[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:07.79,0:00:10.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm a clinical psychologist\Nand I'm a researcher.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:10.10,0:00:12.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I study drugs and human behavior.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:12.80,0:00:16.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I'm really interested in who uses drugs\Nand what drugs they're using,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:16.53,0:00:17.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and why do they use them,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:17.100,0:00:20.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and what are the consequences\Nfor mental health?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:20.68,0:00:22.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And like a lot of people\Nin the past couple of years,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:22.99,0:00:26.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,my team and I have been\Nturning our attention towards cannabis.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:27.24,0:00:29.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And we've conducted a series of studies
Dialogue: 0,0:00:29.23,0:00:32.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of medical and recreational\Ncannabis users.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:33.61,0:00:36.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So one question that people\Noften ask me when they find out
Dialogue: 0,0:00:36.39,0:00:39.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that I research recreational\Nand therapeutic cannabis use
Dialogue: 0,0:00:39.22,0:00:41.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is how can you tell the difference?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:41.50,0:00:44.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What's the difference\Nbetween recreational and medical use?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:44.89,0:00:46.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I think that's a great question
Dialogue: 0,0:00:46.57,0:00:49.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because it raises some\Nreally important issues
Dialogue: 0,0:00:49.92,0:00:53.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about just how porous the barriers can be
Dialogue: 0,0:00:53.92,0:00:57.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,between well-being, health and pleasure.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:58.09,0:01:00.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I don't think\Nthere's really an easy answer.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:01.77,0:01:04.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I don't think there's going to be\None, sort of, objective criteria
Dialogue: 0,0:01:04.98,0:01:08.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we can use to distinguish\Nmedical from recreational use.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:09.18,0:01:11.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There are people out there\Nwho have conditions
Dialogue: 0,0:01:11.79,0:01:15.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that respond very well\Nto cannabis-based medicines.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:15.60,0:01:18.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And they might still use cannabis\Na lot of the time
Dialogue: 0,0:01:18.24,0:01:20.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because they like the way\Nit makes them feel.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:20.88,0:01:24.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There are also people who might\Nnot think of themselves as medical users,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:24.33,0:01:28.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but they get substantial symptom relief\Nfrom using cannabis -
Dialogue: 0,0:01:28.60,0:01:31.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,people with back pain who smoke a joint\Nbefore they go to bed
Dialogue: 0,0:01:31.66,0:01:35.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and find they can get through the night\Nwith a good sleep undisturbed by pain
Dialogue: 0,0:01:35.96,0:01:38.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,even though they're having\Na bit of a flare-up.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:38.93,0:01:41.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But for a lot of people it is clear cut.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:41.21,0:01:44.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They have serious and severe\Nsymptoms and illnesses
Dialogue: 0,0:01:44.49,0:01:48.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that they treat effectively with cannabis\Nand cannabis-based medicines,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:48.30,0:01:51.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they don't like the feeling;\Nit's an unwelcome side effect.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:52.34,0:01:54.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For a lot of people, it's both:
Dialogue: 0,0:01:55.10,0:01:59.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They treat very legitimate symptoms\Nusing cannabis medicines,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:59.29,0:02:02.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and maybe they like\Nsome of the other aspects as well.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:02.50,0:02:06.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But whether it's recreational\Nor therapeutic or both,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:06.78,0:02:10.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what we do know is\Nthat a lot of adults in Canada
Dialogue: 0,0:02:10.76,0:02:12.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,choose to use cannabis.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:13.11,0:02:15.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They weigh the costs and the benefits,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:15.38,0:02:19.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they make a reasonable\Nand rational choice to use cannabis.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:19.28,0:02:22.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's well over half of Canadians\Nacross their lifetime,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:22.61,0:02:26.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and about 20 percent of us\Nin the past year.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:27.04,0:02:31.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So if so many Canadian adults\Nare making this rational choice,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:31.00,0:02:32.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what's the big deal?
Dialogue: 0,0:02:32.52,0:02:35.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why do we have\Nthis complex and conflicted
Dialogue: 0,0:02:35.85,0:02:38.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,fearful relationship\Nwith this ancient plant?
Dialogue: 0,0:02:44.41,0:02:47.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think that's really\Nthe important question.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:47.16,0:02:49.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How did we get where we are today?
Dialogue: 0,0:02:49.28,0:02:51.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And where might we go from here?
Dialogue: 0,0:02:51.88,0:02:53.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that's what I want to talk about.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:54.26,0:02:56.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I want to talk about\Nwhere we are with cannabis.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:57.54,0:03:00.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You know, when we think about\Nour relationship with the cannabis plant,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:00.90,0:03:02.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we tend to have very short memories.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:02.64,0:03:04.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A lot of us will start off, you know,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:04.72,0:03:08.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with some of the cultural\Nchanges of the 1960s -
Dialogue: 0,0:03:09.40,0:03:10.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there's Jerry Garcia.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:11.62,0:03:14.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some of us will even go back to the 1950s
Dialogue: 0,0:03:15.20,0:03:16.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and jazz culture.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:16.93,0:03:20.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But really, if we want\Nto think about our relationship
Dialogue: 0,0:03:20.45,0:03:22.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,between human beings and cannabis,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:22.10,0:03:24.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we have to go back\Na whole lot further than that.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:25.06,0:03:30.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is a pictographic representation\Nof hemp plants being hung out to dry.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:31.16,0:03:34.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's about 5,000 years old;\Nit comes from central Asia.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:34.31,0:03:40.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that's where our best estimates\Nof early human use of cannabis come from,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:40.08,0:03:42.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,several thousand years ago in Asia.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:42.59,0:03:46.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And whether that use was medical,\Nwhether it was spiritual,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:46.37,0:03:48.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,whether it was just for fun,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:48.98,0:03:51.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I don't think we really know,\Nit's an ongoing debate.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:51.76,0:03:55.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But what we do know\Nis that this is a very old relationship.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:56.63,0:04:00.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,By some estimates, cannabis\Nwas the first cultivated plant.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:00.82,0:04:04.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You could say that cannabis\Nand human beings grew up together.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:04.91,0:04:08.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Cannabis has been described\Nas a camp follower.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:08.35,0:04:11.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a plant that follows\Nhuman beings wherever we go
Dialogue: 0,0:04:11.73,0:04:16.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and wherever we disturb the earth\Nand make a place for it to take root.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:16.48,0:04:18.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Cannabis can, of course, grow wild,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:18.37,0:04:21.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but it doesn't mind some help.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:21.02,0:04:24.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And for most of our \Nmany-millennia-long relationship,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:24.28,0:04:26.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we've gotten along pretty well.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:26.78,0:04:30.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Even as recently as just\Na little over 100 years ago,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:31.36,0:04:36.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Queen Victoria was using cannabis extracts\Nfor therapeutic purposes.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:37.55,0:04:41.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But like any long relationship,\Nthere have been ups and downs.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:41.99,0:04:44.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And cannabis and human beings
Dialogue: 0,0:04:44.19,0:04:47.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,had a bit of a falling out\Naround the 1930s.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:48.02,0:04:51.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's when you first see\Nthe term "marijuana" become popular,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:51.62,0:04:54.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it was a term that was coined\Nby cannabis prohibitionists
Dialogue: 0,0:04:54.85,0:04:58.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to make the familiar cannabis plant\Nseem foreign and scary.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:58.94,0:05:01.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's why I don't favor that term.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:01.10,0:05:03.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I like to think that\Nmy great-grandchildren
Dialogue: 0,0:05:03.49,0:05:05.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,won't recognize it.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:05.30,0:05:08.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And if they do, they'll laugh\Nwhen they hear "marijuana."
