jennifer’s Mom, Corrine
Ohio
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