Debunking The Myth Of “Medical” Marijuana

This is family policy matter program is produced by the North Carolina family policy Council of profamily research and education organization dedicated to strengthening and preserving the family, and often the studio hears John Rushton, president of the North Carolina family policy Council you for joining us this week. Profamily policy matters.

It is our pleasure to have Dr. Kevin said that with us on the program. Dr. Sabella is the director of the drug policy Institute at the University of Florida and the cofounder of project spam or smart approaches to marijuana from 2009 to 2011, he served as senior advisor at the White House office of national drug control policy under the Obama administration.

Prior to this, he served as a drug policy advisor to both Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton.

He blogs regularly at the Huffington Post and has been featured on the front page of the New York Times and virtually every major media publication and news channel on the subject of drug policy. Dr. Sabella is with us to talk about his recent book, refer sanity seven great myths about marijuana doctors about.

Thanks much for joining us on family policy matters area. Thanks for having what we really appreciate your time. As we begin I just want to jump right into your excellent book, which examines seven myths about marijuana that are prevalent in our society. The first myth that you cover is that marijuana is generally harmless and nonaddictive. We hear this claim, more and more frequently today than ever before, and not just from marijuana advocacy groups. If you would Dr. give some specific examples of why marijuana is not only addictive, but that it is extremely dangerous blogger question. You know a lot of people think that addiction has to be that you're in the forward R you're having pilot shakes and need to go to the hospital. In reality, addiction simply means your brain were members of the ward had from doing something I want to do it again, regardless of the consequences and want to do it over and over and over, and that is exactly what we see with some marijuana users. You don't come out here to say that every single users can have an addiction problem or a lot of problems with the issue is the earlier you start in these days kids are starting early specially with the mixed messages they're getting, the more likely water damage your brain and become addicted, wanted for 14-year-olds who try marijuana will become one in 616-year-olds will become addicted.

If you start when you're adult, which is much rarer these days. I used to break the chances are a lot lower, something like one intent so clearly it's a problem for some people, nothing at all for everybody.

However, there are really does interfere with the brain's reward mechanism.

The brain circuitry and it can be a major issue for some people unfortunately the messages today are that no it's totally harmless to plants and you how bad can it be today's marijuana. It is so much stronger than it used to be something for 10 times stronger. Depending on where you are more than that in many places like Colorado and California and selecting a lot of people have kind of misconception based on baby 40 years ago when experimented with it. You know this is not your Woodstock is led to the increase in the potency of marijuana that we see today versus what we may have seen back in the 60s while first colleges become a lot better at agriculture having selective breeding techniques are so much better than the use Creek and quickly back in the 60s you would want Mexican marijuana because that is the kind of marijuana that actually you know what stronger these days.

Marijuana user you want strong marijuana that you don't want you want US ground because we've done a much better job at the end would be indoor grows which you don't all kinds of bodily pesticides and mold found on those. We also did a great job with outdoor growing and so you know, we learn to increase the Pope remembers the potency comes from one molecule one component in marijuana ethical THC and THC would learn to increase that component and therefore we can learn to Chris about what that's interesting. I think that's important for our listeners understand that drugs were talking about today is much more potent than what was typically available in and used in in prior decades, doctors about another common myth that we hear from advocates of medical marijuana here in North Carolina those of the proposing and pushing legislation in our general assembly is that marijuana is quote legitimate medicine now you address this claim in your book with a chart of no yes and maybe response what you include important distinctions explained that for us if you would. How do you answer this question. Well, you answer the same way you answer the question opium is not smoked. We don't smoke opium to get the effect of working right, but we do have powerful important medicine becomes appropriate since things with marijuana. There are well.

Although we don't have yet the evidence likely to work.

The exact comparison, but the analogy is similar.

We can derive medical components from marijuana and and we should do the research. I think we should deftly do the research.

I don't think that every single person says that they're getting relief fly. However, absolutely no stretch of the imagination. Does it meet the criteria for medicine today. We don't smoke medicines, which is generally how the medical marijuana views, and because we can't go south to plant is no way to do that. So what we really need to do is do the research and its down to have medical purposes. We should we should have them available in a pharmacy and from your doctor.

Unfortunately, people of native exception marijuana and that you know for not to have it at a pharmacy rock. How did she get a real prescription. What is that what you have to do is go to a store around the corner. That part of town and talk to somebody with zero medical.

Tell you something that had no quality control that you can tell you smoke that's ridiculous… It's in your concept that's been totally turned around and it comes back to the movement to legalize marijuana, legitimize one with the legalization advocates officially say that we can change the face of marijuana from the lazy 30-year-old to the ailing 80-year-old girl when the debate what they've done. They changed so that now the space of marijuana is the ailing 80-year-old and baby that's been very smart. Unfortunately, it is good and it also quickly.

I think it has the effect of actually doing less research on marijuana should be done because it's by no scientific organization, see medical marijuana as a ruse for legalization shelter product double effect.