Dialogue: 0,0:05:08.02,0:05:10.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm pretty sure\Nthat they're going to look back
Dialogue: 0,0:05:10.27,0:05:15.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on our current era as a strange\Nand confusing time of misunderstanding.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:17.90,0:05:21.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, since we've had this falling out,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:21.65,0:05:23.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,cannabis and people,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:24.10,0:05:25.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,how have we both fared?
Dialogue: 0,0:05:25.44,0:05:29.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I mean, we're both distinct species\Nwith our own biological imperatives.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:29.47,0:05:32.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So what has this interspecies battle
Dialogue: 0,0:05:32.31,0:05:35.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,meant for people\Nand for the cannabis plant?
Dialogue: 0,0:05:35.97,0:05:42.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's been noted that the psychoactive\Nresin of the cannabis plant,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:42.48,0:05:45.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the part that has most\Nof the medical properties,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:45.38,0:05:47.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the part that people use to get high,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:48.00,0:05:51.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's been proposed that that evolved\Nto protect and cool the seeds,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:51.78,0:05:53.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that's certainly true.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:53.78,0:05:58.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But when we think about how much help\Nthe cannabis plant has got from people,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:58.18,0:06:02.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we can imagine that the resin\Nmay have evolved
Dialogue: 0,0:06:02.20,0:06:05.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to serve other purposes as well.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:08.06,0:06:10.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The writer Michael Pollan,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:10.08,0:06:12.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in a great TED Talk\Nfrom a couple of years ago,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:12.81,0:06:15.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,encourages us to take\Na plant's eye view of things,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:15.28,0:06:17.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to try to see things\Nfrom the plant's perspective.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:17.98,0:06:20.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I think that perspective\Ncan be really helpful
Dialogue: 0,0:06:20.57,0:06:25.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when we try to estimate\Nwhat the impact of this battle has been
Dialogue: 0,0:06:25.04,0:06:28.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on the evolutionary path\Nof the cannabis plant.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:29.62,0:06:31.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think when we take\Nthis plant's eye perspective,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:31.94,0:06:34.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,particularly here in BC,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:35.09,0:06:37.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it seems like the cannabis plant\Nis doing pretty well.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:38.24,0:06:42.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's not native to this region\Nbut it grows widely throughout the area.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:43.60,0:06:46.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You know, I think that\Nif I were to take the perspective
Dialogue: 0,0:06:46.31,0:06:50.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of another plant species,\None that is native to BC,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:50.64,0:06:52.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the Ponderosa pine.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:52.86,0:06:55.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So if I was a Ponderosa pine\Nand I had an ego
Dialogue: 0,0:06:55.78,0:06:58.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and a self-reflective consciousness,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:58.45,0:07:02.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think I'd be a little aggravated\Nwhen I looked at the cannabis plant.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:02.78,0:07:05.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You know, there used to be\Nstands of Ponderosa pine,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:05.87,0:07:11.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and now there are caverns\Nand basements full of cannabis.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:12.30,0:07:15.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So it seems like cannabis\Nis having a bit of a moment.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:16.31,0:07:20.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You know, and not only has cannabis\Ngained a whole lot of territory
Dialogue: 0,0:07:20.65,0:07:22.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,over the last several decades,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:22.90,0:07:24.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's also diversified.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:25.54,0:07:29.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The number of distinct\Nand robust strains of cannabis
Dialogue: 0,0:07:29.08,0:07:32.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,has skyrocketed\Nover the last couple decades.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:33.34,0:07:38.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So in the 75 years or so\Nsince people declared war on cannabis,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:38.14,0:07:42.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the cannabis plant is bigger,\Nbetter and stronger than ever.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:43.73,0:07:47.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So how have people fared\Nsince we started this battle?
Dialogue: 0,0:07:48.09,0:07:49.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What's it meant for us as a species?
