October 20, 2010 | 11:18 AM | By

Prop19 physician faceoff: Does weed cause health problems?

FILED UNDER: Politics, Elections, Marijuana, Proposition 19

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With all the hoopla over Proposition 19, the ballot initiative that would legalize recreational marijuana, Monday’s Forum over at KQED tackled what is perhaps the most important question surrounding marijuana use: what are its health effects?

The hour (audio above), featured a physician face-off between Dr. Timmen Cermak, president of the California Society of Addiction Medicine  (who says marijuana has addictive potential) and Dr. Larry Bedard, former president of the American College of Emergency Physicians (who says there’s no evidence of marijuana addiction). Here’s a play-by-play:

  • Will kids start smoking more? There are some studies that show diminished educational achievement and cognitive deficits among kids who smoke once a week or so. Cermak’s concern is that if legalized, adolescents might get the impression that there’s no danger in smoking pot (as the impression seems to be with alcohol). And adolescents (as with alcohol) have more of a likelihood to become addicted, or experience neurological side-effects. Bedard argues that a legal source would at least ensure that the market for marijuana (even if still black market for minors) would be different from sources of cocaine, ecstacy, and heroin. Furthermore, he contests that a correlation between pot use and achievement actually means that marijuana causes this negative effect.
  • Does smoking marijuana cause cancer or emphysema? Both doctors agree that there is no evidence that smoking marijuana (unlike smoking cigarettes) causes either. Cermak pointed out that it can take time to see the effects of drug use, and would not conclusively say it couldn’t cause cancer. Bedard said he could ask a room full of physicians this question: if you could give a magic pill to your patients who are alcoholics and convert them to having a dependency on marijuana, would you do it? Bedard said every physician would.
  • Does marijuana cause or enhance psychological issues? A caller to the program suggested a correlation between pot smoking and schizophrenia. Another asked if there’s an issue with motivation and marijuana. Cermak pointed to a Swedish study that found a slightly higher incidence of schizophrenia in marijuana users (I have never heard of this correlation before, personally. Is it a widespread question?) The bigger debate between physicians was really over the motivation question. Cermak pointed out that when smoking marijuana, anandamide is produced in the brain, which makes everything seem novel–even walking down the hall to the bathroom. After the effects wear off, comparatively, nothing seems novel. Bedard countered that some of the most motivated kids he knows–captain of the football team at Redwood high, honor students, etc.–carry medical marijuana cards. Because their parents don’t want their success derailed by a police encounter.

Interestingly, Dr. Cermak did not actually say he opposes Proposition 19. He actually, instead, pushed a different agenda: that funds collected through a tax on marijuana (if legalization comes into being) should be used for research and treatment for drug users. Bedard is for Prop 19. What do you think: marijuana health problems–real questions or scare tactics?

  • Anonymous

    Why is it that nobody inquires into the health effects of prison? Does prison cause or enhance psychological issues? If so, how should we punish the prohibitionists who put harmless people into cages?

  • Anonymous

    It isn’t that cannabis, alcohol or other drugs “get people hooked” by themselves. Many people give these substances a try and hate it and never want to see it again. What IS true, however, is that 10% or so of human beings have addictive personalities. This has always been true. Take these people and get them away from drugs, including the drug alcohol, and follow their lives, and you will see their compulsion in everything that is pleasurable for them. They will exhibit the same addictive behavior with coffee, cigarettes, gambling, being on the internet, you name it. Why should the law keep cannabis away from people who handle it very well, in a futile attempt to protect these people from themselves? Aside from that, there is the societal problems that come with prohibition. Prohibition didn’t work in the 20′s, and it doesn’t work now, nor will it ever work.

  • YES on 19

    The point is not whether cannabis is risk-free. Of course it’s not. The question is: should we criminalize adult risk-taking? By this logic, junk food would be illegal as would alcohol, extramarital sex, motorcycles, hang gliding, and many many other things we take for granted in a free society.

    It’s scientifically well established that the risks associated with cannabis are lower than those associated with alcohol. If an adult wants to relax with a less dangerous substance than alcohol, it is immoral for the government to criminalize that rational choice.

    YES on 19!

  • Fucku

    weed is not at all harmful. it should have been made legal 40 years ago. it is not addictive like alcohol, when im drunk and driving i cant stay in the same lane, when im high and driving, im so much better then when im sober

  • doctor-K

    Cannabis should have never been illegal in the first place. Its “illegality” is not based on any science, just on lies, distortions of fact, and blatant racism. The truth is that Cannabis is less physically addictive than caffeine, and that it may also serve as a much “safer alternative” to alcohol and/or hard drugs. Another Cannabis product, hemp, was used by humans since time immemorial! It is fully recognized that Cannabis use SUPPRESSES VIOLENT BEHAVIOR, and that Cannabis may be used to help not only treat, but to also prevent some devastating illnesses such as cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.

    The fact is that Cannabis has been used by humans for thousands of years exactly because there are so many ways in which this remarkable plant can help us and our planet. So, it is naive to presume that a bunch of fear-mongerers can change this fact, no matter how loud and untruthful they become! I worked in addiction medicine for years, and Cannabis use was the least of my problems, so I do recognize that classifying Cannabis in the same group as heroin and cocaine is one of the greatest scientific fallacies of our times. The so-called “gateway” drug theory was found to be totally invalid, and a very recent large study called this “theory” half-baked. It is simply untrue scientifically.

    As Kathleen Parker aptly observed on CNN couple of days ago, “To say that most hard drug addicts start with marijuana is the same as to say that all rapists start with masturbation”. Yeah, that’s about it! Cannabis is not physically addictive, as there is no clearly definable and reproducible physical withdrawal syndrome, observed with alcohol or opiate withdrawal, for example. A recent large study denied any connection between smoking Cannabis and a risk for lung cancer. Quite the opposite, Cannabis use is being found to have some preventative role with such serious conditions as cancer and Alzheimer’s disease, and according to the latest research, Cannabis may even be an “exit substance” for recovering alcoholics/hard drug/prescription drug abusers. Cannabis criminalization leads to horrendous Civil Rights violations around the country. YES to Cannabis re-Legalization! YES on Cali Prop. 19!

  • Touchetaddison

    we should just pimp smack em.

  • Roy Hanson

    Marijuana can cause the heart beat to increase by 20 to 50 beats per
    minute, and can increase even more if other drugs are used at the same
    time. -Tire Works

  • http://www.facebook.com/prettystephlove Stephanie Kaye Lopez

    The study, which involved a large population sample (1,200 people with
    lung, neck, or head cancer, and a matching group of 1,040 without
    cancer) found no correlation between marijuana smoking and increased lung cancer risk, with the same being true for head and neck cancers
    as well. The results indicated no correlation between long and
    short-term cannabis use and cancer, indicating a possible therapeutic
    effect -Ron D. Smith