Forbes have been cannabis positive articles for years so it is interesting to see this sudden change of heart we presume as they bend to the winds of political change, that’s corporate media for you!
I wouldn’t call it journalism as they’ve drafted in Omer Awan Senior Contributor to write the piece
Dr. Omer Awan is we learn a practicing physician who covers public health.
His full bio says …Dr. Omer Awan M.D. MPH CIIP is a senior contributor for Forbes and practicing radiologist physician in Baltimore, MD who writes about the most pressing issues in healthcare and public health. He earned his Medical Doctor (M.D.) degree from the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences and his Master in Public Health (MPH) degree from Harvard University. He currently serves as a Professor and Vice Chair of Education at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. He has expertise in medicine, public health, and medical education. In 2022, PubMed named Dr. Awan a World Expert in Teaching. He is also a columnist for MedPage Today and previously served as a Scripps News National TV On Air Medical Expert. Dr. Awan frequently provides On Air medical analysis for multiple media outlets such as CNN, NBC and Scripps News. He is most interested in using innovative teaching methods to educate the public on topics pertaining to public health, healthcare, and medicine. His YouTube channel “MedEdPage” can be accessed here. Follow him on Twitter.
As a practicing radiologist i’m not sure what his skills and knowledge level is to make huge prouncements on cannabis like
Between 2016 and 2022, marijuana-related diagnoses in America jumped by more than 50 percent, from nearly 341,000 patients under 65 years of age to 522,000
No critical analysis highlighting
A) If it’s legal more people will report
B) If usage is up that means by definition there will be more reported cases of ill-effects
C) Considering there were only 3 legal recreationalm states in 2016 and now 20+ in 2025 the numbers have less than doubled over a 10 year period which would suggest much better health outcomes
He’s been pushing the cons for a while – this from a year ago
and this where he uses the word overdose more than once
He’s the Radiologist who knows everything !
https://www.youtube.com/@AwanRad
Here’s the Introduction to his article
Despite the growing trend of legalizing marijuana across the majority of states throughout the United States, the drug may not be as safe as it is perceived to be.
Currently, marijuana has been legalized for medical use in 38 states and Washington D.C., with 24 states and Washington D.C. legalizing it for recreational use.
Although there are clear health benefits to marijuana in some patients; which include but are not limited to relieving pain especially when related to damaged nerves or treating nausea and vomiting in cancer patients; there are also real harms related to the drug.
Between 2016 and 2022, marijuana-related diagnoses in America jumped by more than 50 percent, from nearly 341,000 patients under 65 years of age to 522,000, according to data from the Health Care Cost Institute as reported by The New York Times. With increased access to the drug comes the potential for increase harm, abuse and detrimental health effects.
Marijuana can have broad adverse physical and mental health effects. Smoking marijuana, for example, puts individuals at risk for developing bronchitis and obstructive lung disease, since the smoke from marijuana has some of the same toxins as tobacco smoke. In addition, marijuana is known to have adverse effects on thinking, learning, attention, memory and coordination.
Another physical condition that those who use marijuana regularly can develop is known as cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, which is characterized by nausea, marked vomiting and pain. What’s worse, is the condition can lead to severe dehydration, seizures, kidney failure and rarely even death. Since being documented in 2004, there have been a sharp rise in cases and nearly 6 million people are estimated to suffer from the syndrome, according to The New York Times.
