Hey there Redditors -- Sanjay here! I’m a practicing neurosurgeon… CNN’s chief medical correspondent… a husband, dad to 3 beautiful daughters… and according to some of my twitter followers, they jokingly dubbed me the “Wolf of WEED Street” (more on that later!). I’m in Colorado today reporting LIVE on CNN from a marijuana dispensary and grow facility. In between my live shots, I’m going to be answering your questions. To confirm, I’m Dr_SanjayGupta on Reddit and @DrSanjayGupta on Twitter.

Proof

Stepping away to do a quick liveshot from CNN from the dispensary I’m at in Colorado. Be back in a few to answer a few final questions!

Redditors! I really enjoyed this conversation today. Thank you for sharing your stories, for asking thoughtful questions and for your role in helping break down the stigma surround medical marijuana. It’s important to focus on the science. And the science is now clearer than ever. Let’s continue this conversation tonight! I’ll be tweeting LIVE (@drsanjaygupta) this evening during the debut of my follow-up Weed documentary -- ‘Weed 2: Cannabis Madness’ debuts tonight at 10p ET on CNN. Thank you again, Reddit. This AMA was the highlight of my day here in Colorado. Have me back again sometime?

Comments: 3542 • Responses: 47  • Date: 

photodude1809 karma

Given all your activities and travels, how much time are you able to spend as a surgeon at Emory? (side note: your "boss" there, Dr. Daniel Barrow, saved my life by clipping an unruptured aneurysm in 2010, and made it feel no worse than a really harsh haircut)

Dr_SanjayGupta1875 karma

I love neurosurgery, and still operate every week. It is a big part of my life, and my first true love! Dan Barrow is terrific, and a great boss.

blade24958 karma

How many surgeries do you perform in a week on average?

Dr_SanjayGupta1628 karma

Anywhere between 5 and 10

blade24758 karma

Wow. Thanks for the reply. One more question, did you ever think about going into other surgery specialties like general surgery or orthopedic?

Dr_SanjayGupta1109 karma

I seriously thought about transplant surgery. I loved the operations and the immunology that was involved.

thnkblu1745 karma

Have you smoked weed? You can say it was for science.

Dr_SanjayGupta2463 karma

I have tried it before.

snarffelupogus1317 karma

How was your experience?

Dr_SanjayGupta2694 karma

It made me a little anxious!

rogerrrr676 karma

If you don't mind me asking, what was the context of this? Were you just a teenager experimenting, or was there a more serious motive behind this?

Dr_SanjayGupta1642 karma

Nope, just tried it. Nothing more serious about it than that.

bravecoward1644 karma

Ever considered an "in-depth" investigation into weed with one Anthony Bourdain?

Dr_SanjayGupta2328 karma

No - But that's a great idea. I'll give Anthony a call after this session.

workalotmore1682 karma

session

Interesting choice of words given the topic at hand. :)

Dr_SanjayGupta1572 karma

really? why?

makhouse1504 karma

I'm just here to say a big thank you to saving my grandpa's life several years ago with a pituitary tumor removal. He talks about you very often and your brilliance. My family and I all thank you.

Dr_SanjayGupta1380 karma

Thank you so much for this note. I will really treasure it, and I'm glad your grandpa is doing so well.

skyscrapersbuiltdown1068 karma

Are you getting any pushback from CNN executives/higher ups about this?

Dr_SanjayGupta1654 karma

No! There has been no push-back about this and we have stuck to very sound science in our reporting.

Mutt1223944 karma

They're right behind you aren't they?

Dr_SanjayGupta1144 karma

ha! nope. all by myself here in edwards, colorado

artisticchipmunk637 karma

Can you post a picture of the grow room you were just in on CNN?

Dr_SanjayGupta2176 karma

skyscrapersbuiltdown601 karma

Thanks for replying!

This might get buried but I just thought to ask, as a neurosurgeon would you recommend medical marijuana to traumatic brain injury patients?

Dr_SanjayGupta1092 karma

So glad you asked about this. I think we will get to the point where this is a viable treatment option. You should look at the data around patent 6630507. It is a patent held by our own department of health and human services for this very reason.

fellinsoccer14924 karma

Dr. Gupta

Thank you for participating in the AMA. Does your recent change of heart considering medical marijuana have any impact on your standing for recreational use?