Dialogue: 0,0:07:49.84,0:07:52.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I think it's cost us dearly.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:52.05,0:07:54.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's certainly cost us a lot in resources.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:54.60,0:07:57.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The most recent estimates from the U.S.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:58.25,0:08:00.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,suggest that the cost\Nof cannabis prohibition
Dialogue: 0,0:08:00.65,0:08:03.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is over 40 billion dollars per year.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:04.22,0:08:07.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's over ten billion dollars\Nin enforcement,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:07.04,0:08:09.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,30 billion dollars in lost revenue.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:09.40,0:08:12.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And we can imagine that it's\Nproportionally similar here in Canada.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:12.99,0:08:15.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But the cost hasn't only\Nbeen economic, of course,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:15.34,0:08:19.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's been a terrible cost\Nin terms of human misery and suffering.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:19.31,0:08:22.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Countless families\Nhave been disrupted by crime
Dialogue: 0,0:08:22.49,0:08:24.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and by incarceration.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:24.68,0:08:28.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And a lot of those come from some\Nof our most vulnerable communities.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:30.32,0:08:32.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,On top of that, until very recently,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:32.13,0:08:36.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we've been deprived\Nof a very safe and effective medicine.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:39.21,0:08:42.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, if we look at this as a zero-sum game,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:42.92,0:08:45.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it seems that cannabis\Nis coming out way ahead,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:45.76,0:08:48.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and people are really on the losing end.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:48.76,0:08:52.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And as much as I respect\Nand admire the cannabis plant,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:52.35,0:08:56.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm a human psychologist,\Nnot a plant psychologist.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:56.03,0:09:00.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So my job is to support\Nhuman health and well-being.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:00.23,0:09:04.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so I'm compelled\Nto imagine a different way
Dialogue: 0,0:09:04.53,0:09:07.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we can maybe tip the scales back\Nin favor of humanity.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:07.98,0:09:10.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What would it look like\Nif we called a truce with cannabis?
Dialogue: 0,0:09:10.88,0:09:13.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As we seem tantalizingly close to doing.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:15.60,0:09:18.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So my team and I just published a study
Dialogue: 0,0:09:18.45,0:09:21.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,looking at over 600\Nmedical cannabis users
Dialogue: 0,0:09:21.04,0:09:22.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from across the country.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:22.22,0:09:24.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These are people\Nwith many of the conditions
Dialogue: 0,0:09:24.30,0:09:27.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that characterize the use\Nof cannabis for therapeutic purposes -
Dialogue: 0,0:09:28.22,0:09:31.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,people with serious conditions,\Nlike cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:31.96,0:09:33.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,arthritis, chronic pain.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:34.20,0:09:39.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And what we found was that in addition\Nto treating some of the distinct features
Dialogue: 0,0:09:39.54,0:09:41.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of these disorders,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:41.20,0:09:44.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,people were using cannabis\Nfor three primary reasons:
Dialogue: 0,0:09:45.62,0:09:47.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to help sleep,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:47.58,0:09:48.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to reduce pain
Dialogue: 0,0:09:48.78,0:09:50.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and to alleviate anxiety.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:51.04,0:09:54.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These are things that so many\Nof us seek treatment for.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:54.73,0:09:58.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And our medicine cabinets\Nare full of pharmaceutical products
Dialogue: 0,0:09:58.60,0:10:01.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that are designed\Nto treat these very symptoms.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:03.19,0:10:08.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Our team is particularly interested\Nin the co-occurrance of anxiety and pain.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:09.02,0:10:11.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We know these things\Ngo very close together -
Dialogue: 0,0:10:11.32,0:10:14.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that anxiety and pain\Nreally make each other worse.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:14.52,0:10:16.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So we conducted a follow-up study
