Having witnessed first hand the extreme societal turbulence of the 1960s and 1970 I am struck by the striking
similarities present in our current national scene. More specifically, I have been absolutely dumbfounded by the support that the “medical” marijuana movement has garnered across much of this nation. As a level headed physician whose medical belief systems are based on scientific knowledge and the credo “do no harm,” I find the groundswell of support for marijuana most troubling. In addition to the carefully studied health risks of the combustion of this plant, there have been innumerable scientific studies highlighting the negative impact on brain function that then results in problems with behavior, judgment, learning, and complex functions like driving an automobile. As I have said in previous articles, I believe that the numerous cannabinoid constituents of the marijuana plant have potential medical applications but these molecules need to be developed scientifically using the technology that has produced FDA sanctioned pharmaceuticals. For example, Digitalis has been around for many decades and single handedly has saved the lives of cardiac patients whose hearts were failing.  Digitalis was developed from the Foxglove plant and is probably the most prevalent medication for cardiac patients. But we don’t have these patients smoke the plant or convert the plant into edibles. Instead, the digitalis medication was carefully developed by determining appropriate dosage, delivery systems and necessary blood levels for this agent.

So how can one explain the current fascination with marijuana?

I believe that we are seeing a “back to the future” scenario quite similar to the societal upheaval of the 1960s and 1970s. Our citizens were dealing with the cumulative effects of the assassinations of John Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Robert Kennedy, the damage done by racial segregation and the fallout from the contentious war in Viet Nam, culminating in Nixon’s Watergate scandal and subsequent resignation. The American people, especially our youth felt betrayed, confused and angry. The counterculture movement was born out of this and resulted in the “turn on, tune out,“ free love” and other antiestablishment anger based attitudes. When one feels betrayed and helpless in the face of confusing and chaotic messages emanating from our elected officials and other authority figures rebelliousness ensues.

I believe that the current support for “medical” marijuana and its legalization is an outgrowth of similar dissatisfactions within our society. It represents a rebelliousness that is supported by profit-minded individuals who see the tremendous financial windfall from its sale not to mention the lucrative tax revenues the states will receive. It is our citizens’ ongoing general unhappiness and mistrust that is most bothersome. It is clearly seen in the current presidential race where there is such a high degree of enmity that atypical candidates are outpacing the traditional beltway politicians. Turning on and tuning out becomes the path of least resistance. We may have to learn the hard way that the trend to make marijuana freely available will lead to dire consequences for our youth and national integrity. This country has learned from its mistakes in the past and I am cautiously optimistic that wisdom will prevail. It is always healthy for a free society to question its status quo. Let us hope that some healing will ensue.