Dr. Michael J. O’Connell, New Hampshire recently commented that Dr. Sanjay Gupta, former neurosurgeon and now medical correspondent for CNN, did a three-part series looking at medical marijuana. In part #2, he briefly presented some evidence for the usefulness of certain strains of weed that have shown promise for various medical maladies. There seems to be little controversy over applications of cannabinoids to the nausea and poor appetite often experienced during treatment for cancer. More: https://michaeloconnellmdnh.wordpress.com/2015/05/26/shame-on-cnn/

1. Shame on CNN…
Dr. Michael J. O’Connell, New Hampshire recently commented that Dr. Sanjay Gupta, former neurosurgeon
and now medical correspondent for CNN, did a three-part series looking at medical marijuana. In part #2, he
briefly presented some evidence for the usefulness of certain strains of weed that have shown promise for
various medical maladies. There seems to be little controversy over applications of cannabinoids to the nausea
and poor appetite often experienced during treatment for cancer.
Sanjay focused on one family living in New Jersey who have a daughter with a rare form of epilepsy that is
exceedingly recalcitrant to standard medical treatment. Despite trials of innumerable approved medications, the
child continued to experience sometimes in excess of 100 seizures per day. After many months of frustration
with the medical community, the parents heard about the potential value of medical marijuana. Their state of
New Jersey however, banned use of marijuana for medical purposes. CNN filmed a, rather public rebuke of the
Governor, Chris Christie, who had proposed and signed the legislation.
Feeling hopeless, the parents finally decided to take their child to Colorado where weed is readily and legally
available, and try an oil extract on the child. After just a few days, the number of seizures dropped markedly.
By the time they returned to New Jersey, the state had passed yet another law, now allowing medical marijuana
for select cases, and the parents sought a prescription for it. However upon trying New Jersey weed, they found
no effect, and suspected the growers and dispensaries in New Jersey didn’t have enough experience to provide a
safe and effective product. They then returned to Colorado, this time permanently, so they could have
continuous access to the one chemical that seemed to benefit their child. They were immediately gratified in
that Charlotte’s Web strain of weed was once again particularly effective.
Part #2 of this CNN series thus ended, leaving the impression that this family would ride happily into the
sunset, after having defied the mean spirited Chris Christie. However before fading to black, a message popped
up on the screen that informed the viewer that since filming ended, the parents had found Charlotte’s Web to be
less effective over time. They were now pursuing other strains that might be more effective. Sanjay did not
state this fact as part of the presentation, the message appeared more as an afterthought.
Are u kidding me? The fact that the miracle of medical marijuana for this desperate family, was in the end not
so miraculous, is a sad reality that needed to be faced, not only by the unfortunate family, but also the viewers.
The governor of New Jersey had imposed the ban for a reason—medical marijuana required more scientific
scrutiny before blithely legalizing. And the outcome with this family is a prime example of how time and
resources can be utterly wasted on the basis of anecdotal “evidence.”
Like many treatments, such as prednisone for arthritis, chemo for cancer, L Dopa for Parkinsons, cannabinoids
may not be a long term panacea. CNN and Dr. Gupta are remiss for not exposing this real possiblity. Shame on
them!