7 ms·

I'm glad that Gupta has made this public apology. It takes a lot of courage to make that statement especially for someone with great public influence. I'm just

by kyro 13y ago

I'm glad that Gupta has made this public apology. It takes a lot of courage to make that statement especially for someone with great public influence. I'm just curious as to why it took him this long. Medical marijuana has been prescribed in hospitals for some time with great benefit. I mean, just from a clinical standpoint, he should've seen the great upsides and limited downsides to using the drug. Patients, typically the elderly, with cachexia from cancer are often given marijuana to stimulate their appetite, and it works. Given its possible links with the development of Schizophrenia and the rest of its relatively mild side-effects, a quick and simple benefits/costs analysis should show that in many cases, its efficacy far outweighs the potential risks. A huge percentage of physicians today, as indicated in the article, would be supportive of a move to legalize it. And it has been this way for several years. I just do not understand why it took Gupta so many years, having to go to the ends of the earth to dig up research from various countries to come to that conclusion. My suspicion is that his initial viewpoint was more rooted in irrational bias and ignorance than in scientific evidence proving the drug's inefficacy. You can tell that by his mentioning of his children and how he wouldn't let them try marijuana, which is both irrelevant to the issue and an ignorant emotionally-charged argument commonly used when the topic of legalization (for medical use) is brought up. It's effectively "but remember the children!" The same could've been said for legalization of opioids and a myriad of other medications that have much more severe side-effects. And that really saddens me, because I've got great respect for the guy. I'm glad he's on what I believe to be the right side, but as someone with great influence in this country, with such an accomplished background, I feel he could've arrived to this conclusion much earlier, with much less data, and pushed for its medical legalization when the conversation was happening. All in all welcome aboard, Dr. Gupta. Please be a little more forward-thinking from here on out.