I think what we have certainly argued that exact thing here in North Carolina that the push for medical marijuana is really just a room and pardon the pun, but really just a smokescreen for full legalization of recreational use. How have you seen this approach utilized in various states that have not only approved marijuana for recreational use but also for medical marijuana for medical use and in the states that have approved it for medical use but not recreational use.

DC continued efforts of the proponents of marijuana legalization coming back and pushing over and over and over again for broader legalization will absolutely start with medical, way to loosen, so to speak, and that they go to full legalization after that nothing would happen every single statement makes you cheer for years. No, no, this is only about getting it to people who are really ill and then a couple years later the thinking will come back and say well you know what that for a few years looking for legalization is always how codes affect the playbook and you know the reality is less than 2% of medical marijuana holders throughout the country have cancer, HIV, clock, multiple roasted etc. and so if this was really about those dying of cancer you we might have to say.

Well we have some compassion. The only thing that they really dying in six months you cannot make chaotic the reality is over 98% of that has nothing to do with those chronic and terminal conditions. In reality it's just another excuse to marijuana state after state where they introduce medical first and then go to full legalization about another method to tackle in the book and this is something that we often hear as well is the comparison between marijuana and alcohol and tobacco, which of course are legal products first is marijuana more dangerous.

In terms of its harm to young people, alcohol, and tobacco. And secondly, what lessons can we learn from the tobacco and alcohol industries when it comes to the push to legalize marijuana well.

Every drug has different effects. I really don't think that the comparison actually makes sense on any level that would you know my analogy for that comparison between alcohol tobacco and marijuana is sort of like telling a young person you want to jump out of the eight story floor. The 12 story or the 20th story. Obviously, the eight were you might be better than the 20th story, but the end of the day. They have the same result you want the young person to do any of it.

And that's exactly how I see alcohol, cigarettes, and they're all bad for young people. They interfere with the brain course, we do know that would tobacco you don't get intoxicated, get high, so you can drive a car cigarette you will not be psychoactive, intoxicated, your brain will not be changed from that of government intoxication standpoint, so there are some differences. Alcohol also. We know that with regard to intelligence and things like that alcohol does not have the same effect.

Marijuana.

Marijuana were put on other levels. Alcohol share, so you don't begin comparison, but it's something that the legalize is used a lot because they are trying to appeal to our sense prickly consistency we want to be perfect.

If you we say well alcohol's harmful legal shouldn't other things that are harmful also be linked proportionally at the terrible Arctic because the reality legalization of alcohol has been a constructive public health policy. Nobody you want to go back to prohibition question entirely, but from a public review and delivery of alcohol is legal quickly been around for the Old Testament 5000 years clock and use what culture that's not the thing with marijuana in terms of the mainstream.

So you think about the people bring up a lot. One of the most powerful point you make in your book is that legalizing marijuana will ultimately create a new generation of heavy marijuana users as you point out in industry can't be built on just casual users. It really is dependent upon heavy users. How is marijuana being marketed in states like Colorado and Washington where recreational use is legal that is exacerbating this problem of the development of heavy users.

While this is where I think the powerful argument legalization and that is we are essentially creating the next big tobacco farmer and we don't feel like that because no one is always been underground. It's always been the counterculture mainstream once it becomes more mainstream and normal life then have a massive industry. Frankly, just like you on the street just like all the tobacco industry and I think the best analogy actually is the tobacco industry because you now have actors in the marijuana medical or otherwise, who their only goal is to make money as you said the only way to make money in an addictive business is to encourage a lot of people to use in a very heavy irresponsible way, even when you're telling them to use responsible. You know the tobacco they will always say well were not really targeting kids respect people adults to use occasionally. If that were the case, they would have made no money make money off of somebody smoking with your other birthday they make money off of that person soaking a pack a day and they have to they have to advertise and promote affection and you have to start young because your life Republican. Are you having very few of us know smokers who are battling smoking addiction started when they were 30 and I just knocked out of Jacob start when you're 50 or younger, and with marijuana.

We are saying the exact same thing as a massive new corporate industry that has started and we describe where… More than anything else, because I think the most surprising thing out of everything that is that this is not about deepening Kumbaya. You know, peace, love and understanding. Now for corporate entities with huge hedge fund funding mechanisms and Wall Street folks who are really trying to become billionaires with just about out of time for this week, but I want to give you an opportunity to let our listeners know where they can go to learn more about your excellent book and to get a copy of your book reefer sanity actually wanted to go on Amazon and look up reefer. Kennedy 71, and also go to the website, which is just reefer sanity.net my own website with all kinds of articles is simply my name.com and then we have our website of the organization that we started Sam and learn about family got worked out they can read all about science there as well. Dr. comes about. I want to thank you so much for taking time out of your very busy schedule to join us and assure this really insightful information on family policy matters actually don't think you so much for having me, hopefully to your family. Policy matters is information and analysis, future of the North Carolina family policy Council known as weekly discussion on policy issues affecting the family you have questions or comments, please contact 91 907-0800 visit our website and see family