Dr_SanjayGupta1428 karma

I have been focused on medical marijuana because I believe it can stand on its own merits.

katraya730 karma

Dr. Gupta, what is something cool about the human body that has stuck out to you in your neurosurgery practice?

Dr_SanjayGupta1818 karma

I am fascinated by the areas of the brain that control speech -- left temporal lobe. You can develop conditions where you can speak and write without difficulty, but cannot understand speech or read. In fact, there are people who can write something down, but then are unable to read what they just wrote.

Oster22682 karma

Dr. Gupta,

Firstly, thank you for taking the time to participate in the AMA. I wanted to inquire as to what your thoughts are on marijuana for recreational use.

Given your preliminary research, aside from the apparent short term psychological alterations that occur in the brain, what do you feel could be the long term negative aspects AND positive aspects of consistent recreational use of marijuana? Often times, the positive aspects of recreational use are overlooked and I would be curious to hear your thoughts on what they could be (for example, a glass of red wine each day has been determined to have a positive effect on your long-term heart health).

Thank you for your time, reporting and research!

Dr_SanjayGupta1117 karma

I think that in the developing brain - which neuroscience says is below the age of 25 - I have concerns about consistent marijuana use. Beyond that, there has not been much science to show long-term negative side effects for marijuana use. We do have CB receptors throughout our body and we know that our body makes cannabinoids. So we are learning more and more about the potential positive benefits of cannabis.

lancelongstiff597 karma

For perspective, what does neuroscience say about the effect of consistent alcohol, or even caffeine use on the developing brain? Thanks in advance.

Dr_SanjayGupta1173 karma

Good point. I wouldn't recommend alcohol use for the developing brain either!

Average_Joseph580 karma

Do you see the southern states making any progress on marijuana legalization in the next five years?

Dr_SanjayGupta959 karma

If they pay attention to the science I think there will be considerable progress in the next five years.

samoajoe22613 karma

If they pay attention to the science

So "no" then.

n1ck_n4m3419 karma

GA is on track to legalize medicinal use, though not of the actual plant matter. It's the most restrictive medicinal use law on the books in the USA, but it passed the GA House with something like a 171-4 vote count.

They actually used science to determine the restrictions and targets -- e.g., it's restricted solely to cancer patients who have tried chemo unsuccessfully, seizure patients who are responsive to the cannabinoids, and one other patient group I can't remember offhand. It's also only cannabidiol (I think I spelled that right). All of that was based on the science that proved that those were what they considered legitimate uses of the product.

Are they overlooking many other potential uses of cannabis? Sure. Do I still think it's a damn good start? I do.

So not everyone in the south is as unscientific as you think we are, for being in the bible belt, I'm pretty impressed that it looks like GA will have a med law on the books approved in 2014. Just waiting on that senate...

Dr_SanjayGupta583 karma

You make a very good point. There is good evidence that the whole plant is better than single compound drugs. Take a look at this blog I wrote: http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/11/health/gupta-marijuana-entourage/index.html?hpt=he_c1 - But I agree that this is a good start.

Dr_SanjayGupta677 karma

It is already happening now, in states like Georgia and Florida

finnish-viking566 karma

What is the best method of ingestion in your opinion?

Dr_SanjayGupta1614 karma

It is probably vaporizing. I think smoking creates a lot of byproducts that we don't know enough about. I think eating it leads to very uneven absorption. Vaporizing seems to activate the medicine without burning it. I also think oils absorbed in the mouth are effective, especially for kids.

BudDoc542 karma

Dr. Gupta,

Why isn't the federal government taking cannabis off of Schedule I? Can you talk to your boy Barack and make that happen?

Dr_SanjayGupta1110 karma

It's a great question, and was the focus of an op-ed i wrote back in August. (link: http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/08/health/gupta-changed-mind-marijuana/)

I don't think marijuana meets the criteria for schedule 1. That would mean it is among the most dangerous substances and has no medicinal benefit. Neither of those statements are factual.

papersplz513 karma

Dr. Gupta, what is the best thing someone can do in a state where cannabis is currently illegal to make it legal?

Dr_SanjayGupta1008 karma

Make sure to talk to your representative and arm yourself with the science. Hopefully our documentary airing tonight on CNN (10p et) will help you with that.

majungo512 karma

Dr. Gupta, how do you feel that being Surgeon General would have affected your career long-term?

