Dr. Vivek Murthy, who was appointed U.S. Surgeon General in mid-December, has only talked briefly on marijuana in his short time on post. In February, Murthy looked to science for guidance as he said he was open to medical marijuana as a legitimate medical treatment in his very first television interview.
“My position is that we have to see what the science tells us about the efficacy about marijuana, and I think we’re going to get a lot more data on that,” Murthy told “CBS This Morning.” “We have some preliminary data showing that, for certain medical conditions and symptoms, that marijuana can be helpful, and we have to use that data to drive policy making. And I’m very interested to see where that data takes us.”
Today the still-new Surgeon General will take to Twitter to mark National Public Health Week with a public Q&A. Users on Twitter can ask Murthy public health questions via #AskTheSurgeonGeneral (deadline: 2:30 p.m. ET April 9), and he’ll answer some of the questions with video answers.
Given that Vice founder Shane Smith told U.S. President Barack Obama in mid-March that the “number one question from everyone on the Internet” was about marijuana legalization, we’re guessing some of those same people have similar questions for the nation’s top doctor.
What kinds of marijuana questions are the American public asking Murthy? Most of the questions on Twitter are looking for reform, but a few are asking for the opposite. Here are 15 of the questions — and we’ll find out later what Murthy chooses to answer:
#AskTheSurgeonGeneral In your medicial opinion, do you believe that #Marijuana should be legal for medicinal basis? pic.twitter.com/GRVSD7Hnvj
— Isaiah Smith (@Ismithcampaign) April 9, 2015
#AskTheSurgeonGeneral Why is marijuana still schedule I despite the government's clear admission that there are health benefits?
— Randy Bongson (@RandyBongson) April 9, 2015
#AskTheSurgeonGeneral can marijuana make you sterile? #WestWing
— Chase Enright (@ChalexTheGreat) April 9, 2015
@Surgeon_General what is your stance on medical marijuana? Will the CDC take a stance on recreational marijuana use? #AskTheSurgeonGeneral
— Pauline Poysophon (@MDholiday15) April 9, 2015
#AskTheSurgeonGeneral Why is the US not pursuing states that have made Marijuana legal …. It's a problem!!!!
— Mykenzie (@mykenzieali) April 9, 2015
@Surgeon_General What are your thoughts on medical marijuana for the treatment of Veterans with PTSD & chronic pain? #AskTheSurgeonGeneral
— Niki Humphries (@rockerchick978) April 9, 2015
#AskTheSurgeonGeneral Will you advise the US government to admit that #cannabis has medical use? #marijuana #mmot
— Rx MaryJane (Teri) (@rxmaryjane) April 9, 2015
.@Surgeon_General Like every West Wing fan, I wonder if you favor the decriminalization of marijuana. #AskTheSurgeonGeneral
— Sam Arora (@sam_arora) April 9, 2015
#AskTheSurgeonGeneral what are the health risks of Marijuana use?
— Phil Erwitt Girth (@TheKeefBrown) April 9, 2015
Is Marijuana more dangerous Than alcohol #askthesurgeongeneral
— Tettrabyte (@Tettrabyte) April 9, 2015
#AskTheSurgeonGeneral please rank most to least harmful: LSD, marijuana, MDMA, alcohol, tobacco @Surgeon_General
— Tyler Williams (@tylerwilliamsct) April 9, 2015
Is methamphetamine worse for someone's health than marijuana? #AskTheSurgeonGeneral
— Mike Davis (@mtdzen) April 9, 2015
@Surgeon_General, what should the federal gov't do to improve the knowledge base about the medical uses of marijuana? #AskTheSurgeonGeneral
— Mike Liszewski (@MikeLiszewski) April 9, 2015
Why is #marijuana still Schedule I, with 23 states and DC passing MJ laws & clear medical acceptance? #AskTheSurgeonGeneral
— Rachel K. Gillette (@RachelKGillette) April 9, 2015
.@Surgeon_General If you agree that #marijuana has medical value, shouldn’t it be removed from Schedule I?
#AskTheSurgeonGeneral #mmot
— Marijuana Majority (@JoinTheMajority) April 9, 2015