Dialogue: 0,0:10:17.20,0:10:21.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that focused on people who use cannabis\Nto treat anxiety and pain together.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:21.28,0:10:24.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And what we found was\Nthat cannabis was most effective
Dialogue: 0,0:10:24.14,0:10:28.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,amongst individuals\Nwho were anxious, in pain,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:28.42,0:10:32.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and were trying hard\Nto cope effectively with that pain.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:33.40,0:10:35.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Cannabis was least effective
Dialogue: 0,0:10:35.25,0:10:39.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for people who used avoidant\Nand self-blaming type of coping.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:40.48,0:10:44.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We also found that among the people\Nfor whom cannabis was most effective,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:44.54,0:10:46.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,nearly 80 percent reported
Dialogue: 0,0:10:46.78,0:10:50.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that cannabis allowed them\Nto be more active despite the pain.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:50.47,0:10:56.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And over 85 percent said that cannabis\Nhelped them to think less about the pain.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:56.27,0:10:59.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that makes a lot of sense\Ngiven what we now know
Dialogue: 0,0:10:59.80,0:11:02.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about how cannabis works in the brain.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:03.30,0:11:06.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A few decades ago,\Nneuroscientists discovered
Dialogue: 0,0:11:06.86,0:11:10.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we have our own system\Nin our brains and throughout our bodies
Dialogue: 0,0:11:10.43,0:11:13.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that is uniquely tuned\Nto working with cannabis
Dialogue: 0,0:11:13.95,0:11:16.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and cannabis-like substances.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:16.12,0:11:18.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's called the endocannabinoid system.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:18.69,0:11:20.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And we've also found
Dialogue: 0,0:11:20.18,0:11:24.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that there's a concentration of activity\Nof this cannabis system in the amygdala.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:26.05,0:11:31.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's the part of the brain\Nthat's focused on processing anxiety,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:31.02,0:11:34.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,fear and the emotional content of fear.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:37.77,0:11:41.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the activity of cannabis\Nin the amygdala
Dialogue: 0,0:11:41.58,0:11:45.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,raises a lot of really\Ninteresting possibilities.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:45.45,0:11:48.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We spend billions and billions\Nof dollars every year
Dialogue: 0,0:11:48.60,0:11:53.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on pharmaceutical medications\Ndesigned to treat anxiety,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:53.04,0:11:56.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and our existing medications\Nare problematic for a number of reasons.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:56.92,0:12:01.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So our team is also really interested\Nin how cannabis might work for anxiety
Dialogue: 0,0:12:01.54,0:12:04.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,amongst people who\Ndon't also have pain conditions.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:04.72,0:12:08.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We just wrapped up a study\Nled by my student Kim Crosby
Dialogue: 0,0:12:08.10,0:12:11.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,looking at anxiety, cannabis use
Dialogue: 0,0:12:11.72,0:12:15.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and psychological well-being\Namongst college students,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:15.24,0:12:17.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we found something\Nthat was pretty surprising,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:17.62,0:12:21.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,something that runs counter\Nto what you might expect to see
Dialogue: 0,0:12:21.20,0:12:23.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in studies of substance use\Nand mental health.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:25.33,0:12:28.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The frequent cannabis users\Nin our study -
Dialogue: 0,0:12:28.00,0:12:31.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,those who used cannabis\Ntwo or more times a week -
Dialogue: 0,0:12:31.60,0:12:34.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,were less anxious than the non-users,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:34.23,0:12:38.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they were less sensitive\Nto the anxiety that they did have.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:39.24,0:12:43.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They worried less, and they worried less\Nabout their worrying.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:44.02,0:12:48.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, maybe if we can\Nmake peace with cannabis,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:48.71,0:12:51.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it can help us to start\Nand make peace with ourselves,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:51.53,0:12:53.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at least for some people.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:53.86,0:12:55.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think it's worth looking into.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:58.54,0:13:01.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, if we can start to see cannabis
Dialogue: 0,0:13:02.11,0:13:05.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as a tool for assisting\Nwith our mental health,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:05.03,0:13:06.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what's next?
Dialogue: 0,0:13:07.04,0:13:10.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, the best studies\Nhave yet to be done.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:10.87,0:13:14.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Studies that side by side compare cannabis
Dialogue: 0,0:13:14.05,0:13:17.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with other popular medicines\Nto treat anxiety.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:17.50,0:13:20.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the reason those studies\Nhaven't been done
Dialogue: 0,0:13:20.13,0:13:23.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is largely due to barriers\Nthat have been set up by governments
Dialogue: 0,0:13:23.78,0:13:26.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,over the last couple of decades\Nas part of the war on drugs.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:28.51,0:13:31.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Fortunately, this is all\Nstarting to change.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:31.33,0:13:35.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Just a few weeks ago, the United States\NDepartment of Health and Human Services
Dialogue: 0,0:13:35.35,0:13:39.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,gave a green light\Nto the first clinical trial
Dialogue: 0,0:13:39.23,0:13:43.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of cannabis for the treatment\Nof post traumatic stress disorder,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:43.47,0:13:47.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,one of the most severe and debilitating\Nof the anxiety disorders.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:48.07,0:13:50.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So it's a very exciting time.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:50.56,0:13:53.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And if we can start to use cannabis\Nin this way, what's next?
Dialogue: 0,0:13:53.68,0:13:56.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think there are a lot\Nof other plant medicines
Dialogue: 0,0:13:56.78,0:13:58.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we could make peace with
Dialogue: 0,0:13:58.38,0:14:01.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that might help us\Nwith our well-being.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:02.52,0:14:08.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Among the most promising is psilocybin,\Nalso known as magic mushrooms.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:08.74,0:14:10.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A recent study found
Dialogue: 0,0:14:10.02,0:14:12.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that just a few treatments with psilocybin
Dialogue: 0,0:14:13.29,0:14:16.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,help people reduce anxiety and depression
Dialogue: 0,0:14:16.46,0:14:18.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when they're dealing\Nwith terminal illness.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:19.07,0:14:24.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's also an ongoing study\Nlooking at the effectiveness of psilocybin
Dialogue: 0,0:14:24.35,0:14:26.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for treating obsessive-\Ncompulsive disorder.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:27.78,0:14:30.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So this is a really exciting time\Nfor those of us
Dialogue: 0,0:14:30.82,0:14:33.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who are interested\Nin the psychotherapeutic potential
Dialogue: 0,0:14:33.73,0:14:39.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of ancient plant medicines like cannabis,\Nlike psilocybin, like ayahuasca.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:40.11,0:14:42.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's new studies\Ncoming out all the time,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:42.19,0:14:45.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the rate of discovery\Nis accelerating rapidly.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:46.61,0:14:49.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What this might mean in a more broad sense
Dialogue: 0,0:14:49.39,0:14:52.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that in the coming years and decades,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:52.63,0:14:55.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we may have access\Nto some of the very same medicines
Dialogue: 0,0:14:55.73,0:14:59.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that our ancestors used\Neffectively for millenia.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:00.67,0:15:04.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It might also mean that\Nwe might be able to start to address
Dialogue: 0,0:15:04.37,0:15:09.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,some of our mental health concerns\Nusing our gardens or green houses,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:09.16,0:15:12.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I think that in itself\Ncould be tremendously empowering.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:15.12,0:15:20.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It could also help us to reduce\Nthe tremendous environmental cost
Dialogue: 0,0:15:20.31,0:15:23.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of producing and disposing\Nof tons and tons
Dialogue: 0,0:15:23.43,0:15:26.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of pharmaceutical products\Ninto our land and water.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:27.20,0:15:30.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And finally, I think it means
Dialogue: 0,0:15:30.05,0:15:33.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that the drug talk\Nwe're going to have with our kids
Dialogue: 0,0:15:33.06,0:15:36.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,will be a lot more fact based\Nand straightforward
Dialogue: 0,0:15:37.09,0:15:39.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,than the drug talk\Nthat many of us got as kids.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:39.52,0:15:40.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you very much.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:40.78,0:15:42.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause) (Cheers)