Prominent Doctor Changes Mind on Medical Marijuana

Prominent Doctor Changes Mind on Medical Marijuana

Published on 8/11/13

Prominent Doctor Changes Mind on Medical Marijuana

Sanjay Gupta, a well-respected medical doctor and chief correspondent for CNN and CBS has written an article for CNN titled “Why I Changed My Mind on Weed.” In it Sanjay highlights the reasons he had trouble accepting marijuana as a possible treatment.  The Dr. States “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.”

 I think he fell into the same pit falls that most Americans

find themselves in when it comes to marijuana. Dr. Gupta believed the government had some sound science behind the schedule 1 substance rating of marijuana. This rating however is unfounded, and unfortunately those who use marijuana to treat chronic pain are often thrown in with those who “just want to get high” because of it. Unlike others Sanjay was able to see the errors of this line of thinking.

     After a grass roots experience of meeting those who suffer from diseases with the only current successful treatment is cannabis. “…neuropathic pain. It is a miserable pain that's tough to treat. My own patients have described it as "lancinating, burning and a barrage of pins and needles.". It is a miserable pain that's tough to treat. My own patients have described it as "lancinating, burning and a barrage of pins and needles."” Currently opiates are used to treat this illness with very limited effect. Patients often develop a tolerance to the drugs eliminating there success.

     If one of Americas most famous Neurosurgeons, who wrote a paper, “Why I would Vote No on Pot”. It takes a man with lots of character to admit when he held the wrong position. I hope many Americans  who currently hold Sanjay’s old opinion come to the same realization.

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