Gupta: I changed my mind about weed

[Penny Lane 8,159]

(CNN) -- Over the last year, I have been working on a new documentary called "Weed." The title "Weed" may sound cavalier, but the content is not.

I traveled around the world to interview medical leaders, experts, growers and patients. I spoke candidly to them, asking tough questions. What I found was stunning.

Long before I began this project, I had steadily reviewed the scientific literature on medical marijuana from the United States and thought it was fairly unimpressive. Reading these papers five years ago, it was hard to make a case for medicinal marijuana. I even wrote about this in a TIME magazine article, back in 2009, titled "Why I would Vote No on Pot."

Well, I am here to apologize.

I apologize because I didn't look hard enough, until now. I didn't look far enough. I didn't review papers from smaller labs in other countries doing some remarkable research, and I was too dismissive of the loud chorus of legitimate patients whose symptoms improved on cannabis.

Instead, I lumped them with the high-visibility malingerers, just looking to get high. I mistakenly believed the Drug Enforcement Agency listed marijuana as a schedule 1 substance because of sound scientific proof. Surely, they must have quality reasoning as to why marijuana is in the category of the most dangerous drugs that have "no accepted medicinal use and a high potential for abuse."

They didn't have the science to support that claim, and I now know that when it comes to marijuana neither of those things are true. It doesn't have a high potential for abuse, and there are very legitimate medical applications. In fact, sometimes marijuana is the only thing that works.

Take the case of Charlotte Figi, who I met in Colorado. She started having seizures soon after birth. By age 3, she was having 300 a week, despite being on seven different medications. Medical marijuana has calmed her brain, limiting her seizures to 2 or 3 per month.

I have seen more patients like Charlotte first hand, spent time with them and come to the realization that it is irresponsible not to provide the best care we can as a medical community, care that could involve marijuana.

We have been terribly and systematically misled for nearly 70 years in the United States, and I apologize for my own role in that.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/08/health/gupta-changed-mind-marijuana/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

A great read.

[decocker 7,198]

I mistakenly believed the Drug Enforcement Agency listed marijuana as a schedule 1 substance because of sound scientific proof.

how any doctor could actually believe that is completely beyond me.

[Karee 4,190]

He must have gotten a hold of some good bud.

[Darnell 8,478]

Gupta? Sanjay?

No, la - he must report the news that supports the advertisers.

Now that there's a plethora of states where the weed is legal, there's actually advertisers to pay for spots for gear, growing systems, 'clinics', warehouse co-ops, and the whatnots.

I'm betting it was 'brought to his attention' by a local advertising sales rep, and he decided to 'dig more' to get to the truth.

wanker. #######.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

how any doctor could actually believe that is completely beyond me.

I been thinking about toking some again . help with my sleep problems

[spookyturtle 9,465]

I been thinking about toking some again . help with my sleep problems

A couple of shots of Jack and a few hits off a good joint should put you out for a while.

[Jacque67 7,328]

A couple of shots of Jack and a few hits off a good joint should put you out for a while.

You dissin me?

[spookyturtle 9,465]

You dissin me?

??

[decocker 7,198]

I been thinking about toking some again . help with my sleep problems

unfortunately, being in georgia, its not like you could go into a clinic and buy a strain that would help with sleep. not all marijuana gives the sleep effect. you should take up a new cause nature boy and fight for medical marijuana in georgia

[Karee 4,190]

??

Jack=Jacque? Just a guess.

[spookyturtle 9,465]

Jack=Jacque? Just a guess.

You are probably right. So he is a man who at times pretends to be a woman? Or a woman who pretends to be a man? Or maybe a transgender? Or a hermaphrodite? Quite a mess however you look at it.

[Danno 1,228]

One of the amusing aspects of having conversations with college students ... and liberals in general is their in inability to see past the intellectualization of an idea and look at real world application. My friends on the right or middle can most often do this, even if they disagree what the "real life" results might be.

(consider the ramifications of the welfare state as an example)

In an earlier time, one of the huge elements of any change in law would be the "distant effect" consideration...what mischief or evolving effects could this law lead to and would they overwhelm the good that this new move might deliver?

I have some very close people in Colorado who report the proliferation of these pot cafes and the ease at getting access to their product. One of these persons I refer to also smokes regularly.

We will have to see if these new laws, add to or detract from the community, if they harm more than help, if they infact do lead to a deleterious effect... in the long run.

It would seem to me when a city has more pot cafes than coffee shops, that should suggest, the writer is dishonest to hide behind a "medical purpose" argument.

Edited August 11, 2013 by Danno

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

One of the amusing aspects of having conversations with college students ... and liberals in general is their in inability to see past the intellectualization of an idea and look at real world application. My friends on the right or middle can most often do this, even if they disagree what the "real life" results might be.

(consider the ramifications of the welfare state as an example)

In an earlier time, one of the huge elements of any change in law would be the "distant effect" consideration...what mischief or evolving effects could this law lead to and would they overwhelm the good that this new move might deliver?

I have some very close people in Colorado who report the proliferation of these pot cafes and the ease at getting access to their product. One of these persons I refer to also smokes regularly.

We will have to see if these new laws, add to or detract from the community, if they harm more than help, if they infact do lead to a deleterious effect... in the long run.

It would seem to me when a city has more pot cafes than coffee shops, that should suggest, the writer is dishonest to hide behind a "medical purpose" argument.

I don't think anyone in their right mind really believes it is all about medical uses. Kind of like calling #######'s martial aids..I mean we all know, but it makes it easier to deal with

[Pooky 3,783]

Kind of like calling #######'s martial aids.

What kind of soldiers are we training these days?

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

What kind of soldiers are we training these days?

ones that go deep behind enemy lines?