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♪ ♪
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NARRATOR:
Cannabis.
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{\an1}A multi-billion dollar
industry is moving
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{\an1}from the illicit market
into our daily lives,
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{\an1}creating a stark divide.
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{\an1}KASSANDRA FREDERIQUE:
In a country where people are
talking about its medical use,
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{\an1}someone gets arrested for
cannabis every 58 seconds.
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♪ ♪
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NARRATOR:
A plant demonized
to arrest millions
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{\an1}now marketed as a medicine.
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{\an1}EVELYN NUSSENBAUM:
My son had a devastating
form of epilepsy,
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and a cannabis
compound gave him a life.
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NARRATOR:
How does the vast array
of chemicals in cannabis
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{\an1}engage a mysterious
system in our bodies?
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YASMIN HURD:
The cannabinoid receptor
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{\an1}is the most abundant
receptor in the brain.
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MATTHEW HILL:
How a single
system can influence
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{\an1}so many biological
processes is surprising.
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♪ ♪
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NARRATOR:
Will regular... even daily... use
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{\an1}cure us or hurt us?
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PAUL DEBASSIO:
If someone were to tell
me that I was dependent
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{\an1}on marijuana, I would have
said no way, absolutely not.
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NARRATOR:
Smoked, dabbed, vaped,
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{\an1}and eaten, today's
cannabis is hyper-potent,
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{\an1}and far from understood.
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ZIVA COOPER:
These products are coming online
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{\an1}much faster than we
can actually research them.
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NARRATOR:
As federal law blocks science,
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{\an1}an unintended public
health experiment is underway.
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{\an1}CHINAZO CUNNINGHAM:
Really the questions
are for what conditions
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{\an1}is it beneficial and for
what conditions is it harmful?
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{\an1}It's not black and white
and it's complicated.
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NARRATOR:
What's the right dose?
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{\an1}Who should use cannabis?
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Who shouldn't?
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STACI GRUBER:
It's a highly contentious
subject,
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{\an1}but it's not about your personal
thoughts or feelings.
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{\an1}What does the data tell us?
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{\an1}What does the science tell us?
Truth through science.
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{\an1}We should know the answers.
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NARRATOR:
"The Cannabis Question,"
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{\an1}right now on "NOVA."
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♪ ♪
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♪ ♪
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♪ ♪
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NARRATOR:
More than 80 years
after America ended
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{\an1}one type of prohibition,
it's ending another.
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{\an1}The majority of people
now live in a state
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{\an1}where cannabis is legal.
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{\an1}As a multi-billion-dollar
industry rises,
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{\an1}our country is at a crossroads.
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♪ ♪
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HILL:
Cannabis is genuinely
one of the most
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{\an1}fascinating discussion
topics I've ever seen
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{\an1}because of how emotionally
polarizing it is amongst people.
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{\an1}And it's very strange
because the entire field
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{\an1}of cannabis science
is very poorly developed.
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{\an1}There's not been a lot
of research and there's a lot
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of things that
we don't understand.
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{\an1}And yet, what we have
in society is groups
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of people that
very fervently believe
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{\an1}it is this panacea that can cure
any disease that exists,
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{\an1}or it's the devil's grass,
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{\an1}and it's going to cause
the downfall of society,
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{\an1}not recognizing that
the reality of cannabis
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{\an1}is somewhere in the middle.
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♪ ♪
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(birds chirping)
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♪ ♪
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NARRATOR:
Americans everywhere
are turning to cannabis,
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{\an1}seeking relief from
a wide range of ailments,
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{\an1}including veterans,
like Sean Worsley,
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{\an1}who uses cannabis to treat his
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{\an1}post-traumatic stress disorder
caused by combat in Iraq.
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SEAN WORSLEY:
Our sole purpose was to
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{\an1}clear the routes for supply
convoys that came through,
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{\an1}looking for roadside bombs
that were on the route.
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(explosion)
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{\an1}I was on a mission
and we rode over
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{\an8}a hole that was
in the center of the road
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{\an7}and unfortunately it was an IED
that went off.
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{\an8}(explosion)
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{\an7}(overlapping shouting)
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{\an7}Knocking me unconscious,
and when I woke up,
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{\an1}medic was in my face,
asking me was I okay,
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{\an1}could I hear him.
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(shouting)
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♪ ♪
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NARRATOR:
After his tour, Sean struggled
with a traumatic brain injury
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{\an1}and disturbing symptoms
caused by PTSD.
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WORSLEY:
For me it's paranoia, insomnia,
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{\an1}seeing things that
aren't necessarily there...
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"shadow people,"
as they call them...
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{\an1}night terrors, dreams,
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{\an1}but these nightmares
were very realistic.
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(gunshot fires)
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{\an1}If I was shot in the dream,
I would wake up grabbing
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my chest because
I felt the pain.
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NARRATOR:
Sean's medications for PTSD
had troubling side effects,
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{\an1}so he got a medical
cannabis card.
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RYAN VANDREY:
Cannabis at a low dose
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{\an1}can help reduce anxiety,
relax someone.
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{\an7}And individuals who have
PTSD that newly initiate
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{\an7}cannabis use report
it being life-changing.
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{\an1}So, I can sleep for
the first time in two years,
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and I can go to
the grocery store without
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{\an1}being so intense and on edge.
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{\an1}That's why individuals with PTSD
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{\an1}heavily gravitate
towards cannabis use.
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{\an8}NARRATOR:
For thousands of years,
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{\an7}humans have cultivated
cannabis for its fiber,
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{\an7}seeds, and medicinal properties.
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{\an7}Ancient Hindu texts
claim it was brought
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{\an7}by the god Shiva for
the pleasure of humanity.
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{\an8}♪ ♪
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{\an7}The plant contains
over 400 chemicals,
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{\an7}including cannabinoids,
which are most abundant
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{\an7}in the resin glands
of budding female plants.
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{\an8}♪ ♪
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{\an1}In the 1960s, Israeli
scientist Raphael Mechoulam
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isolated THC,
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{\an1}the psychoactive cannabinoid
that makes users feel high.
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♪ ♪
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{\an1}The discovery launched
a new chapter in neuroscience.
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{\an7}DANIELE PIOMELLI:
Cannabis opened a window
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{\an7}into the functioning
of our body,
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{\an7}completely unexpected window.
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Because what was
discovered was that THC binds
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{\an1}to receptors in the brain
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{\an1}and outside the brain,
and when it does so,
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when it binds
to these receptors,
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the cells now
behave differently.
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♪ ♪
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NARRATOR:
Cannabinoid receptors,
named after cannabis,
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{\an1}are found on nearly
every organ in the body.
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{\an1}They bind with our own
cannabis-like molecules,
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{\an1}called endocannabinoids,
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which regulate
functions like sleep,
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{\an1}cognition, memory, and mood.
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♪ ♪
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{\an1}Unlike other brain chemicals,
they travel backwards,
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{\an1}across the synapse,
where they control the release
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{\an1}of most neurotransmitters.
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♪ ♪
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GRUBER:
One of the most amazing
things that happened
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{\an1}was the discovery of
the endocannabinoid system.
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{\an1}Every mammal has one.
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{\an7}And this is a system
of chemicals and receptors
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{\an7}throughout the brain and body.
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{\an7}And really the primary goal
of the endocannabinoid system
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is homeostasis...
Keeping things in balance.
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♪ ♪
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NARRATOR:
At Mount Sinai Hospital,
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{\an1}neuroscientist Yasmin Hurd
remembers the first time
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she looked for
cannabinoid receptors
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{\an1}in the human brain,
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{\an1}seen here in vivid red,
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{\an1}orange, and yellow colors.
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{\an8}The cannabinoid
receptor is the most abundant
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{\an7}receptor in the brain.
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{\an1}When we looked at where these
receptors were expressed,
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{\an1}they're expressed in
brain regions relevant
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{\an1}for motor coordination,
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{\an1}cognition, memory,
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{\an1}emotional regulation, reward.
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{\an1}All of these brain areas
are key to so many
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{\an1}normal behaviors, obviously,
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{\an1}but also psychiatric
disorders as well.
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{\an1}A key role of the
endocannabinoid system
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{\an1}is to manage stress.
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{\an1}In fact, the first
endocannabinoid found
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{\an7}in our body was given
a Sanskrit name,
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{\an7}anandamide, meaning "bliss."
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HILL:
In response to stress,
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{\an1}our body mobilizes an
endocannabinoid signal.
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{\an1}And so, if something
aversive happens
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{\an7}to us and we suddenly see
a threat in front of us,
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{\an7}our body kind of goes into a
high alert mode and we shoot up.
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{\an1}Once we've been removed
from that threat, though,
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{\an1}our body needs to turn that
stress response back off.
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{\an1}And what we have learned is that
this burst of endocannabinoids
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{\an1}that occurs in response
to stress is really
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{\an1}critical for that
recovery phase.
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NARRATOR:
Scientists suspect this signal
goes awry in people with PTSD,
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{\an1}and that's why THC,
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{\an1}which mimics our own
endocannabinoids, might help.
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VANDREY:
And so, when you look
at individuals that have
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{\an1}PTSD and use cannabis,
in short-term trials,
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you see very
beneficial outcomes.
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But if all they
do is use cannabis
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{\an1}and they don't engage
in other behavior therapies
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to help work
through their trauma,
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{\an1}they're not treating the
root cause of the disorder.
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{\an1}And it's important
to recognize that THC
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at higher doses
increases anxiety.
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CUNNINGHAM:
Cannabis is not a miracle,
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{\an7}nothing is a miracle.
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{\an7}And so really the questions
are for what conditions
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{\an1}is it beneficial and for what
conditions is it harmful,
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{\an1}and for whom is it beneficial
and for whom is it harmful?
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{\an1}So, it's shades of gray.
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{\an1}It's not black and white,
and it's complicated.
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♪ ♪
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NARRATOR:
In 1996, cannabis was legalized
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{\an1}in California for medical use.
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{\an1}But federally, it remains
a Schedule One drug,
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like heroin,
making research difficult,
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{\an1}and leaving patients like
Elizabeth Pinkham on their own.
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To cope with her
cancer treatments,
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Elizabeth has
turned to cannabis.
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{\an1}ELIZABETH PINKHAM:
When you go through
chemotherapy,
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{\an1}there are side effects that can
be... like nauseousness.
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{\an7}You may have loss of appetite,
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{\an8}you may have
difficulty sleeping.
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So I was looking
for something that wasn't
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{\an1}another big, heavy-duty
pharmaceutical.
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NARRATOR:
On display, one can find
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{\an1}cannabis-infused teas,
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{\an1}sodas, candies, bath salts,
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{\an1}psychoactive body washes,
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{\an1}and flower, with THC,
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that can ease
nausea when smoked.
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PINKHAM:
The effects are
pretty immediate.
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{\an1}I've definitely gotten my
appetite back a little bit more.
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{\an1}It also helps with neuropathy,
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{\an1}which is like the numbness
in your fingers and your toes.
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{\an1}This is super medicinal.
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{\an4}You see how, like,
dark and dense that is?
Mm-hmm.
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{\an1}That's indicating more
of the indica family.
231
00:11:53,238 --> 00:11:55,671
{\an1}Good for the body,
good for pain.
232
00:11:55,705 --> 00:11:59,638
STEVE D'ANGELO:
My staff needs to do the best
233
00:11:59,671 --> 00:12:02,538
{\an7}that they can to try
and guide people
234
00:12:02,571 --> 00:12:05,371
{\an7}to the products that are going
to serve them the best.
235
00:12:05,405 --> 00:12:07,705
But my staff,
they're not trained doctors,
236
00:12:07,738 --> 00:12:10,305
{\an1}and really we should
have cannabis medicine
237
00:12:10,338 --> 00:12:13,405
{\an1}being taught in every
single medical school
238
00:12:13,438 --> 00:12:15,405
{\an1}across the United States.
