Sanjay Gupta: ‘It’s Time for a Medical Marijuana Revolution’

 Spencer Heyfron

anjay Gupta, who graced the cover of CULTURE in April of 2014 as a high profile cannabis supporter, has
once again spoken out in favor of the substance— and this time, he’s calling
for a full scale revolution. No seriously, we aren’t kidding– the article
he wrote for CNN  is
in fact called, “It’s Time for a Medical Marijuana Revolution.”

The trending article also ran as a Sunday night special news
story on CNN.com. Gupta starts off
the article with an essential overview, sighting the fact that more Americans
than ever support legal cannabis, doctors are starting to take it seriously,
and multiple states are calling for legalization. Then, he breaks it down in
terms of the strides that have been made, and the places where medical cannabis
could really make a difference.

Damn Ugly Photography

One of the most compelling tidbits he shares is a quote from
his own mother, referencing the time he told her about his new documentary
topic, and comparing that with a recent response. “Marijuana…?’ She whispered
in a half questioning, half disapproving tone. She could barely even say the
word and her response filled me with self-doubt. Even as a grown man, mom can
still make my cheeks turn red and shatter my confidence with a single word. But
just last week she suddenly stopped mid-conversation and said, ‘I am proud of
you on the whole marijuana thing.’ I waited for the other shoe to drop, but it
didn’t. Instead, she added, ‘You probably helped a lot of people who were
suffering.’”

Gupta uses the article to reflect on his previous projects
regarding the topic of cannabis such as past essays written and his 2013 documentary, “Weed.”
He uses these moments in his career to gauge how things have changed over the
course of these projects, referring back to the pleasant thought of how many
parents were able to give their sick children solace and touching on how many
other diseases and ailments could potentially be treated by the availability of
cannabis.

He ends the piece with this poetic call to arms: “So, here
it is: We should legalize medical marijuana. We should do it nationally. And,
we should do it now.”

It’s no secret that Gupta’s pull in the political and
medical worlds is nothing to scoff at. With such a high profile and revered
public figure behind medical cannabis reform, change is sure to come.