GhotiFish 13y ago
Are you sure. I've read several studies that shows marijuana has a habit of revealing or causing schizophrenia in youth, with almost no incidence in adults. I wouldn't let my kids smoke marijuana the same as any substance that might cause maldevelopment.
knowaveragejoe 13y ago
Being a bit pedantic here, I'd just like to point out that development of schizophrenia is not a mild side effect. With higher THC% strains, we have no idea the extent of latent mental disorders we're stimulating.
- kyro 13y ago
  Maybe my wording was confusing. I didn't mean to say Schizophrenia is a mild side-effect by any means. Rather, the most dangerous side-effect we know of is a possible link to the development of Schizophrenia, and other than that, the remaining side-effects are rather mild. In a 65yr old patient with advanced-stage cancer, development of Schizophrenia just is not high up on the list of concerns.
- duaneb 13y ago
  It's not clear whether the schizophrenia induced is stimulated or just aggravated—i.e., was the person already a schizophrenic with a high threshold for psychosis that the weed lowered? I don't think we'll know for a long time.
  - S_A_P 13y ago
    to add to that, its also highly likely (no pun intended) that someone who is schizophrenic would be aware something is not right and try to self medicate...
    - duaneb 13y ago
      From what I'm aware, Schizophrenia develops in the mid 20s—it's entirely possible someone could become a regular user before realizing they were schizophrenic. And (as I mentioned below) I've witnessed a weed-induced psychotic episode. I think it's highly unlikely someone would wish to continue after experiencing that.
    - hexagonc 13y ago
      Actually, I suspect that pre-schizophrenic people might use marijuana not for self-medication, because they think something is wrong, but rather because early onset schizophrenia may intensify the pleasurable effects of marijuana.
kevincrane 13y ago
For what it's worth, there is relatively recent research showing that marijuana can be harmful to brains as they're still developing ([1] is the first one I remember reading), so his recommendation that his kids avoid it until they're older is probably sound. That being said, yes, I'm glad there's a higher profile scientist speaking out in favor of marijuana legalization, or at least more even-handed research of it. [1] http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-squeaky-wheel/201208/study-finds-regular-marijuana-use-damages-teenage-brains http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-squeaky-wheel/201208...
- eikenberry 13y ago
  Long term longitudinal studies like the one referenced are inconclusive when taken in isolation. They really only work in relation to other studies, tracking already known traits. This study most likely indicates a correlation one or more other unknown traits in the individual and can in no way be taken to indicate what it claims in that article.
- kyro 13y ago
  But legalizing it for recreational and medicinal use are two completely different issues. This piece is about how he didn't believe in the therapeutic efficacy of marijuana as medical treatment and weighed too heavily the research outlining its side-effects. This is not about letting kids and adults smoke bowls and bowls of weed on their leisure time.
  - chc 13y ago
    I'm not sure it isn't. His argument in favor of legalization is centered around the medical benefits, but that doesn't mean he believes it should be blocked for other uses.
  - gavinlynch 13y ago
    But let's also be honest: The only reason most average people care about the issue of medical marijuana is because of their feelings attached to the recreational use of marijuana.
dkarl 13y ago
> I'm just curious as to why it took him this long. He's a media-savvy guy who was considered for surgeon general and has a career appearing on mainstream TV, including Oprah and Larry King Live. Someone like that can't afford to be too far ahead of the curve. I'd say this about-face means the marijuana legalization debate is ready to go national.
- gclaramunt 13y ago
  Or donning my tin foil hat, Monsanto is preparing the PR for its GM Cannabis
  - mscarborough 13y ago
    You don't have to put on a tin foil hat, as soon as marijuana is federally legal, Monsanto, Philip Morris, Camel cigarettes will be all ready to grow their own. It's kind of obvious that these folks have the farm land, distribution networks, and a lack of morals (not that MJ is immoral, but it would require a huge about-face), so they could just as easily do weed as tobacco. Replant fields and create some new packaging and you're ready to go.
    - JPKab 13y ago
      There is a tremendous, and key, difference in the amount of processing required for tobacco vs MJ. Tobacco has to be heavily cured and processed (not necessarily with chemicals, but certainly with lots of other methods) to be usable. It's not something that any old joe would want to do themselves due to how labor intensive it is. Plus, tobacco is a super finicky plant. MJ, once dried, can be used with zero processing. If you consider drying to be processing, then yes, its a one step process. Not saying that these folks wouldn't make plenty of money off of the convenience factor, but the barrier to entry for MJ wholesaling is much lower due to the reduced processing.
    - dkarl 13y ago
      Growing and selling marijuana will give cigarette companies their first favorable publicity in decades.
etler 13y ago
What do you mean by when the conversation was happening? I think it's still happening, and on the verge of a breakthrough point for legalization. Or do you mean when opinion was more against legalization, he could have helped speed it up?
mscarborough 13y ago
With my friends, neuroscience doctors are still "on the fence" with marijuana. It hasn't been tested enough, blah blah. I stopped using a long while back, it did not agree with me. Should it be illegal? No, plenty of people are OK with it.

by kyro 13y ago

GhotiFish 13y ago

Are you sure. I've read several studies that shows marijuana has a habit of revealing or causing schizophrenia in youth, with almost no incidence in adults. I wouldn't let my kids smoke marijuana the same as any substance that might cause maldevelopment.

knowaveragejoe 13y ago

Being a bit pedantic here, I'd just like to point out that development of schizophrenia is not a mild side effect. With higher THC% strains, we have no idea the extent of latent mental disorders we're stimulating.