239
00:12:15,438 --> 00:12:18,571
{\an1}And that's not happening
now because of federal law.
240
00:12:18,605 --> 00:12:21,471
{\an1}It's really a voter-approved
quote-unquote "medicine,"
241
00:12:21,505 --> 00:12:23,405
{\an1}so people say, "Oh, there's
medical cannabis
242
00:12:23,438 --> 00:12:24,571
{\an1}that's approved."
243
00:12:24,605 --> 00:12:26,771
It has not been,
it has not gone through
244
00:12:26,805 --> 00:12:30,038
{\an1}FDA rigorous research process.
245
00:12:30,071 --> 00:12:32,638
{\an1}And that's what's
critical for medicine.
246
00:12:32,671 --> 00:12:34,571
PINKHAM:
I think it would be
great if there was
247
00:12:34,605 --> 00:12:36,205
a bit more science behind this.
248
00:12:36,238 --> 00:12:39,938
{\an1}But I think in the meantime you
have to do what works for you,
249
00:12:39,971 --> 00:12:43,205
{\an1}and you have to figure
this out as you go.
250
00:12:43,238 --> 00:12:45,105
♪ ♪
251
00:12:45,138 --> 00:12:47,671
NARRATOR:
But it's challenging.
252
00:12:47,705 --> 00:12:50,638
{\an1}Scientists aren't sure
whether cannabis sativa,
253
00:12:50,671 --> 00:12:55,471
{\an1}indica, and ruderalis
are distinct species.
254
00:12:55,505 --> 00:12:58,805
{\an7}Most cultivars grown
today are hybrids.
255
00:12:58,838 --> 00:13:02,238
{\an7}They have distinct
chemicals called terpenes,
256
00:13:02,271 --> 00:13:04,905
{\an7}which create flavors and smells.
257
00:13:06,871 --> 00:13:08,805
{\an1}And in addition to THC,
258
00:13:08,838 --> 00:13:12,271
{\an1}the plant contains over
100 other cannabinoids.
259
00:13:14,171 --> 00:13:18,105
One, called CBD,
is flooding the market.
260
00:13:19,471 --> 00:13:21,438
{\an8}COOPER:
One in seven adults
261
00:13:21,471 --> 00:13:23,338
{\an7}in the United States
are using CBD.
262
00:13:23,371 --> 00:13:26,138
{\an1}You see CBD everywhere,
you see it in the pet stores,
263
00:13:26,171 --> 00:13:28,305
you see it at
Bed Bath and Beyond,
264
00:13:28,338 --> 00:13:29,938
at Whole Foods.
265
00:13:29,971 --> 00:13:33,071
{\an8}And so there's a
multi-billion-dollar industry
266
00:13:33,105 --> 00:13:35,505
{\an7}that's built on this plant
267
00:13:35,538 --> 00:13:37,805
{\an1}and there are all
these different hypotheses
268
00:13:37,838 --> 00:13:40,771
{\an1}of what these different
chemicals can do to help us.
269
00:13:40,805 --> 00:13:44,638
{\an1}But these products are
coming online much faster
270
00:13:44,671 --> 00:13:46,838
than we can
actually research them.
271
00:13:46,871 --> 00:13:49,605
♪ ♪
272
00:13:49,638 --> 00:13:52,138
NARRATOR:
Despite CBD's
availability today,
273
00:13:52,171 --> 00:13:57,705
{\an1}it took a group of determined
parents to bring it to market.
274
00:13:57,738 --> 00:14:01,405
{\an1}One quest began in
Palo Alto, California,
275
00:14:01,438 --> 00:14:04,771
{\an1}where Stanford neuroscientist
Catherine Jacobson
276
00:14:04,805 --> 00:14:07,971
{\an1}set out to treat her
son Ben's epilepsy.
277
00:14:08,005 --> 00:14:11,471
♪ ♪
278
00:14:13,338 --> 00:14:16,138
{\an1}CATHERINE JACOBSON:
Watching your child
have a seizure is
279
00:14:16,171 --> 00:14:17,971
{\an7}really, really scary.
280
00:14:18,005 --> 00:14:19,605
{\an7}It's awful, right?
281
00:14:19,638 --> 00:14:22,405
{\an7}It's awful because you know
that brain damage is happening.
282
00:14:22,438 --> 00:14:25,438
{\an1}The kids get scared,
they get confused.
283
00:14:25,471 --> 00:14:28,538
{\an1}And with uncontrolled epilepsy,
284
00:14:28,571 --> 00:14:30,938
{\an1}we all live with this fear
that they're going to die.
285
00:14:30,971 --> 00:14:33,371
(gasping)
286
00:14:33,405 --> 00:14:35,705
NARRATOR:
About a third
of epilepsy patients
287
00:14:35,738 --> 00:14:39,205
{\an1}don't respond to medications.
288
00:14:39,238 --> 00:14:42,771
{\an1}Catherine knew the longer
Ben's seizures continued,
289
00:14:42,805 --> 00:14:45,405
the less likely
they'd be controlled.
290
00:14:45,438 --> 00:14:47,338
{\an1}Could you have just
given him medicine?
291
00:14:47,371 --> 00:14:48,938
MAN:
Mm-hmm.
292
00:14:48,971 --> 00:14:52,205
NARRATOR:
And she was not alone.
293
00:14:52,238 --> 00:14:55,905
{\an1}In Berkeley, California,
her friends Fred Vogelstein
294
00:14:55,938 --> 00:14:59,605
{\an1}and Evelyn Nussenbaum
also felt powerless
295
00:14:59,638 --> 00:15:02,505
to control their
son Sam's epilepsy.
296
00:15:02,538 --> 00:15:05,205
♪ ♪
297
00:15:05,238 --> 00:15:08,014
FRED VOGELSTEIN:
I mean the thing about seizures
that most people don't realize
298
00:15:08,038 --> 00:15:10,138
{\an7}is that they're dozens
of different kinds.
299
00:15:10,171 --> 00:15:12,671
{\an7}So, the kind of seizures
that most people know about
300
00:15:12,705 --> 00:15:14,071
{\an7}are the grand mal seizures
301
00:15:14,105 --> 00:15:18,538
{\an1}where you just lie on the ground
and, like, start flopping.
302
00:15:18,571 --> 00:15:20,247
{\an1}The other seizure that
a lot of people know about
303
00:15:20,271 --> 00:15:21,771
{\an1}are staring spells.
304
00:15:21,805 --> 00:15:24,171
{\an1}Sam had a version
of those seizures
305
00:15:24,205 --> 00:15:27,871
{\an1}because he would go unconscious
for, like, 15 seconds.
306
00:15:27,905 --> 00:15:30,171
NUSSENBAUM:
When anyone has a seizure,
307
00:15:30,205 --> 00:15:32,738
{\an7}you could compare it
to an electrical storm,
308
00:15:32,771 --> 00:15:35,538
{\an7}or an overtaxed electrical grid.
309
00:15:35,571 --> 00:15:37,371
We all have
electricity in our brains.
310
00:15:37,405 --> 00:15:39,705
{\an1}And when someone has a seizure,
311
00:15:39,738 --> 00:15:43,305
the electricity
becomes irregular.
312
00:15:43,338 --> 00:15:46,538
FRED VOGELSTEIN:
Every single drug we tried
didn't control the seizures,
313
00:15:46,571 --> 00:15:49,171
{\an1}and some of them had
pretty nasty side effects.
314
00:15:49,205 --> 00:15:52,538
NUSSENBAUM:
One time he had
hallucinations and thought
315
00:15:52,571 --> 00:15:53,738
{\an1}he had holes in his skin
316
00:15:53,771 --> 00:15:55,871
{\an1}and there were bugs
crawling out of them.
317
00:15:55,905 --> 00:15:58,181
{\an1}I thought we were going to have
to take him to the psych ward.
318
00:15:58,205 --> 00:15:59,881
VOGELSTEIN:
And then there were
all the medicines
319
00:15:59,905 --> 00:16:03,005
{\an1}that made him a zombie.
320
00:16:03,038 --> 00:16:06,371
NARRATOR:
Then, they stumbled
across research suggesting
321
00:16:06,405 --> 00:16:09,205
{\an1}cannabis might quell seizures.
322
00:16:11,038 --> 00:16:12,971
JACOBSON:
I knew nothing about cannabis,
323
00:16:13,005 --> 00:16:16,105
{\an1}but I did some research
and I found out that obviously
324
00:16:16,138 --> 00:16:18,905
{\an1}there are many different
chemicals in cannabis,
325
00:16:18,938 --> 00:16:23,071
the two most
prominent are CBD and THC.
326
00:16:23,105 --> 00:16:26,238
We know that THC
makes people high.
327
00:16:26,271 --> 00:16:28,205
{\an1}CBD doesn't do that.
328
00:16:28,238 --> 00:16:32,838
{\an1}And so, my preference was
of course to try CBD first.
329
00:16:34,805 --> 00:16:38,871
NARRATOR:
CBD doesn't bind to
cannabinoid receptors directly,
330
00:16:38,905 --> 00:16:42,605
{\an1}but it's presence seems
to reduce the impact of THC.
331
00:16:42,638 --> 00:16:45,238
♪ ♪
332
00:16:45,271 --> 00:16:47,538
{\an1}It also increases
levels of anandamide,
333
00:16:47,571 --> 00:16:49,905
{\an1}our bliss molecule,
334
00:16:49,938 --> 00:16:53,671
{\an1}and interacts with
receptors like serotonin,
335
00:16:53,705 --> 00:16:57,071
{\an1}which affect our mood.
336
00:16:57,105 --> 00:17:03,071
{\an1}Yet in 2011, it was hard to find
extracts high in CBD.
337
00:17:04,405 --> 00:17:07,205
JACOBSON:
And so we would get these vials
338
00:17:07,238 --> 00:17:09,338
{\an1}and sometimes they
would work a little bit
339
00:17:09,371 --> 00:17:11,305
{\an1}and then the next
vial wouldn't work.
340
00:17:11,338 --> 00:17:14,871
{\an1}So, after probably six
to eight months of doing this
341
00:17:14,905 --> 00:17:16,905
{\an1}and seeing no benefit to Ben,
342
00:17:16,938 --> 00:17:20,305
{\an1}I just said, look,
I'm going to make my own.
343
00:17:20,338 --> 00:17:22,471
{\an1}(machine whirring)
344
00:17:22,505 --> 00:17:25,805
{\an8}NUSSENBAUM:
When Sam first took
345
00:17:25,838 --> 00:17:30,338
{\an7}Catherine Jacobson's CBD
tincture, it was clear as day,
346
00:17:30,371 --> 00:17:32,638
{\an1}his seizures were
going down immediately.
347
00:17:32,671 --> 00:17:35,038
Unfortunately,
Catherine only had
348
00:17:35,071 --> 00:17:36,605
{\an1}enough for five days.
349
00:17:36,638 --> 00:17:39,771
{\an1}And so we had this
incredible five-day stretch.
350
00:17:39,805 --> 00:17:41,438
{\an1}And then we ran out.
351
00:17:41,471 --> 00:17:43,571
♪ ♪
352
00:17:43,605 --> 00:17:47,371
NARRATOR:
CBD also helped
Catherine's son, Ben.
353
00:17:47,405 --> 00:17:52,038
{\an1}But her next batch of
tinctures were too weak to use.
354
00:17:54,338 --> 00:17:56,405
Drug companies
get a lot of abuse
355
00:17:56,438 --> 00:17:58,371
{\an1}for their marketing tactics.
