Dr. Mehmet Oz joins group of high-profile docs expressing support for medical marijuana

As reported in this recent Huffington Post piece, headlined “Dr. Oz Backs Medical Marijuana, Says It’s ‘Hugely Beneficial’,” another prominent medical professional is expressing support for medical marijuana. Here are the details:

Medical marijuana just got another celebrity doctor’s public support. During an interview Monday with Dr. Mehmet Oz on “Larry King Live”, King asked Oz if he’d changed his views on marijuana.

“I have,” Oz responded, and went on to explain just how far he’s come from his early beliefs about the plant. “I grew up like most of my generation believing that marijuana was something Satan was throwing at Americans, a communist plot. But I think most of us have come around to the believe that marijuana is hugely beneficial when used correctly for medicinal purposes,” Oz said.

Oz joins the ranks of other TV medical experts who have come out in support of medical marijuana in recent years, including CNN’s chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, who recently “doubled down” on his support, and ABC News’ chief health and medical editor Dr. Richard Besser….

Oz — who in addition to hosting his own show is a cardiothoracic surgeon, author, and teaching professor at Columbia University — stopped short of supporting recreational marijuana, citing use by children as a main concern. “We pervert its use at times,” Oz added. “I don’t think it should be widely used, certainly by kids, because that creates a dependence that is unhealthy in any setting. But it absolutely should be widely available in America [for medical use].”