kyro 13y ago
Maybe my wording was confusing. I didn't mean to say Schizophrenia is a mild side-effect by any means. Rather, the most dangerous side-effect we know of is a possible link to the development of Schizophrenia, and other than that, the remaining side-effects are rather mild. In a 65yr old patient with advanced-stage cancer, development of Schizophrenia just is not high up on the list of concerns.
duaneb 13y ago
It's not clear whether the schizophrenia induced is stimulated or just aggravated—i.e., was the person already a schizophrenic with a high threshold for psychosis that the weed lowered? I don't think we'll know for a long time.
- S_A_P 13y ago
  to add to that, its also highly likely (no pun intended) that someone who is schizophrenic would be aware something is not right and try to self medicate...
  - duaneb 13y ago
    From what I'm aware, Schizophrenia develops in the mid 20s—it's entirely possible someone could become a regular user before realizing they were schizophrenic. And (as I mentioned below) I've witnessed a weed-induced psychotic episode. I think it's highly unlikely someone would wish to continue after experiencing that.
  - hexagonc 13y ago
    Actually, I suspect that pre-schizophrenic people might use marijuana not for self-medication, because they think something is wrong, but rather because early onset schizophrenia may intensify the pleasurable effects of marijuana.

kevincrane 13y ago

For what it's worth, there is relatively recent research showing that marijuana can be harmful to brains as they're still developing ([1] is the first one I remember reading), so his recommendation that his kids avoid it until they're older is probably sound. That being said, yes, I'm glad there's a higher profile scientist speaking out in favor of marijuana legalization, or at least more even-handed research of it. [1] http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-squeaky-wheel/201208/study-finds-regular-marijuana-use-damages-teenage-brains http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-squeaky-wheel/201208...

eikenberry 13y ago
Long term longitudinal studies like the one referenced are inconclusive when taken in isolation. They really only work in relation to other studies, tracking already known traits. This study most likely indicates a correlation one or more other unknown traits in the individual and can in no way be taken to indicate what it claims in that article.
kyro 13y ago
But legalizing it for recreational and medicinal use are two completely different issues. This piece is about how he didn't believe in the therapeutic efficacy of marijuana as medical treatment and weighed too heavily the research outlining its side-effects. This is not about letting kids and adults smoke bowls and bowls of weed on their leisure time.
- chc 13y ago
  I'm not sure it isn't. His argument in favor of legalization is centered around the medical benefits, but that doesn't mean he believes it should be blocked for other uses.
- gavinlynch 13y ago
  But let's also be honest: The only reason most average people care about the issue of medical marijuana is because of their feelings attached to the recreational use of marijuana.

dkarl 13y ago

> I'm just curious as to why it took him this long. He's a media-savvy guy who was considered for surgeon general and has a career appearing on mainstream TV, including Oprah and Larry King Live. Someone like that can't afford to be too far ahead of the curve. I'd say this about-face means the marijuana legalization debate is ready to go national.

gclaramunt 13y ago
Or donning my tin foil hat, Monsanto is preparing the PR for its GM Cannabis
- mscarborough 13y ago
  You don't have to put on a tin foil hat, as soon as marijuana is federally legal, Monsanto, Philip Morris, Camel cigarettes will be all ready to grow their own. It's kind of obvious that these folks have the farm land, distribution networks, and a lack of morals (not that MJ is immoral, but it would require a huge about-face), so they could just as easily do weed as tobacco. Replant fields and create some new packaging and you're ready to go.
  - JPKab 13y ago
    There is a tremendous, and key, difference in the amount of processing required for tobacco vs MJ. Tobacco has to be heavily cured and processed (not necessarily with chemicals, but certainly with lots of other methods) to be usable. It's not something that any old joe would want to do themselves due to how labor intensive it is. Plus, tobacco is a super finicky plant. MJ, once dried, can be used with zero processing. If you consider drying to be processing, then yes, its a one step process. Not saying that these folks wouldn't make plenty of money off of the convenience factor, but the barrier to entry for MJ wholesaling is much lower due to the reduced processing.
  - dkarl 13y ago
    Growing and selling marijuana will give cigarette companies their first favorable publicity in decades.

etler 13y ago

What do you mean by when the conversation was happening? I think it's still happening, and on the verge of a breakthrough point for legalization. Or do you mean when opinion was more against legalization, he could have helped speed it up?

mscarborough 13y ago

With my friends, neuroscience doctors are still "on the fence" with marijuana. It hasn't been tested enough, blah blah. I stopped using a long while back, it did not agree with me. Should it be illegal? No, plenty of people are OK with it.