356
00:17:58,405 --> 00:18:01,538
{\an1}But the one thing that
they do really, really well,
357
00:18:01,571 --> 00:18:05,705
{\an1}is they make every
pill exactly the same.
358
00:18:05,738 --> 00:18:08,338
It's sanitized,
it's quality controlled.
359
00:18:08,371 --> 00:18:10,638
{\an1}And I wanted that for my son.
360
00:18:10,671 --> 00:18:13,605
♪ ♪
361
00:18:13,638 --> 00:18:17,305
NARRATOR:
Then, they heard about
an English company called
362
00:18:17,338 --> 00:18:19,471
{\an1}GW Pharmaceuticals,
363
00:18:19,505 --> 00:18:22,471
with greenhouses
full of cannabis, and labs
364
00:18:22,505 --> 00:18:24,805
that could make
chemically pure drugs.
365
00:18:24,838 --> 00:18:27,405
♪ ♪
366
00:18:27,438 --> 00:18:30,238
Since CBD was
illegal in the U.S.,
367
00:18:30,271 --> 00:18:32,371
{\an1}Sam's family flew
to London for treatment
368
00:18:32,405 --> 00:18:35,871
{\an1}while Ben's family waited.
369
00:18:35,905 --> 00:18:38,271
{\an1}(plane engines roar)
370
00:18:39,805 --> 00:18:44,738
After four days
of taking GW's CBD,
371
00:18:44,771 --> 00:18:48,705
{\an1}Sam's seizures dropped
from 68 to six per day.
372
00:18:48,738 --> 00:18:51,238
♪ ♪
373
00:18:51,271 --> 00:18:55,138
{\an1}On the eighth day of
treatment, he only had three.
374
00:18:55,171 --> 00:18:58,405
NUSSENBAUM:
It worked and it worked fast.
375
00:18:58,438 --> 00:19:01,605
{\an1}But the other thing about
him improving was that
376
00:19:01,638 --> 00:19:05,271
I saw this child
that I hadn't seen since
377
00:19:05,305 --> 00:19:07,938
{\an1}he was four years old
and started having seizures,
378
00:19:07,971 --> 00:19:10,505
{\an1}except now he was 11
379
00:19:10,538 --> 00:19:13,605
{\an1}and he was clever and funny
380
00:19:13,638 --> 00:19:17,005
{\an1}and wanted to ride
a zip line over London.
381
00:19:17,038 --> 00:19:20,571
♪ ♪
382
00:19:23,505 --> 00:19:26,138
NARRATOR:
Sam is now seizure-free.
383
00:19:26,171 --> 00:19:29,605
His story led
to clinical trials,
384
00:19:29,638 --> 00:19:31,738
{\an1}and in 2018, FDA approval
385
00:19:31,771 --> 00:19:36,105
{\an1}of the first CBD drug,
called Epidiolex.
386
00:19:36,138 --> 00:19:38,705
{\an7}In certain types of epilepsy,
387
00:19:38,738 --> 00:19:42,571
{\an8}it can reduce
seizures by some 40%.
388
00:19:44,471 --> 00:19:46,705
{\an1}Sam is now in college.
389
00:19:46,738 --> 00:19:49,005
♪ ♪
390
00:19:49,038 --> 00:19:51,938
{\an1}But since seizures
cause brain damage...
391
00:19:51,971 --> 00:19:53,571
{\an1}Is that a seizure?
392
00:19:53,605 --> 00:19:56,005
NARRATOR:
for Ben, help came too late.
393
00:19:56,038 --> 00:19:57,305
{\an1}Okay, okay, hey.
394
00:19:57,338 --> 00:19:59,605
I have no idea whether Epidiolex
395
00:19:59,638 --> 00:20:03,838
{\an1}given at six months
would have changed
396
00:20:03,871 --> 00:20:05,805
{\an1}the course of his disease.
397
00:20:05,838 --> 00:20:08,571
{\an1}I feel like it has
reduced the severity
398
00:20:08,605 --> 00:20:11,105
{\an1}of the most severe kinds
of seizures he has,
399
00:20:11,138 --> 00:20:13,305
{\an1}so I feel like it helps.
400
00:20:13,338 --> 00:20:16,005
But Epidiolex
is not a miracle drug.
401
00:20:16,038 --> 00:20:17,838
{\an1}It's a tool in the toolbox,
402
00:20:17,871 --> 00:20:20,071
{\an1}just like every other
anti-seizure drug.
403
00:20:20,105 --> 00:20:22,805
{\an1}You try it, if it
doesn't work, you stop it.
404
00:20:22,838 --> 00:20:26,605
{\an1}If it works, then, you know,
it changes your life.
405
00:20:26,638 --> 00:20:29,705
♪ ♪
406
00:20:29,738 --> 00:20:31,571
{\an1}One of the things
that's like super important
407
00:20:31,605 --> 00:20:33,771
{\an1}about a drug like Epidiolex
408
00:20:33,805 --> 00:20:36,938
{\an1}is that for the first time,
you've got a drug
409
00:20:36,971 --> 00:20:40,171
{\an1}that's derived from cannabis
that is completely legitimate
410
00:20:40,205 --> 00:20:42,171
for mainstream
medicine to study.
411
00:20:42,205 --> 00:20:45,305
{\an1}And we're only beginning
to see where that can lead.
412
00:20:45,338 --> 00:20:47,805
♪ ♪
413
00:20:47,838 --> 00:20:50,738
{\an1}Scores of clinical trials
are now underway,
414
00:20:50,771 --> 00:20:53,371
{\an1}including at U.C.
San Diego's Center
415
00:20:53,405 --> 00:20:55,571
{\an1}for Medicinal Cannabis Research.
416
00:20:55,605 --> 00:20:58,238
Look at each dot
until it explodes.
417
00:20:58,271 --> 00:21:02,171
NARRATOR:
14-year-old Braylon
has severe autism.
418
00:21:02,205 --> 00:21:04,081
RESEARCHER:
Okay, look with your eyes,
look right here.
419
00:21:04,105 --> 00:21:07,571
NARRATOR:
His parents are
hoping CBD might help.
420
00:21:07,605 --> 00:21:10,205
{\an1}Good job.
421
00:21:10,238 --> 00:21:13,538
DORIS TRAUNER:
Braylon is a very sweet boy
422
00:21:13,571 --> 00:21:17,271
{\an1}who has a great personality.
423
00:21:17,305 --> 00:21:19,838
{\an7}He gets extremely
anxious if he doesn't know
424
00:21:19,871 --> 00:21:21,705
{\an7}what's going to happen.
425
00:21:21,738 --> 00:21:25,105
{\an1}And if something happens
that he didn't expect,
426
00:21:25,138 --> 00:21:28,671
he can be very
difficult to manage.
427
00:21:28,705 --> 00:21:30,171
{\an1}I'll just go home.
428
00:21:30,205 --> 00:21:31,647
{\an1}KEVIN PULLEY:
I want you to get up, please.
429
00:21:31,671 --> 00:21:34,238
Uh-uh.
No, thank you.
430
00:21:34,271 --> 00:21:35,971
{\an8}KEVIN PULLEY:
We wanted to see
431
00:21:36,005 --> 00:21:37,005
{\an7}what can be done
432
00:21:37,038 --> 00:21:39,538
{\an7}to try to curb that behavior.
433
00:21:39,571 --> 00:21:42,005
{\an7}He was hitting,
being kind of violent.
434
00:21:42,038 --> 00:21:44,605
LETITIA PULLEY:
And I'd never
forget one therapist
435
00:21:44,638 --> 00:21:47,071
{\an1}told me you want to get
a handle on it because
436
00:21:47,105 --> 00:21:49,038
{\an1}it affects his learning.
437
00:21:49,071 --> 00:21:51,105
If you can't control
the behavior,
438
00:21:51,138 --> 00:21:54,405
it's going to be hard
for him to focus in class.
439
00:21:54,438 --> 00:21:56,538
♪ ♪
440
00:21:56,571 --> 00:21:58,171
NARRATOR:
Children who have autism
441
00:21:58,205 --> 00:21:59,838
{\an1}have different brainwave
patterns
442
00:21:59,871 --> 00:22:01,538
{\an1}than children who don't.
443
00:22:01,571 --> 00:22:03,538
♪ ♪
444
00:22:03,571 --> 00:22:05,538
TRAUNER:
There is something
different about the way
445
00:22:05,571 --> 00:22:09,505
{\an1}the brain develops that causes
children to have
446
00:22:09,538 --> 00:22:12,071
{\an1}tremendous difficulty with
social interactions,
447
00:22:12,105 --> 00:22:13,971
{\an1}with social communication.
448
00:22:14,005 --> 00:22:16,771
And it appears
that one of the problems
449
00:22:16,805 --> 00:22:20,071
may be a type
of sensory overload.
450
00:22:20,105 --> 00:22:21,905
{\an1}RESEARCHER:
There you go, yeah.
451
00:22:21,938 --> 00:22:23,871
{\an1}Touch my finger
and then touch your nose.
452
00:22:23,905 --> 00:22:27,238
NARRATOR:
To find out if Epidiolex
might treat severe autism,
453
00:22:27,271 --> 00:22:31,338
{\an1}Trauner is running a
double-blind clinical trial.
454
00:22:31,371 --> 00:22:34,171
{\an1}Keep them out,
and close your eyes.
455
00:22:34,205 --> 00:22:36,905
NARRATOR:
Over two eight-week sessions,
456
00:22:36,938 --> 00:22:40,271
{\an1}children will take
either CBD or a placebo,
457
00:22:40,305 --> 00:22:43,205
{\an1}and researchers will
use a battery of tests
458
00:22:43,238 --> 00:22:45,671
{\an1}to see if the drug helps.
459
00:22:45,705 --> 00:22:48,371
{\an1}(overlapping chatter)
460
00:22:48,405 --> 00:22:52,505
NARRATOR:
To study CBD's
impact on the brain,
461
00:22:52,538 --> 00:22:54,771
{\an1}in another part of the trial,
462
00:22:54,805 --> 00:22:57,938
{\an1}Alysson Muotri will work
with human skin cells.
463
00:22:57,971 --> 00:23:00,805
♪ ♪
464
00:23:00,838 --> 00:23:03,971
{\an1}That's because skin cells
can be converted back
465
00:23:04,005 --> 00:23:06,305
{\an1}into master builder cells,
466
00:23:06,338 --> 00:23:09,771
{\an1}and then coaxed to develop
as brain cells do,
467
00:23:09,805 --> 00:23:13,071
{\an1}forming networks of neurons.
468
00:23:13,105 --> 00:23:16,405
♪ ♪
469
00:23:16,438 --> 00:23:18,271
ALYSSON MUOTRI:
These brain cells,
470
00:23:18,305 --> 00:23:20,271
{\an1}they will actually
self-arrange and form
471
00:23:20,305 --> 00:23:23,571
{\an1}what we call a brain organoid.
472
00:23:23,605 --> 00:23:26,138
{\an7}And as they mature over time,
they start to become
473
00:23:26,171 --> 00:23:28,471
{\an8}more and more
electrically active.
474
00:23:29,938 --> 00:23:32,705
NARRATOR:
That activity is captured
by electrodes placed
475
00:23:32,738 --> 00:23:35,771
{\an1}beneath the cluster
of brain cells.
476
00:23:35,805 --> 00:23:38,371
{\an1}When their neurons fire,
477
00:23:38,405 --> 00:23:40,905
{\an1}they create electrical
signaling comparable
478
00:23:40,938 --> 00:23:43,005
{\an1}to a developing brain.
479
00:23:43,038 --> 00:23:46,105
♪ ♪
480
00:23:46,138 --> 00:23:49,571
{\an1}Next, the brain cells
are treated with different
481
00:23:49,605 --> 00:23:53,405
{\an1}doses of CBD to see
if the drug has any impact.
