Sanjay Gupta 'Doubles Down' On Support For Medical Marijuana

Gupta 'Doubles Down' On His Support For Medical Marijuana
PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 10: Dr. Sanjay Gupta attends the CNN Worldwide All-Star Party At TCA at Langham Hotel on January 10, 2014 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/WireImage)
PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 10: Dr. Sanjay Gupta attends the CNN Worldwide All-Star Party At TCA at Langham Hotel on January 10, 2014 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/WireImage)

Although it has been about eight months since Sanjay Gupta last wrote about his support for medical marijuana -- when he apologized for misleading the public on weed -- it doesn't mean that he's backing down on weed. Instead, he says it's the opposite; he's "doubling down" on medical pot.

CNN's chief medical correspondent wrote in an op-ed for CNN Wednesday that since the cable news giant's "Weed" documentary aired last August, he has continued to travel the world meeting with hundreds of patients and scientists. He's even more supportive of medical marijuana than he was before.

"I am more convinced than ever that it is irresponsible to not provide the best care we can, care that often may involve marijuana," Gupta wrote. "I am not backing down on medical marijuana; I am doubling down."

Twenty states, including the District of Columbia, have legalized medical marijuana, but the drug remains illegal under federal law and classified as a Schedule I substance, which the federal government considers to be of "the most dangerous" variety "with no currently accepted medical use."

"Neither of those statements has ever been factual," Gupta wrote in the op-ed.

Next week, CNN will premiere Gupta's second installment of their "Weed" documentary, called "Cannabis Madness" where Gupta will unpack these ideas from his op-ed further and take a closer look at the politics behind legal weed.

Before You Go

50: Snoop Lion

Top 50 Most Influential Marijuana Users

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot