The Escambia County Children’s Policy Council will be presenting an educational program about the truth of marijuana at Flomaton High School’s auditorium at 6 p.m. on Thurs., April 26.

The guest speaker is Anthony Pollard.

The objective of the presentation is to educate and inform students, parents and the general public about the dangers of marijuana, according to council officials.

“Nationally, marijuana is losing the stigma of being socially damaging,” Children’s Policy Council Chairman and District Judge Jeff White. “Recreational use has been legalized in several states and there are movements in many other states for legalization. Our intent is to present some of the facts relating to addiction, physiological effects on the adolescent body, and it’s damaging effects on our community.”

The program is open to the public.

The Drugs Erase Dreams Program was established through the leadership of Circuit Judge Dave Jordan, when he served as the chairman of the Children’s Policy Council. Jordan, along with retired Circuit Judge Bradley Byrne, Ruth Harrell, Denise Carlee and others, wanted to establish an educational program to address the problem of substance abuse among young people.

Recently, the Escambia County Children’s Policy Council expanded the Drugs Erase Dreams program to include a five-hour course of instruction to further address the issue of substance abuse among youth.