482
00:23:53,438 --> 00:23:56,005
♪ ♪
483
00:23:56,038 --> 00:23:58,005
{\an1}One of the biggest
surprise that we see
484
00:23:58,038 --> 00:24:01,005
{\an1}is that by adding
CBD in the culture,
485
00:24:01,038 --> 00:24:04,371
{\an1}we actually silence
or quiet the activity
486
00:24:04,405 --> 00:24:07,305
{\an1}of these brain cells over time.
487
00:24:07,338 --> 00:24:08,605
{\an1}This is not permanent.
488
00:24:08,638 --> 00:24:11,871
{\an1}We can wash it out, CBD,
from the system, and we see
489
00:24:11,905 --> 00:24:15,371
{\an7}that the brain is able to
restore electrical activity.
490
00:24:18,005 --> 00:24:20,505
{\an1}So what are you going
to do in the morning?
491
00:24:20,538 --> 00:24:22,238
{\an1}Wake up.
Wake up.
492
00:24:22,271 --> 00:24:24,805
{\an1}Wash up.
Wash up.
493
00:24:24,838 --> 00:24:27,905
NARRATOR:
But will CBD calm
excess neuronal activity
494
00:24:27,938 --> 00:24:30,371
in the brains of
children with autism?
495
00:24:30,405 --> 00:24:31,581
{\an1}Momma, car.
Yes, we're gonna drive...
496
00:24:31,605 --> 00:24:34,505
NARRATOR:
The study is still blinded,
497
00:24:34,538 --> 00:24:36,871
but Braylon's
parents are certain
498
00:24:36,905 --> 00:24:40,105
{\an1}CBD helped him in
phase one of the trial.
499
00:24:40,138 --> 00:24:42,505
{\an1}(overlapping indistinct chatter)
500
00:24:42,538 --> 00:24:44,071
KEVIN PULLEY:
It was dramatic.
501
00:24:44,105 --> 00:24:46,071
{\an1}It was like night and day.
502
00:24:46,105 --> 00:24:48,138
{\an1}So, I could be wrong,
503
00:24:48,171 --> 00:24:51,171
{\an1}but, you know, I...
we both saw the difference.
504
00:24:51,205 --> 00:24:53,238
{\an1}All right...
LETITIA: Focus...
505
00:24:53,271 --> 00:24:55,171
{\an1}LETITIA PULLEY (voiceover):
Having eight weeks
506
00:24:55,205 --> 00:24:56,471
of really no hitting,
507
00:24:56,505 --> 00:24:59,071
{\an1}no perseveration and things
like that was wonderful.
508
00:24:59,105 --> 00:25:02,505
KEVIN PULLEY:
And then when we went on
the second half of the trial,
509
00:25:02,538 --> 00:25:04,971
{\an1}he was back to his normal self.
510
00:25:05,005 --> 00:25:09,271
{\an1}So, I'm hopeful the
first round was the CBD.
511
00:25:09,305 --> 00:25:12,105
{\an1}Here, I need you to take
this, take your medicine.
512
00:25:12,138 --> 00:25:16,205
TRAUNER:
What we are hearing from the
parents is pretty remarkable.
513
00:25:16,238 --> 00:25:18,771
{\an1}And we don't know whether
514
00:25:18,805 --> 00:25:21,705
{\an1}they were on placebo or CBD.
515
00:25:21,738 --> 00:25:25,905
But it's really
important to get good data
516
00:25:25,938 --> 00:25:29,138
{\an1}that demonstrates whether CBD
517
00:25:29,171 --> 00:25:32,171
is effective
and whether it's safe,
518
00:25:32,205 --> 00:25:35,871
{\an1}because we're talking
about long-term treatment.
519
00:25:35,905 --> 00:25:37,838
♪ ♪
520
00:25:37,871 --> 00:25:41,905
NARRATOR:
Treatment that uses hundreds
of milligrams of Epidiolex.
521
00:25:43,705 --> 00:25:47,871
{\an1}Not the small amounts of CBD
you can buy in a dispensary.
522
00:25:49,005 --> 00:25:51,205
HILL:
As little as four percent
523
00:25:51,238 --> 00:25:53,605
{\an7}and maybe as great as 20%
524
00:25:53,638 --> 00:25:55,905
{\an8}of the CBD that
you consume orally
525
00:25:55,938 --> 00:25:57,405
{\an7}actually gets into your body.
526
00:25:57,438 --> 00:26:01,005
And so, it seems
like you need to take
527
00:26:01,038 --> 00:26:05,071
{\an1}around about 100 milligrams
of CBD oil orally
528
00:26:05,105 --> 00:26:07,271
{\an1}for there to even
really be a signal
529
00:26:07,305 --> 00:26:10,171
{\an1}in your bloodstream
that you have CBD on board.
530
00:26:10,205 --> 00:26:12,538
HURD:
Most of the products being sold
531
00:26:12,571 --> 00:26:14,838
{\an1}are like ten and 20 milligrams.
532
00:26:14,871 --> 00:26:17,005
{\an7}And some people say that
they benefit from that.
533
00:26:17,038 --> 00:26:18,771
{\an8}And even if it's
a placebo effect,
534
00:26:18,805 --> 00:26:20,005
{\an7}I'm actually fine with it.
535
00:26:20,038 --> 00:26:22,838
{\an1}But what I'm worried
about is that the CBD
536
00:26:22,871 --> 00:26:25,271
{\an1}that they're taking
has other chemicals.
537
00:26:26,971 --> 00:26:30,071
NARRATOR:
Generally, only
products in legal states
538
00:26:30,105 --> 00:26:32,671
{\an1}that contain THC,
539
00:26:32,705 --> 00:26:35,105
{\an1}not CBD, are regulated.
540
00:26:36,671 --> 00:26:39,538
{\an1}Before they can be sold,
they must be tested
541
00:26:39,571 --> 00:26:42,538
{\an1}in licensed labs for
potency and contaminates
542
00:26:42,571 --> 00:26:46,471
like pesticides,
molds, and heavy metals.
543
00:26:47,938 --> 00:26:52,505
Using untested
cannabis is dangerous.
544
00:26:52,538 --> 00:26:55,571
{\an1}But when it comes
to assessing risk,
545
00:26:55,605 --> 00:26:57,638
{\an1}a key factor is your age,
546
00:26:57,671 --> 00:26:59,738
because the
endocannabinoid system,
547
00:26:59,771 --> 00:27:03,705
{\an1}which cannabis targets,
changes over our lifespan.
548
00:27:03,738 --> 00:27:06,338
♪ ♪
549
00:27:06,371 --> 00:27:10,571
PIOMELLI:
As we grow from being a fetus
550
00:27:10,605 --> 00:27:12,438
{\an1}into becoming an adolescent,
551
00:27:12,471 --> 00:27:15,871
{\an1}eventually an adult
and an elderly person,
552
00:27:15,905 --> 00:27:18,038
{\an7}the endocannabinoid
system follows us
553
00:27:18,071 --> 00:27:21,371
{\an7}and, at each of these
stages of our life,
554
00:27:21,405 --> 00:27:24,438
{\an1}serves a slightly
different purpose.
555
00:27:24,471 --> 00:27:26,371
♪ ♪
556
00:27:26,405 --> 00:27:29,671
NARRATOR:
During adolescence,
our natural endocannabinoids
557
00:27:29,705 --> 00:27:34,705
{\an1}reach their highest levels,
as the brain rapidly changes.
558
00:27:34,738 --> 00:27:38,238
{\an1}It's also a time when
many first try cannabis.
559
00:27:38,271 --> 00:27:40,838
♪ ♪
560
00:27:40,871 --> 00:27:43,571
PIOMELLI:
So when one consumes THC,
561
00:27:43,605 --> 00:27:45,671
you're basically
indiscriminately activating
562
00:27:45,705 --> 00:27:48,138
{\an1}all your cannabinoid
receptors in your entire body
563
00:27:48,171 --> 00:27:50,238
{\an1}and the entire brain.
564
00:27:50,271 --> 00:27:52,505
HURD:
So, THC, it's like a hammer
565
00:27:52,538 --> 00:27:54,271
{\an1}on all of these receptors.
566
00:27:54,305 --> 00:27:56,305
Our natural
endogenous cannabinoids
567
00:27:56,338 --> 00:27:59,438
{\an1}are never these hammers.
568
00:27:59,471 --> 00:28:01,871
NARRATOR:
To understand
the impact of cannabis,
569
00:28:01,905 --> 00:28:04,638
{\an1}clinical psychologist
Joanna Jacobus
570
00:28:04,671 --> 00:28:06,938
has scanned over
1,000 teenage brains
571
00:28:06,971 --> 00:28:10,005
to search for
differences between those
572
00:28:10,038 --> 00:28:12,805
who use the drug
and those who don't.
573
00:28:12,838 --> 00:28:15,171
♪ ♪
574
00:28:15,205 --> 00:28:17,305
{\an1}Today, she is evaluating Angel,
575
00:28:17,338 --> 00:28:20,471
{\an1}who has smoked cannabis at least
once a week for the past year
576
00:28:20,505 --> 00:28:23,538
and is curious
to learn about its impact.
577
00:28:23,571 --> 00:28:26,271
♪ ♪
578
00:28:26,305 --> 00:28:27,771
All I needed
to really hear is, like,
579
00:28:27,805 --> 00:28:29,471
{\an1}"Hey, do you want an
MRI of your brain?"
580
00:28:29,505 --> 00:28:30,771
"Yes!"
581
00:28:30,805 --> 00:28:32,381
{\an1}Like that... to me,
that's like really cool.
582
00:28:32,405 --> 00:28:34,447
{\an1}I know it's nerdy, but, like,
the substance you're doing,
583
00:28:34,471 --> 00:28:36,314
{\an1}you don't get to see
what it does to your brain.
584
00:28:36,338 --> 00:28:38,005
♪ ♪
585
00:28:38,038 --> 00:28:41,205
NARRATOR:
Using functional
magnetic resonance imaging,
586
00:28:41,238 --> 00:28:43,338
{\an1}Jacobus can study
brain structures
587
00:28:43,371 --> 00:28:46,705
{\an1}that are critical for healthy
development in young adults.
588
00:28:46,738 --> 00:28:50,571
♪ ♪
589
00:28:50,605 --> 00:28:53,171
{\an7}The brain is rapidly changing
from infancy through childhood,
590
00:28:53,205 --> 00:28:55,471
{\an8}adolescence,
into young adulthood.
591
00:28:55,505 --> 00:28:58,938
{\an1}Two types of tissue
are rapidly changing
592
00:28:58,971 --> 00:29:02,071
that support
cognitive development.
593
00:29:02,105 --> 00:29:05,138
So, gray matter
contains the cell bodies
594
00:29:05,171 --> 00:29:07,105
and makes up
the cerebral cortex.
595
00:29:07,138 --> 00:29:09,638
{\an1}So, the outermost
lining of the brain.
596
00:29:11,438 --> 00:29:13,738
And white matter
allows gray matter regions
597
00:29:13,771 --> 00:29:17,071
to communicate
quickly and efficiently.
598
00:29:17,105 --> 00:29:19,038
{\an8}♪ ♪
599
00:29:19,071 --> 00:29:20,871
{\an8}NARRATOR:
During the teenage years,
600
00:29:20,905 --> 00:29:23,738
{\an7}white matter increases
and grey matter diminishes,
601
00:29:23,771 --> 00:29:27,171
{\an8}as weaker neural
connections are eliminated
602
00:29:27,205 --> 00:29:30,338
{\an7}and new ones formed to make
the brain more efficient.