Dr_SanjayGupta915 karma

I am great fan of public service and have worked in the White House previously. I was surprised to learn that as Surgeon General, I would have not been able to practice surgery. I love that part of my life and would have missed taking care of patients in the operating room.

DerpyGrooves552 karma

My father is a doctor who majored in public health, and your programs on cannabis, from a medical standpoint, have absolutely shifted his views in a big way.

My uncle, his brother-in-law, recently passed away from liver cancer- and cannabis oil helped him immensely, in addition to traditional treatment, in stimulating his appetite and increasing his quality of life.

This isn't a question, I just wanted to thank you for advocating for people like my uncle. My father, now, endorses cannabis-augmented therapy to patients in a similar situation to my uncle, something that I could not in a million years imagine happening even a decade ago.

Dr_SanjayGupta524 karma

Thank you for your note. So sorry to hear about your uncle. I am glad your father is considering the science on this issue. He could help a lot of people in the process.

Murk_monst3r428 karma

Do you feel that mainstream media is partially to blame for perpetuating the stoner stereotype & hurting the progress of legalization? When in reality a lot of motivated creative healthy successful people use cannabis responsibly?

Dr_SanjayGupta770 karma

Yes but there is plenty of blame to go around. Because of the stigma, so many of those 'creative healthy sucessful people' are fearful to be open about this.

5ystemic29408 karma

Does smoking hurt your memory or is this myth?

Dr_SanjayGupta869 karma

It seems to affect everybody in the short-term. But it has more of a long-term impact in people who use it while their brain is still developing (roughly anyone under the age of 25).

pbandjamiee211 karma

Hello! Fellow NHS graduate here, and I wanted to let you know that I love all your work! What was the craziest memory you had while living in Novi? Also, did people smoke marijuana as much as they do now while you attended NHS? Thank you for your time!

Dr_SanjayGupta308 karma

When I lived in Novi, it was a pretty sleepy small town. The craziest memory I have is when the horses escaped from the farm at 8 mile road and meadowbrook. I don't remember seeing much marijuana around when I lived there. So how much IS there now?

seemefly1201 karma

If you could write the bill for legalization of marijuana, what special details would you include?

Dr_SanjayGupta415 karma

The bill I would write would be a federal bill, not a state bill. It would include many different strains of cannabis from a whole plant extract. I would want these medicines to be researched and tested to ensure they are safe and effective.

s_mw194 karma

What is your favorite food or dish?

Dr_SanjayGupta459 karma

Ice cream! (my guilty pleasure)

sezz89190 karma

Hi Sanjay! What are your thoughts towards using high percentage CBD strains to help people with Anxiety? I’ve read numerous reports proving that CBD is an Anxiolytic and heard firsthand experiences from people. Do you think that using CBD in combination with therapy could be effective and less dangerous than other drugs such as Prozac or Xanax? Thanks for everything you do.

Dr_SanjayGupta370 karma

I so think so. We have a better understanding of how CBD works in the brain, and the receptors where it binds. There are many prescription drugs that have a much higher risk than cannabis, but are prescribed often. Narcotics, in particular. We consume 80% of the world's pain meds in the United States.

imonlyheresometimes175 karma

Hello Dr.Gupta,

I would just like to thank you for being in " The last heart attack", In high school I took an unconventional nutrition class. After watching the documentary I had to write a report and was given so much insight.

Dr_SanjayGupta329 karma

Find what you are passionate about, without letting anyone else define it for you. If you run to that, you are likely to be happy and to have tremendous success.

bgzlvsdmb168 karma

Dr. Gupta,

My ENT doctor in Colorado is also named Dr. Sanjay Gupta, but definitely somebody different. Are there a lot of you out there? And have you ever talked to each other?

Dr_SanjayGupta846 karma

Yes, there are a lot of "Sanjay Gupta's " out there and, we do a conference call every sunday night... ;-)

inteuniso157 karma

Hello Dr. Gupta. I greatly respect you, and your unwavering skepticism.

I have had some personal experience with the medicinal benefits of cannabis, and I truly believe that plants do hold the key to solving a great deal of medical problems.

For my questions:

What are the neuroplastic properties of cannabinoids?

What do you think is the most interesting property of cannabis?

