Leana S.Wynn Op-Ed about Marijuana Health Risks

The San Diego Union-Tribune recently published an Op-Ed by Leana S. Wynn titled “Will the Government Face Up to Cannabis Health Risks?” where she called on the federal government to take stronger action in controlling marijuana use. Her recommendations include more research, stricter advertising controls, and restricting CBD sales. While I don’t doubt that the government could implement these policies without new legislation, the bigger question is: Are these concerns necessary and valid?

For over 80 years, anti-marijuana campaigns have issued dire warnings, many of which have since been debunked. Initially, marijuana was blamed for causing blindness, sterility, and even madness. As time passed, the supposed dangers shifted, but many of these claims remained unsupported by medical evidence. With marijuana now legal in many states, both for medical and recreational use, we’ve yet to see the flood of health crises that opponents had long predicted.

This raises a question: Who truly drove the false narratives about marijuana? Were these efforts motivated by genuine public health concerns, or were they fueled by racial bias, the alcohol industry seeking to stifle competition, or pharmaceutical companies protecting their profits from low-cost alternatives? The murky motivations behind these claims have left many skeptical of new warnings.

After decades of exaggerated dangers, it’s hard for the public to take fresh concerns seriously. Like many, I expected that the legalization of marijuana would lead to increased health issues, traffic accidents, and birth defects. But we haven’t seen such outcomes materialize.

Wynn calls for more research, similar to the studies conducted on tobacco and alcohol. But it’s important to note that, for decades, the federal government was prohibited from conducting marijuana research. The anti-marijuana lobby didn’t want studies because they feared the truth—that their warnings might be proven false, which has indeed happened.

That said, I do agree with the need for comprehensive federal marijuana legislation. It should include aspects of Wynn’s recommendations, but also go further by legalizing marijuana at the federal level. We need better regulations around potency, testing, and production, as well as more robust research. Advertising restrictions should be strict—perhaps even banning it entirely, as is done with tobacco. But why not also allow marijuana to be sold in national pharmacy chains, or even major retailers like Walmart and Costco?

The conversation around marijuana must move beyond fear-based rhetoric and into a more balanced, evidence-based approach that addresses public health, consumer safety, and access. It’s time for the federal government to create thoughtful policies that reflect reality, not outdated myths.