603
00:29:30,371 --> 00:29:32,905
{\an8}♪ ♪
604
00:29:32,938 --> 00:29:35,871
{\an7}Jacobus has found that
teen cannabis users
605
00:29:35,905 --> 00:29:38,405
{\an7}have a thicker cerebral cortex,
606
00:29:38,438 --> 00:29:42,138
{\an7}suggesting that this pruning
of synapses has been disrupted.
607
00:29:44,638 --> 00:29:46,638
{\an8}JACOBUS:
Now I'm going to read
the same list again.
608
00:29:46,671 --> 00:29:48,938
{\an8}NARRATOR:
And it's not just
physical brain changes.
609
00:29:48,971 --> 00:29:50,305
I want you to tell me...
610
00:29:50,338 --> 00:29:53,305
NARRATOR:
Thousands of cognitive
tests reveal that teens
611
00:29:53,338 --> 00:29:55,305
{\an1}who use cannabis regularly
612
00:29:55,338 --> 00:29:57,471
{\an1}struggle more on learning
and memory tasks
613
00:29:57,505 --> 00:30:00,205
{\an1}than those who don't.
614
00:30:00,238 --> 00:30:04,105
Bowl, dinner, mug...
615
00:30:04,138 --> 00:30:07,038
{\an1}It made me realize that memory
616
00:30:07,071 --> 00:30:08,905
{\an1}is probably the biggest thing
617
00:30:08,938 --> 00:30:11,838
{\an1}that impacts me with cannabis.
618
00:30:11,871 --> 00:30:14,805
But definitely
if I stop for a little bit,
619
00:30:14,838 --> 00:30:16,305
{\an1}I have a feeling that, like,
620
00:30:16,338 --> 00:30:18,105
{\an1}it would be easy to
remember those things.
621
00:30:18,138 --> 00:30:19,971
♪ ♪
622
00:30:20,005 --> 00:30:22,338
NARRATOR:
Research shows after
a period of abstinence,
623
00:30:22,371 --> 00:30:25,938
{\an1}cognitive performance
can bounce back.
624
00:30:25,971 --> 00:30:29,005
{\an1}And the brain changes?
625
00:30:29,038 --> 00:30:31,438
{\an1}Other studies link
them to alcohol,
626
00:30:31,471 --> 00:30:35,105
or genetic and
environmental influences.
627
00:30:35,138 --> 00:30:39,571
ARPANA AGRAWAL:
It is possible that cannabis
itself is not the culprit.
628
00:30:39,605 --> 00:30:42,005
{\an7}That these differences
that we see in the brain
629
00:30:42,038 --> 00:30:45,371
{\an7}are preexisting and
that they come before
630
00:30:45,405 --> 00:30:48,571
{\an1}a child ever picks
up their first joint.
631
00:30:48,605 --> 00:30:51,138
{\an1}Go ahead and
release your breath.
632
00:30:51,171 --> 00:30:55,205
NARRATOR:
To unravel the role of drugs,
genes, and the environment,
633
00:30:55,238 --> 00:30:58,171
{\an1}over 11,000 children
are being tracked
634
00:30:58,205 --> 00:31:00,338
{\an1}through their teenage years
635
00:31:00,371 --> 00:31:03,738
{\an1}in the Adolescent Brain
Cognitive Development Study.
636
00:31:03,771 --> 00:31:07,171
{\an1}And would you say that's
definitely a no, kind of no...
637
00:31:07,205 --> 00:31:09,738
NARRATOR:
N.I.H. researchers will evaluate
638
00:31:09,771 --> 00:31:11,605
{\an1}the children's physical
and mental health,
639
00:31:11,638 --> 00:31:14,771
{\an1}academic achievement,
and drug use
640
00:31:14,805 --> 00:31:17,638
{\an1}with tests of saliva and hair.
641
00:31:17,671 --> 00:31:20,305
♪ ♪
642
00:31:20,338 --> 00:31:23,305
{\an1}So far, few of the children
have tried cannabis,
643
00:31:23,338 --> 00:31:25,871
{\an1}but there is data from surveys
644
00:31:25,905 --> 00:31:28,905
{\an1}about their parents' use.
645
00:31:28,938 --> 00:31:31,038
{\an7}One of the things that
we are most interested in
646
00:31:31,071 --> 00:31:33,671
{\an7}was prenatal exposures,
and we saw that
647
00:31:33,705 --> 00:31:35,971
{\an7}there were a fair number
of mothers in the study...
648
00:31:36,005 --> 00:31:38,147
{\an1}just like what we're seeing
in the general population...
649
00:31:38,171 --> 00:31:40,371
{\an1}that used cannabis
during their pregnancy.
650
00:31:40,405 --> 00:31:45,238
CYNTHIA ROGERS:
And we were able to look and
see, among those children
651
00:31:45,271 --> 00:31:47,571
{\an7}whose moms used cannabis
during pregnancy,
652
00:31:47,605 --> 00:31:51,105
{\an7}did we see any difference in
their developmental outcomes?
653
00:31:51,138 --> 00:31:54,371
{\an1}And one questionnaire
that really stood out to us
654
00:31:54,405 --> 00:31:58,038
{\an1}was the psychosis-like
experiences assessment.
655
00:31:58,071 --> 00:32:01,305
{\an1}And although you couldn't
see anything or anyone,
656
00:32:01,338 --> 00:32:03,038
{\an1}did you suddenly
start to feel that
657
00:32:03,071 --> 00:32:04,738
{\an1}an invisible energy, creature,
658
00:32:04,771 --> 00:32:06,638
{\an1}or some person was around you?
659
00:32:06,671 --> 00:32:08,271
Uh, yeah.
660
00:32:08,305 --> 00:32:10,571
{\an1}RESEARCHER:
Yeah, okay, and
did that bother you?
661
00:32:10,605 --> 00:32:12,371
Uh, no.
Not so much.
662
00:32:12,405 --> 00:32:14,905
AGRAWAL:
And this data set
gave us an opportunity
663
00:32:14,938 --> 00:32:18,238
{\an1}to roll back the tape
664
00:32:18,271 --> 00:32:20,371
{\an1}to a period of time
in an individual's life
665
00:32:20,405 --> 00:32:23,405
{\an1}where they're being
exposed at a time
666
00:32:23,438 --> 00:32:27,105
{\an1}when their brain is
exquisitely vulnerable.
667
00:32:27,138 --> 00:32:29,238
{\an1}Did you start to worry
at times that your mind
668
00:32:29,271 --> 00:32:32,238
{\an1}was trying to trick you
or wasn't working right?
669
00:32:32,271 --> 00:32:35,271
Uh, yeah.
Okay.
670
00:32:35,305 --> 00:32:37,638
RYAN BOGDAN:
So, among kids who
were exposed to cannabis
671
00:32:37,671 --> 00:32:40,171
{\an7}following their mother's
knowledge of their pregnancy,
672
00:32:40,205 --> 00:32:42,438
{\an7}they experienced more
psychotic-like experiences,
673
00:32:42,471 --> 00:32:45,405
{\an7}they experienced more depression
and anxiety-like behavior,
674
00:32:45,438 --> 00:32:46,638
{\an1}they're breaking more rules,
675
00:32:46,671 --> 00:32:48,805
they have more
attentional thought problems.
676
00:32:48,838 --> 00:32:50,971
♪ ♪
677
00:32:51,005 --> 00:32:53,347
NARRATOR:
Psychotic-like experiences
are also associated with
678
00:32:53,371 --> 00:32:55,705
{\an1}an increased risk
for mental illnesses
679
00:32:55,738 --> 00:32:58,605
{\an1}like schizophrenia
and depression.
680
00:32:58,638 --> 00:33:01,471
♪ ♪
681
00:33:01,505 --> 00:33:03,571
ROGERS:
We know that the use of cannabis
682
00:33:03,605 --> 00:33:05,605
{\an1}during pregnancy is increasing.
683
00:33:05,638 --> 00:33:08,371
We've seen
advertisements online,
684
00:33:08,405 --> 00:33:11,571
social media,
targeting women saying
685
00:33:11,605 --> 00:33:13,538
{\an1}this is something that's
safe for you to use
686
00:33:13,571 --> 00:33:17,705
{\an1}during pregnancy for things
like nausea or insomnia.
687
00:33:17,738 --> 00:33:20,305
{\an1}And these women are not
trying to harm their babies,
688
00:33:20,338 --> 00:33:21,705
they're just
trying to get through
689
00:33:21,738 --> 00:33:23,405
{\an1}what can be a challenging time.
690
00:33:23,438 --> 00:33:25,181
As you know, we're
interested in looking at...
691
00:33:25,205 --> 00:33:29,305
NARRATOR:
Rogers and Agrawal are
now scanning 250 babies
692
00:33:29,338 --> 00:33:31,938
{\an1}to see if brains exposed
to cannabis during pregnancy
693
00:33:31,971 --> 00:33:36,005
{\an1}are different from
brains that were not.
694
00:33:37,571 --> 00:33:39,905
ROGERS:
THC crosses the placenta.
695
00:33:39,938 --> 00:33:42,671
{\an1}So, we know the baby's
brain is exposed to it.
696
00:33:42,705 --> 00:33:46,438
{\an1}We also know that
the receptors in the brain
697
00:33:46,471 --> 00:33:49,571
{\an1}that THC binds to
698
00:33:49,605 --> 00:33:52,938
{\an1}develop very early
during pregnancy.
699
00:33:54,371 --> 00:33:57,505
{\an7}The endocannabinoid system
is critical for hard wiring
700
00:33:57,538 --> 00:33:59,338
{\an7}of the brain during development.
701
00:33:59,371 --> 00:34:01,871
{\an1}So, if cannabis comes on board
702
00:34:01,905 --> 00:34:05,105
{\an1}while the endocannabinoid
system is regulating
703
00:34:05,138 --> 00:34:07,405
neural circuits
that are laid down,
704
00:34:07,438 --> 00:34:09,638
{\an1}how the cells communicate
as they're being developed,
705
00:34:09,671 --> 00:34:12,471
{\an1}obviously, it can have
an impact on that.
706
00:34:12,505 --> 00:34:14,871
{\an1}And that is the thing that
707
00:34:14,905 --> 00:34:16,805
is critical for
people to understand,
708
00:34:16,838 --> 00:34:18,305
{\an1}cannabis is not a benign drug.
709
00:34:18,338 --> 00:34:19,705
♪ ♪
710
00:34:19,738 --> 00:34:22,605
NARRATOR:
While scientists
worry about the risks,
711
00:34:22,638 --> 00:34:25,171
{\an1}most agree that far greater harm
712
00:34:25,205 --> 00:34:28,238
has come from
criminalizing cannabis,
713
00:34:28,271 --> 00:34:31,105
{\an1}starting in 1937.
714
00:34:31,138 --> 00:34:34,171
{\an1}The treasury department
intends to pursue
715
00:34:34,205 --> 00:34:36,705
the despicable,
dope-pedaling vulture...
716
00:34:36,738 --> 00:34:40,305
NARRATOR:
Harry Anslinger,
head of the Bureau of Narcotics,
717
00:34:40,338 --> 00:34:43,405
{\an1}stoked racism towards
Mexican immigrants
718
00:34:43,438 --> 00:34:47,438
{\an7}by demonizing their word
for cannabis, marijuana,
719
00:34:47,471 --> 00:34:50,205
{\an7}and claiming "the evil weed"
corrupted users.
720
00:34:50,238 --> 00:34:53,605
{\an7}NEWSREEL NARRATOR:
Debauchery, violence,
721
00:34:53,638 --> 00:34:56,705
murder, suicide.
722
00:34:56,738 --> 00:34:58,305
{\an1}(woman screaming)
723
00:34:58,338 --> 00:35:00,938
{\an7}If you look at the way
724
00:35:00,971 --> 00:35:04,171
{\an8}that they talked
about marijuana,
725
00:35:04,205 --> 00:35:07,205
{\an7}part of the strategy
was to make cannabis
726
00:35:07,238 --> 00:35:10,971
{\an7}something that wasn't
acceptable, make it foreign,
727
00:35:11,005 --> 00:35:13,838
{\an7}and create the hysteria
to put laws in place
728
00:35:13,871 --> 00:35:17,771
{\an1}that control a group
of people that were not white
729
00:35:17,805 --> 00:35:19,771
{\an1}and push forward a narrative
730
00:35:19,805 --> 00:35:22,138
{\an1}that the government
is keeping us safe.
731
00:35:23,771 --> 00:35:27,738
NARRATOR:
In the 1970s, Richard Nixon
ignored an expert panel
732
00:35:27,771 --> 00:35:30,671
{\an1}recommending decriminalization
733
00:35:30,705 --> 00:35:33,871
{\an1}and declared a "war on drugs."
734
00:35:33,905 --> 00:35:37,371
Soon drugs would
become the key reason
735
00:35:37,405 --> 00:35:40,605
{\an1}for being arrested in the U.S.
736
00:35:40,638 --> 00:35:42,671
Do you mind if we
search the car?
737
00:35:42,705 --> 00:35:47,338
NARRATOR:
Since 2000, over 14 million
people have been arrested,
738
00:35:47,371 --> 00:35:51,138
{\an1}and some 40,000 Americans
are now behind bars
739
00:35:51,171 --> 00:35:54,471
for cannabis...
Mainly for possession charges.
740
00:35:56,171 --> 00:35:59,805
FREDERIQUE:
Someone gets arrested
for cannabis every 58 seconds.
741
00:35:59,838 --> 00:36:02,905
{\an1}In a country where we
are now legalizing cannabis,
742
00:36:02,938 --> 00:36:04,971
{\an1}people are talking
about its medical use,
743
00:36:05,005 --> 00:36:07,671
{\an1}in the midst of COVID-19,
it is an essential service,
744
00:36:07,705 --> 00:36:10,405
cannabis is one
of the driving forces
745
00:36:10,438 --> 00:36:14,538
{\an1}fueling mass incarceration
in this country
746
00:36:14,571 --> 00:36:16,938
{\an1}and it is disproportionately
targeting poor people
747
00:36:16,971 --> 00:36:20,105
{\an1}and communities of color.
748
00:36:20,138 --> 00:36:23,338
{\an7}In every single state
in the United States,
749
00:36:23,371 --> 00:36:25,238
{\an8}whether cannabis
is legal or not,
750
00:36:25,271 --> 00:36:27,538
{\an7}Black people are arrested
751
00:36:27,571 --> 00:36:31,571
{\an7}for cannabis-related offenses
more than white people.
752
00:36:31,605 --> 00:36:33,405
(sirens wailing)
753
00:36:33,438 --> 00:36:36,505
FREDERIQUE:
Despite the fact that all
government data shows
754
00:36:36,538 --> 00:36:41,038
that usage is
equal across races.
755
00:36:41,071 --> 00:36:45,271
NARRATOR:
Although many Americans believe
the war on cannabis is over,
756
00:36:45,305 --> 00:36:47,905
{\an1}for Black people especially,
757
00:36:47,938 --> 00:36:50,805
{\an1}like Sean and Eboni Worsley,
758
00:36:50,838 --> 00:36:53,571
{\an1}it's a war that's
still going on.
759
00:36:53,605 --> 00:36:55,871
♪ ♪
760
00:36:55,905 --> 00:36:57,971
To manage his
post-traumatic stress,
761
00:36:58,005 --> 00:37:02,038
{\an1}Sean had gotten a medical
cannabis card in Arizona.
762
00:37:04,605 --> 00:37:06,905
{\an1}But as he and Eboni
began a cross-country trip
763
00:37:06,938 --> 00:37:09,505
{\an1}to see family, they would
drive through states
764
00:37:09,538 --> 00:37:12,005
{\an1}where cannabis is illegal
765
00:37:12,038 --> 00:37:14,971
{\an1}and racial profiling common.
766
00:37:15,005 --> 00:37:17,238
♪ ♪
767
00:37:17,271 --> 00:37:18,771
EBONI WORSLEY:
We needed gas.
768
00:37:18,805 --> 00:37:20,805
{\an8}We have no idea,
especially in a place
769
00:37:20,838 --> 00:37:22,338
{\an7}you are not familiar with,
770
00:37:22,371 --> 00:37:25,405
{\an1}when is the next place you're
gonna be able to stop for gas?
771
00:37:27,638 --> 00:37:30,771
SEAN WORSLEY:
I get out of the car.
772
00:37:30,805 --> 00:37:34,538
{\an1}As I'm walking away,
773
00:37:34,571 --> 00:37:36,438
{\an7}a vehicle pulls in front of
my wife's car
774
00:37:36,471 --> 00:37:39,238
{\an7}and it is a police vehicle.
775
00:37:39,271 --> 00:37:41,171
EBONI WORSLEY:
And all of a sudden,
776
00:37:41,205 --> 00:37:42,971
{\an1}I am approached by an officer.
777
00:37:43,005 --> 00:37:45,405
{\an1}It startled me, when I looked
up and he's like, you know,
778
00:37:45,438 --> 00:37:47,305
{\an1}"Where are you heading?"
and I'm like,
779
00:37:47,338 --> 00:37:50,871
"We're heading
to North Carolina."
780
00:37:50,905 --> 00:37:53,438
{\an1}And then he began
speaking to my husband,
781
00:37:53,471 --> 00:37:54,971
{\an1}who is outside of the vehicle.
782
00:37:55,005 --> 00:37:58,838
SEAN WORSLEY:
He asked me about any weed
783
00:37:58,871 --> 00:38:01,538
{\an1}being in the vehicle
and I just was honest
784
00:38:01,571 --> 00:38:03,771
and I told him,
"Sir, you know, I am a medical
785
00:38:03,805 --> 00:38:06,971
{\an1}"cannabis patient from Arizona
and I do have my cannabis,
786
00:38:07,005 --> 00:38:09,871
{\an1}but it's zipped up
and it's in the trunk."
787
00:38:09,905 --> 00:38:12,305
At that point,
he puts me in handcuffs
788
00:38:12,338 --> 00:38:14,605
and proceeds to
search the vehicle.
789
00:38:16,071 --> 00:38:19,038
{\an1}I give him my IDs,
790
00:38:19,071 --> 00:38:21,238
{\an1}and he said, "Hmm, well
you won't need these
791
00:38:21,271 --> 00:38:23,438
{\an1}where you're going."
792
00:38:23,471 --> 00:38:28,271
NARRATOR:
The officer found a third of
an ounce of medical cannabis.
793
00:38:28,305 --> 00:38:31,271
LEAH NELSON:
He charged them as
severely as he could
794
00:38:31,305 --> 00:38:35,138
{\an1}with possession for
other than personal use,
795
00:38:35,171 --> 00:38:37,605
{\an7}and that was because Sean
had with him a grinder
796
00:38:37,638 --> 00:38:39,405
{\an7}and he had rolling papers,
797
00:38:39,438 --> 00:38:41,338
{\an1}and he had a scale.
798
00:38:41,371 --> 00:38:44,305
{\an1}All of those things were
recommended by his doctor.
799
00:38:44,338 --> 00:38:46,671
If you smoke
marijuana medically,
800
00:38:46,705 --> 00:38:50,071
{\an1}it's not uncommon for a doctor
to tell you to use a scale
801
00:38:50,105 --> 00:38:52,771
so you know how
much you are smoking.
802
00:38:52,805 --> 00:38:55,305
♪ ♪
803
00:38:55,338 --> 00:38:57,838
NARRATOR:
Eboni and Sean spent six days
804
00:38:57,871 --> 00:39:00,838
in jail before
getting a hearing.
805
00:39:00,871 --> 00:39:03,471
At the Pickens
County Courthouse,
806
00:39:03,505 --> 00:39:05,905
{\an1}they were charged
with multiple felonies.
807
00:39:05,938 --> 00:39:07,738
♪ ♪
808
00:39:07,771 --> 00:39:09,638
After struggling
to pay a bondsman
809
00:39:09,671 --> 00:39:12,005
{\an1}and impound fees for the car,
810
00:39:12,038 --> 00:39:14,171
{\an1}the couple returned to Arizona.
811
00:39:14,205 --> 00:39:16,371
♪ ♪
812
00:39:16,405 --> 00:39:18,971
EBONI WORSLEY:
The fines and the fees
became astronomical.
813
00:39:19,005 --> 00:39:21,571
{\an1}By the time we made it
back to Arizona,
814
00:39:21,605 --> 00:39:23,805
{\an1}we literally couldn't afford
to pay our rent or bills,
815
00:39:23,838 --> 00:39:25,471
{\an1}and we ended up evicted.
816
00:39:25,505 --> 00:39:28,071
{\an1}We were homeless.
817
00:39:28,105 --> 00:39:31,905
NARRATOR:
Under stress,
Sean had a stroke.
818
00:39:31,938 --> 00:39:34,671
{\an1}Eventually, Eboni's
charges were dropped,
819
00:39:34,705 --> 00:39:37,371
but due to prior
minor convictions,
820
00:39:37,405 --> 00:39:42,471
{\an1}Sean was sentenced to five
years and put on probation.
821
00:39:42,505 --> 00:39:45,205
NELSON:
Probation requires
a stable address,
822
00:39:45,238 --> 00:39:47,205
{\an1}it requires you to pay money,
823
00:39:47,238 --> 00:39:49,771
{\an1}and one of the conditions
of Sean's probation
824
00:39:49,805 --> 00:39:52,471
{\an1}is that he needed
to get drug treatment.
825
00:39:52,505 --> 00:39:55,338
{\an1}And the V.A. looks
at him and says,
826
00:39:55,371 --> 00:39:57,771
{\an1}"You have a medical
marijuana card, man,
827
00:39:57,805 --> 00:39:59,538
{\an1}"We're not going to treat you.
828
00:39:59,571 --> 00:40:02,605
{\an1}You don't qualify because
you don't have a drug problem."
829
00:40:02,638 --> 00:40:04,971
♪ ♪
830
00:40:05,005 --> 00:40:06,471
SEAN WORSLEY:
Probation and parole,
831
00:40:06,505 --> 00:40:09,905
{\an1}they're just traps
to send you right back,
832
00:40:09,938 --> 00:40:12,105
{\an1}to keep you in their grasp.
833
00:40:12,138 --> 00:40:14,538
{\an1}You want to lock me up
for not having a job,
834
00:40:14,571 --> 00:40:17,371
{\an1}you want to lock me up for
not having a place to stay.
835
00:40:17,405 --> 00:40:20,305
{\an1}How am I supposed
to get these things
836
00:40:20,338 --> 00:40:24,405
{\an1}if I can't get a job because
you have me labeled as a felon?
837
00:40:24,438 --> 00:40:27,071
♪ ♪
838
00:40:27,105 --> 00:40:31,338
NARRATOR:
In March 2020, Sean was
extradited to Alabama
839
00:40:31,371 --> 00:40:36,338
{\an1}to serve the remainder
of his sentence behind bars.
840
00:40:36,371 --> 00:40:39,705
CUNNINGHAM:
I see the harms
of the war on drugs
841
00:40:39,738 --> 00:40:44,138
{\an1}every single day in all
of my patients' lives.
842
00:40:44,171 --> 00:40:46,538
It is so clear.
