Press Releases

Find Out More About What Changed CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta's Mind on Medical Marijuana

Washington, DC -- Ahead of a widely publicized CNN documentary on medical marijuana this Sunday at 8pm ET, Dr. Sanjay Gupta has spoken out on the news magazine circuit to humbly apologize for misleading the American public on the issue. Calling the federal government's policy on medical marijuana "hypocritical," Dr. Gupta interviews physicians and medical marijuana patients, and even travels to Israel in order to let the public know about this important therapy. 

Directly after the CNN documentary on medical marijuana -- at 9:15pm ET on Sunday -- patient advocacy group Americans for Safe Access (ASA) will host a Google Hangout to continue the discussion begun by CNN and Dr. Gupta. The Google Hangout will feature many of the same guests in the documentary as well as additional experts in the medical cannabis field. The media and general public are invited and encouraged to join the discussion by logging into the ASA YouTube page.

What: Google Hangout on medical marijuana, discussing issues raised in Sanjay Gupta's documentary and more
Featuring: From CNN documentary: Dr. Alan Shackelford, Matt and Paige Figi, and Josh Stanley. Also, Dr. Sunil Aggarwal, Huffington Post DC Bureau Chief Ryan Grim, and others
When: Sunday, August 11th at 9:15pm ET
Where: Log into the ASA YouTube page at: http://www.youtube.com/SafeAccess

In addition to reviewing the evidence of medical efficacy, the ASA Google Hangout will expand on Dr. Gupta's assertion that it is "irresponsible" for the medical community to deny marijuana as a viable option for patients and how the federal government's outdated policy on medical marijuana influences that dynamic. Also discussed will be how Dr. Gupta's documentary fits well into the ASA Peace for Patients campaign in urging action by the federal government to end its aggressive enforcement practices in medical marijuana states.

"Unfortunately, the average American hears more politically-charged rhetoric on marijuana than they do about the amazing quality of life improvements patients are experiencing," said ASA Executive Director Steph Sherer, who will be facilitating the Google Hangout Sunday. "Despite strong popular support for medical marijuana among the vast majority of Americans, most people are unaware of these success stories," continued Sherer. "I am encouraged and moved by Dr. Gupta’s discoveries and I am hoping it push the federal government into action." Sunday's Google Hangout will contribute to the informative CNN documentary and help to better educate the public at large.