Dr_SanjayGupta248 karma

We know that there are receptors for cannabinoids throughout the central nervous system. CBD is one of the more interesting compounds of the nearly 500 that make up marijuana. I find it fascinating that it can quiet excessive electric activity in the brain, as in the case of seizures.

TheNoobtologist119 karma

Dr. Gupta, thank you for taking the time to do this AMA. As an individual interested in medicine who is also prescribed medical marijuana, how do you feel about other healthcare professionals who use marijuana medicinally? For example, is it acceptable for a surgeon to use marijuana at night time to help with his/her insomnia or chronic pain?

Dr_SanjayGupta291 karma

First of all right now marijuana is recommended not prescribed, as marijuana is still a schedule 1 substance. Having said that, it should be thought of as a legitimate medicine for patients that need it. As long as it doesn't interfere with someones ability to do their job safely, it can one day be an option.

clubber_lang117 karma

Dr Gupta - do you think the future of cannabis as a medicine is as a pharmaceutical drug or as a supplement/food? Thanks so much.

Dr_SanjayGupta198 karma

I think it will likely be a combination of both but we'll need safeguards to make sure it is consistently safe, effective, and reliable.

weedstreetjournal96 karma

Who or what companies are leading the charge in helping Med Mar patients?

Dr_SanjayGupta155 karma

I followed the work of the Stanley Brothers, they were one of the first to develop a high CBD marijuana. I also traveled to England to visit GW Pharmaceuticals; they are working with whole plant extracts.

MAPSPsychedelic44 karma

[deleted]

Dr_SanjayGupta148 karma

Thank you for this. We have done a fair amount of reporting on this topic. Some of the research from Michael Mithoefer has been particularly compelling, if you havent seen it. Will continue to report on this.

stonedsociety34 karma

Can Europeans watch your documentary somewhere live as well?

Dr_SanjayGupta50 karma

Yes, the documentary will air in the U.S. and CNN International tonight at 10p EST and then again on CNN International tomorrow at 7 a.m. EST and 6 p.m. EST.

MolotovMan126332 karma

[deleted]

Dr_SanjayGupta72 karma

I don’t… but I do remember Mr. Armstrong who was my math teacher!

am_ian25 karma

Peanut butter or Nutella?

Dr_SanjayGupta70 karma

I don't have much of a sweet tooth, so peanut butter for me -- although I've really started to develop a taste for Nutella after a recent trip to France.

buzzlooksdrunk20 karma

What is the single most profound piece of quantifiable data (or perhaps a correlation) that:

  • 1. Convinced you that MMJ was a legitimate medication
  • 2. You would like for everyone to know

Dr. G - thank you for doing this!

Dr_SanjayGupta55 karma

The studies about cannabis and epilepsy were very compelling. Also, the use of cannabis as a treatment for neuropathic pain and MS. I think people should know that cannabis is being used a legitimate medication in hospitals all over the world. In fact, a medication for MS that is cannabis based, is now approved in 25 countries around the world, but not the United States.

water-gun-knife8 karma

Hello Dr. Gupta! I don't have a question but I just wanted to say that I admire you a lot and I'm stoked to see you at University at Buffalo in a few weeks! Thank you!

Dr_SanjayGupta16 karma

Come say hi!

read2376 karma

Weed is NOT a substance that is addictive. To be part of habit yes. but can you confirm this to all that inquire?

Dr_SanjayGupta24 karma

Studies have shown that about 9% of people develop an addition to marijuana. It's likely more psychological than physical. Simply put: if the use of marijuana is interfering with other aspects of your life and you can't control that, you may be developing a psychological addiction. For context -- the addiction rate for alcohol is 15% - heroine 25% - cocaine 20% and tobacco comes in the highest at 30%. With those substances, the addiction is more physical.

admtdevns6 karma

Sanjay, did you ever work in or around the Jackson County area in Michigan? My wife's Alzheimer's patient swears that she worked with you as a nurse, but we have slight trouble believing it.

Dr_SanjayGupta7 karma

She may be right! I use to live in Chelsea, Michigan and performed operations at the University of Michigan hospital, Chelsea Community Hospital and Foote Hospital in Jackson.

iMisterNick5 karma

Hi Dr. Gupta, I don't have a question, just wanted to thank you for all you are doing.

Dr_SanjayGupta9 karma

appreciate that!

Decebalus0 karma

Are you smoking right now?

Dr_SanjayGupta1 karma

No. Are you?