In recent years, April 20, or 4/20, became a day marijuana users gathered to celebrate cannabis culture.
But this year, 4/20 got a healthy new spin with the help of Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, a member of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth). Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital joined Westchester County leaders and students from local schools in reclaiming the date as “Healthy Teen Brain Day,” a time to celebrate young people who refuse to use drugs. The hospital hosted a gathering at 4:20 p.m. that educated teens on the ways in which marijuana endangers brain development and wellbeing. Highlights included a giant inflatable brain exhibit, student testimonials and health information. One young attendee eloquently summed up the overall message of the day: “To have a healthy brain, you should abstain.”