843
00:40:46,571 --> 00:40:49,505
{\an1}There's not a single
family that I know
844
00:40:49,538 --> 00:40:51,805
{\an1}that doesn't have some member
845
00:40:51,838 --> 00:40:56,305
{\an1}who's been arrested
or incarcerated.
846
00:40:56,338 --> 00:40:59,371
{\an1}And what I see is that
847
00:40:59,405 --> 00:41:01,771
what happens
in society, the arrests,
848
00:41:01,805 --> 00:41:04,438
{\an1}the incarceration, the poverty,
849
00:41:04,471 --> 00:41:06,671
{\an1}dramatically affects
people's health,
850
00:41:06,705 --> 00:41:09,238
their lives,
their quality of life.
851
00:41:14,205 --> 00:41:16,838
NARRATOR:
As criminalization
destroys lives,
852
00:41:16,871 --> 00:41:19,338
{\an1}at the same time,
853
00:41:19,371 --> 00:41:24,005
{\an1}the cannabis wellness
industry is thriving.
854
00:41:24,038 --> 00:41:27,205
One entrepreneur
is Eugene Monroe,
855
00:41:27,238 --> 00:41:30,471
{\an1}a former football player
who believes cannabis
856
00:41:30,505 --> 00:41:33,571
{\an1}can help address chronic pain.
857
00:41:33,605 --> 00:41:38,005
EUGENE MONROE:
Playing in the NFL
was a lifelong dream.
858
00:41:38,038 --> 00:41:40,105
{\an1}I love the sport.
859
00:41:40,138 --> 00:41:43,171
{\an1}That explosive power...
860
00:41:43,205 --> 00:41:47,371
{\an1}to propel my body
861
00:41:47,405 --> 00:41:49,147
{\an1}and essentially flatten people.
(players grunting)
862
00:41:49,171 --> 00:41:51,571
{\an1}Each time that happens,
each time your brain
863
00:41:51,605 --> 00:41:54,638
{\an1}rattles in your skull,
864
00:41:54,671 --> 00:41:57,305
you pay a price.
865
00:41:57,338 --> 00:42:01,905
{\an7}The job creates a need
for pain relief inherently,
866
00:42:01,938 --> 00:42:05,938
so I was given
a lot of opioid drugs,
867
00:42:05,971 --> 00:42:08,971
which would let
you go into a game
868
00:42:09,005 --> 00:42:13,271
{\an1}with acute injuries and perform
because you don't feel bad.
869
00:42:13,305 --> 00:42:16,971
{\an1}I was taking my oxycodone
just as prescribed,
870
00:42:17,005 --> 00:42:21,471
{\an1}and saw my daughter
walking down the hallway
871
00:42:21,505 --> 00:42:24,005
{\an1}and didn't recognize her.
872
00:42:24,038 --> 00:42:26,305
{\an1}And I realized that they
were causing a serious issue,
873
00:42:26,338 --> 00:42:27,771
{\an1}and I stopped taking them.
874
00:42:27,805 --> 00:42:30,571
{\an1}And that's the point
where I decided that
875
00:42:30,605 --> 00:42:33,138
{\an1}cannabis is a better option.
876
00:42:33,171 --> 00:42:36,671
♪ ♪
877
00:42:36,705 --> 00:42:39,338
{\an1}Cannabis didn't just allow
me to cut back on opioids,
878
00:42:39,371 --> 00:42:42,938
{\an1}it allowed me to eliminate
all pharmaceutical drugs.
879
00:42:42,971 --> 00:42:45,571
♪ ♪
880
00:42:45,605 --> 00:42:48,438
{\an1}It hasn't cured my injuries,
881
00:42:48,471 --> 00:42:50,905
{\an1}but what it did for me was
882
00:42:50,938 --> 00:42:53,938
{\an1}alleviate my pain,
so I felt motivated to go
883
00:42:53,971 --> 00:42:57,171
{\an1}in the gym and work out
and take care of my body.
884
00:42:57,205 --> 00:43:01,505
CUNNINGHAM:
We know that cannabis
leads to less pain
885
00:43:01,538 --> 00:43:04,171
{\an1}and it alters people's
ability to tolerate the pain.
886
00:43:04,205 --> 00:43:07,305
{\an1}It affects the immune system
887
00:43:07,338 --> 00:43:09,271
{\an1}and reduces inflammation.
888
00:43:09,305 --> 00:43:13,205
{\an1}It's certainly safer
than other medications
889
00:43:13,238 --> 00:43:15,371
that we've been
using for decades.
890
00:43:16,905 --> 00:43:19,305
NARRATOR:
Monroe is now a
partner and consultant
891
00:43:19,338 --> 00:43:22,571
{\an1}for one of the nation's
largest cannabis companies.
892
00:43:24,538 --> 00:43:28,205
{\an1}Yet, while many praise
the benefits of cannabis,
893
00:43:28,238 --> 00:43:31,105
some scientists
warn there are risks,
894
00:43:31,138 --> 00:43:34,805
{\an1}especially for those
who use it daily.
895
00:43:34,838 --> 00:43:37,171
{\an1}About nine percent
of users will develop
896
00:43:37,205 --> 00:43:39,871
{\an1}a cannabis addiction.
897
00:43:39,905 --> 00:43:42,538
One is Paul.
898
00:43:43,805 --> 00:43:46,338
DEBASSIO:
I was in my junior
year of high school
899
00:43:46,371 --> 00:43:48,305
and it was a
400 freestyle relay.
900
00:43:48,338 --> 00:43:49,738
{\an1}The last leg of the race,
901
00:43:49,771 --> 00:43:53,838
{\an1}always you go just as hard
as humanly possible.
902
00:43:53,871 --> 00:43:56,638
{\an1}And as I came up from the flip
turn and I snapped my head up,
903
00:43:56,671 --> 00:43:59,571
I just felt this
twinge just right
904
00:43:59,605 --> 00:44:03,805
{\an1}in between my shoulder blades,
and it just killed me.
905
00:44:03,838 --> 00:44:05,805
{\an1}But it wasn't until
I went into college that
906
00:44:05,838 --> 00:44:08,405
{\an1}it became a recurring
detrimental thing.
907
00:44:08,438 --> 00:44:12,605
{\an1}And I started using
cannabis to alleviate
908
00:44:12,638 --> 00:44:14,971
{\an1}a lot of the pain and
to help me sleep at night,
909
00:44:15,005 --> 00:44:17,005
{\an1}because I could never
get a full night's rest.
910
00:44:17,038 --> 00:44:19,138
♪ ♪
911
00:44:19,171 --> 00:44:22,471
NARRATOR:
Cannabis seemed
to cure Paul's insomnia.
912
00:44:23,971 --> 00:44:26,071
DEBASSIO:
I loved how calming it was.
913
00:44:26,105 --> 00:44:28,938
{\an1}I'd have the best night of sleep
that I've ever had in my life.
914
00:44:28,971 --> 00:44:31,938
{\an1}And I said, "This is amazing."
915
00:44:31,971 --> 00:44:35,371
NORA VOLKOW:
It would be fantastic
if we have a drug
916
00:44:35,405 --> 00:44:37,147
{\an7}that could actually calm
you when you need it,
917
00:44:37,171 --> 00:44:40,138
{\an7}that makes you feel
groovy, more social,
918
00:44:40,171 --> 00:44:41,971
and there's no
negative consequences.
919
00:44:42,005 --> 00:44:44,571
{\an1}It would be extraordinary,
but that's not the case.
920
00:44:44,605 --> 00:44:49,071
{\an1}Biology basically adapts
to stimuli that you give.
921
00:44:49,105 --> 00:44:52,338
NARRATOR:
Cannabis is less addictive
922
00:44:52,371 --> 00:44:55,071
{\an1}and safer than tobacco, heroin,
923
00:44:55,105 --> 00:44:57,205
{\an7}cocaine, and alcohol,
924
00:44:57,238 --> 00:45:00,205
{\an7}which kill hundreds
of thousands each year.
925
00:45:00,238 --> 00:45:03,238
{\an7}But, you can take too much.
926
00:45:05,338 --> 00:45:07,538
{\an1}We're seeing an increase
in the number of people
927
00:45:07,571 --> 00:45:09,871
that end up in
emergency departments
928
00:45:09,905 --> 00:45:12,238
{\an1}with a full-blown psychosis
929
00:45:12,271 --> 00:45:15,205
{\an1}because of the high content THC.
930
00:45:15,238 --> 00:45:19,705
{\an1}Dependence can impair
memory, mood, and motivation.
931
00:45:21,138 --> 00:45:23,305
Paul didn't know
he had a problem
932
00:45:23,338 --> 00:45:26,138
until he needed
a drug test for a job.
933
00:45:26,171 --> 00:45:28,071
♪ ♪
934
00:45:28,105 --> 00:45:30,538
DEBASSIO:
And so I quit cold turkey,
935
00:45:30,571 --> 00:45:32,071
{\an1}and almost immediately
936
00:45:32,105 --> 00:45:34,405
I noticed a big
change in my mood.
937
00:45:34,438 --> 00:45:37,638
{\an1}They get irritable,
they get aggressive,
938
00:45:37,671 --> 00:45:39,471
{\an1}and they can feel depressed.
939
00:45:39,505 --> 00:45:42,305
DEBASSIO:
There were stretches
of weeks that I slept
940
00:45:42,338 --> 00:45:45,071
{\an1}for maybe two to three
hours a night, every night.
941
00:45:45,105 --> 00:45:47,905
{\an1}And that was all I could get.
942
00:45:47,938 --> 00:45:50,114
{\an1}DEEPAK CYRIL D'SOUZA:
We looked at sleep
architecture and what we found
943
00:45:50,138 --> 00:45:53,038
{\an7}was that when people
quit using marijuana,
944
00:45:53,071 --> 00:45:55,138
{\an8}slow wave sleep,
945
00:45:55,171 --> 00:45:57,571
{\an1}which is the kind of sleep
that makes you feel rested
946
00:45:57,605 --> 00:46:00,571
{\an1}the next morning,
was significantly disrupted.
947
00:46:00,605 --> 00:46:02,838
♪ ♪
948
00:46:02,871 --> 00:46:04,971
{\an1}Okay, hi, Paul, how are you?
949
00:46:05,005 --> 00:46:06,405
Good morning.
950
00:46:06,438 --> 00:46:08,005
NARRATOR:
In a new clinical trial,
951
00:46:08,038 --> 00:46:12,638
{\an1}Deepak D'Souza hopes to harness
the endocannabinoid system
952
00:46:12,671 --> 00:46:15,471
{\an1}to prevent cannabis withdrawal.
953
00:46:15,505 --> 00:46:17,438
{\an1}I need to observe
you take the medication.
954
00:46:17,471 --> 00:46:18,905
{\an1}So let's just go through that.
955
00:46:18,938 --> 00:46:21,371
NARRATOR:
When the brain is
repeatedly flooded with THC,
956
00:46:21,405 --> 00:46:24,771
{\an7}it reduces the number
of cannabinoid receptors.
957
00:46:26,971 --> 00:46:29,238
Once a person
is dependent on cannabis,
958
00:46:29,271 --> 00:46:33,238
{\an1}abruptly quitting
triggers withdrawal.
959
00:46:33,271 --> 00:46:36,205
To replace THC,
960
00:46:36,238 --> 00:46:38,938
{\an1}D'Souza is testing a drug
that increases our own
961
00:46:38,971 --> 00:46:42,605
cannabis-like
molecule, anandamide.
962
00:46:42,638 --> 00:46:44,905
{\an1}There was a two-week
period where I was taking
963
00:46:44,938 --> 00:46:46,971
{\an1}either the placebo
or the study medication
964
00:46:47,005 --> 00:46:49,371
{\an1}and still smoking
at the same time.
965
00:46:49,405 --> 00:46:51,471
And then I had
to quit cold turkey.
