Science Fictions Episode 94: Medical marijuana
Feb 3, 2026
A lively dive into the messy state of medical cannabis research and why recent policy shifts could change that. They unpack weird US drug scheduling, how rescheduling might free up better clinical trials, and the limits of government-supplied cannabis for research. Listeners hear about mixed evidence across pain, seizures, nausea, and societal effects, plus concerns around psychosis and dependence.
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Rescheduling Will Unlock Better Research
- Donald Trump's 2025 rescheduling of cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III should ease research barriers in the US.
- Researchers currently face a catch-22 because government-grown cannabis differs markedly from real-world products.
Pop Culture Framing Leads Into Policy Talk
- Stuart and Tom open by recalling cultural ties of cannabis like the cannabis leaf on Dr. Dre's album art.
- They use personal and cultural anecdotes to segue into medical and policy discussion.
Dispensary Crime Evidence Is Messy
- Studies on dispensaries' effects on crime are inconsistent and heterogeneous.
- The now-retracted 2011 RAND finding claiming big crime increases exemplifies instability in the literature.