Should Medicinal Marijuana Be a Part of Mainstream Medicine?

Guest: Misty D. Smith, PhD, Research Assistant Professor, Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Utah US Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah introduced a bill last week to expand access to marijuana for research. He said, “While I certainly do not support the use of marijuana for recreational purposes, the evidence shows that cannabis possesses medicinal properties that can truly change people’s lives for the better.” Senator Hatch’s bill aims to make it easier for researchers to study the medical properties of compounds derived from marijuana. Misty D. Smith knows what it takes to get government approval to do medical research on compounds derived from marijuana. She studies a non-psychoactive component of marijuana called CBD and her research is funded by the Epilepsy Foundation.