966
00:46:51,505 --> 00:46:54,571
{\an1}And the day that I quit,
967
00:46:54,605 --> 00:46:57,538
{\an1}I thought that there was no way
I was going to sleep that night.
968
00:46:57,571 --> 00:47:01,638
♪ ♪
969
00:47:01,671 --> 00:47:03,838
I had no issues.
970
00:47:03,871 --> 00:47:06,371
{\an1}It was very, very easy.
971
00:47:06,405 --> 00:47:08,805
{\an1}I'll never forget
that first night
972
00:47:08,838 --> 00:47:12,105
{\an1}that I was able to sleep
after, after not smoking.
973
00:47:12,138 --> 00:47:16,638
{\an1}I, I woke up the next day
in absolute shock and awe.
974
00:47:18,338 --> 00:47:21,238
{\an1}Paul doesn't know if
he got the study drug.
975
00:47:22,638 --> 00:47:27,005
{\an1}But an earlier trial showed
that it helped people quit.
976
00:47:28,405 --> 00:47:31,571
{\an1}And PET scans reveal that
after cannabis is stopped,
977
00:47:31,605 --> 00:47:35,038
{\an7}the brain's own cannabinoid
receptors come back.
978
00:47:35,071 --> 00:47:36,805
{\an8}♪ ♪
979
00:47:36,838 --> 00:47:40,238
HURD:
Our endocannabinoid
system is really powerful.
980
00:47:40,271 --> 00:47:43,771
{\an1}And that's why we
shouldn't really
981
00:47:43,805 --> 00:47:45,805
{\an1}play with it that much.
982
00:47:45,838 --> 00:47:48,038
{\an7}A drug may be fine
for one person,
983
00:47:48,071 --> 00:47:49,738
{\an7}but it isn't for everyone.
984
00:47:49,771 --> 00:47:51,805
Dose matters.
985
00:47:51,838 --> 00:47:55,038
{\an1}When you take it during
development matters.
986
00:47:55,071 --> 00:47:57,638
{\an1}We need to really
understand what these drugs do
987
00:47:57,671 --> 00:48:01,171
{\an1}to the brain, even if
they will, and I do believe
988
00:48:01,205 --> 00:48:03,305
{\an1}have some medicinal benefits.
989
00:48:03,338 --> 00:48:05,105
♪ ♪
990
00:48:05,138 --> 00:48:09,271
NARRATOR:
So what does the future hold
for cannabis as a medicine?
991
00:48:09,305 --> 00:48:11,638
{\an1}Moving on to the sky walker OG.
992
00:48:11,671 --> 00:48:15,571
NARRATOR:
To find out, Staci Gruber
is following adults
993
00:48:15,605 --> 00:48:17,438
who buy cannabis
from dispensaries
994
00:48:17,471 --> 00:48:19,371
{\an1}to treat a range of ailments.
995
00:48:19,405 --> 00:48:21,271
This is fantastic
for the afternoon.
996
00:48:21,305 --> 00:48:23,871
{\an8}Chronic pain is
the number one condition.
997
00:48:23,905 --> 00:48:26,371
{\an7}Anxiety is probably number two.
998
00:48:26,405 --> 00:48:29,371
{\an7}PTSD, difficulties with sleep.
999
00:48:29,405 --> 00:48:30,881
{\an1}And we have patients
who come to us and say,
1000
00:48:30,905 --> 00:48:33,338
{\an1}"You know, I use these types
of products for this problem."
1001
00:48:33,371 --> 00:48:35,047
{\an1}And then we go, "Hmm,
we should look at that."
1002
00:48:35,071 --> 00:48:36,805
{\an1}How's the anxiety?
1003
00:48:36,838 --> 00:48:38,838
{\an1}In all honesty, how is it?
1004
00:48:38,871 --> 00:48:40,305
{\an1}Things are going really good...
1005
00:48:40,338 --> 00:48:43,105
NARRATOR:
Gruber's study has yet
to be peer reviewed,
1006
00:48:43,138 --> 00:48:45,238
{\an1}but two years of clinical
and psychological tests
1007
00:48:45,271 --> 00:48:46,838
{\an1}show patients improving.
1008
00:48:46,871 --> 00:48:48,771
{\an1}Wow, so that's a decided change.
1009
00:48:48,805 --> 00:48:50,071
Yes.
1010
00:48:50,105 --> 00:48:51,805
{\an1}Reduced symptoms of pain,
1011
00:48:51,838 --> 00:48:54,071
reduced anxiety, improved sleep,
1012
00:48:54,105 --> 00:48:56,138
and improvements
across the board
1013
00:48:56,171 --> 00:48:58,905
on a number of
different cognitive tasks
1014
00:48:58,938 --> 00:49:00,638
{\an1}that require executive function.
1015
00:49:00,671 --> 00:49:02,471
{\an1}The question is why?
1016
00:49:02,505 --> 00:49:04,905
{\an1}It may very well be
that the restorative sleep
1017
00:49:04,938 --> 00:49:07,638
{\an1}that people are starting to
get once they find something
1018
00:49:07,671 --> 00:49:09,805
{\an1}that works for them is
the key to the improvement.
1019
00:49:09,838 --> 00:49:12,271
♪ ♪
1020
00:49:12,305 --> 00:49:14,505
I think this was the
most important document.
1021
00:49:14,538 --> 00:49:16,738
NARRATOR:
Back in Alabama,
1022
00:49:16,771 --> 00:49:19,371
{\an1}Leah Nelson is working
with Eboni Worsley
1023
00:49:19,405 --> 00:49:22,105
{\an1}to get her husband Sean paroled.
1024
00:49:22,138 --> 00:49:26,505
NELSON:
Alabama's war on
cannabis has failed.
1025
00:49:26,538 --> 00:49:29,871
{\an1}People like Sean,
and particularly Black men,
1026
00:49:29,905 --> 00:49:32,738
{\an7}are paying this horrific price
1027
00:49:32,771 --> 00:49:35,338
{\an7}for doing something
that is already legal
1028
00:49:35,371 --> 00:49:38,538
{\an1}in states where half
of Americans live.
1029
00:49:38,571 --> 00:49:42,471
♪ ♪
1030
00:49:45,571 --> 00:49:48,071
(laughter)
1031
00:49:48,105 --> 00:49:49,805
NARRATOR:
In November 2020,
1032
00:49:49,838 --> 00:49:54,071
{\an1}Sean was released from
prison and placed on parole.
1033
00:49:54,105 --> 00:49:56,338
It's time to go.
1034
00:49:56,371 --> 00:49:58,005
You ready?
1035
00:49:58,038 --> 00:50:01,505
{\an1}SEAN WORSLEY (voiceover):
It was scary being inside.
1036
00:50:01,538 --> 00:50:03,671
{\an1}It rocked me to the core.
1037
00:50:03,705 --> 00:50:05,838
It was probably one of the most
1038
00:50:05,871 --> 00:50:07,771
{\an1}difficult things I've had to do.
1039
00:50:07,805 --> 00:50:10,571
{\an8}♪ ♪
1040
00:50:10,605 --> 00:50:13,271
{\an7}I would pick going back to war
1041
00:50:13,305 --> 00:50:15,771
{\an7}before going back to prison.
1042
00:50:15,805 --> 00:50:18,005
Most definitely.
1043
00:50:19,638 --> 00:50:22,038
♪ ♪
1044
00:50:25,638 --> 00:50:28,905
EBONI WORSLEY:
It set us back so far.
1045
00:50:28,938 --> 00:50:32,105
{\an1}It's supposed to help
rehabilitate individuals.
1046
00:50:32,138 --> 00:50:35,771
{\an1}Instead, it's putting us
in positions where we need
1047
00:50:35,805 --> 00:50:37,771
{\an1}so much more mental help.
1048
00:50:37,805 --> 00:50:39,838
{\an1}We need much more
financial help,
1049
00:50:39,871 --> 00:50:43,438
{\an7}we need so much more
than we needed before.
1050
00:50:43,471 --> 00:50:45,671
♪ ♪
1051
00:50:45,705 --> 00:50:49,638
FREDERIQUE:
It is past time for us
to end the war on drugs.
1052
00:50:49,671 --> 00:50:52,171
{\an1}We need to legalize cannabis.
1053
00:50:52,205 --> 00:50:54,638
{\an1}We need to be pumping
money into research
1054
00:50:54,671 --> 00:50:57,005
{\an1}to actually learn more
about this substance.
1055
00:50:57,038 --> 00:51:00,771
{\an1}This moment is about
building new responses
1056
00:51:00,805 --> 00:51:04,038
{\an7}to drugs that are
based in science
1057
00:51:04,071 --> 00:51:06,238
{\an7}and that are based in
the rights of people.
1058
00:51:07,605 --> 00:51:11,871
NARRATOR:
There are still
many questions to answer.
1059
00:51:11,905 --> 00:51:15,738
Should cannabis
be marketed as candy?
1060
00:51:17,305 --> 00:51:20,305
{\an1}Should the THC potency
of products have limits?
1061
00:51:20,338 --> 00:51:22,205
♪ ♪
1062
00:51:22,238 --> 00:51:25,771
{\an1}From reducing harms,
to expunging convictions
1063
00:51:25,805 --> 00:51:27,838
{\an1}and ensuring equity,
1064
00:51:27,871 --> 00:51:29,771
{\an1}getting legalization right
1065
00:51:29,805 --> 00:51:34,538
{\an1}is as complicated
as the plant itself.
1066
00:51:34,571 --> 00:51:36,505
GRUBER:
Cannabis is not one thing.
1067
00:51:36,538 --> 00:51:39,605
{\an1}Our recreational consumers
have a different goal
1068
00:51:39,638 --> 00:51:42,338
{\an1}for using cannabis than
our medical patients.
1069
00:51:42,371 --> 00:51:44,338
{\an1}Our medical patients say,
1070
00:51:44,371 --> 00:51:47,105
{\an1}"I'm not looking necessarily
to change how I feel.
1071
00:51:47,138 --> 00:51:51,105
{\an1}I just want to address
this set of symptoms."
1072
00:51:51,138 --> 00:51:53,038
But we have
frighteningly little data
1073
00:51:53,071 --> 00:51:57,538
{\an1}on the long-term effects
of medical cannabis use.
1074
00:51:57,571 --> 00:52:01,238
{\an1}The plant is comprised
of over 400 compounds... 400.
1075
00:52:01,271 --> 00:52:05,438
{\an1}If people turn to it,
we should know the answers.
1076
00:52:05,471 --> 00:52:09,605
♪ ♪
1077
00:52:18,071 --> 00:52:21,238
♪ ♪
1078
00:52:38,205 --> 00:52:40,014
{\an8}ALOK PATEL:
Discover the science
behind the news
1079
00:52:40,038 --> 00:52:42,038
{\an7}with the "NOVA Now" podcast.
1080
00:52:42,071 --> 00:52:45,505
{\an7}Listen at pbs.org/novanowpodcast
1081
00:52:45,538 --> 00:52:48,771
{\an7}or wherever you find
your favorite podcasts.
1082
00:52:48,805 --> 00:52:50,705
{\an8}ANNOUNCER:
To order this program on DVD,
1083
00:52:50,738 --> 00:52:55,738
{\an8}visit ShopPBS
or call 1-800-PLAY-PBS.
1084
00:52:55,771 --> 00:52:58,605
{\an7}Episodes of "NOVA"
are available with Passport.
1085
00:52:58,638 --> 00:53:02,071
{\an7}"NOVA" is also available
on Amazon Prime Video.
1086
00:53:02,871 --> 00:53:07,205
{\an8}♪ ♪
1087
00:53:16,571 --> 00:53:21,805
♪ ♪
88652
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