March 10, 2017

by Anthony Martinelli

According to Dr. Tom Price, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, President Trump’s pick for head of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should be announced “this week, if not next”.

The Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society (RAPS) has reported that the Dr. Scott Gottlieb, a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and former deputy commissioner of the FDA, is the front-runner for the position. Dr. Gottlieb is a physician who has written recommendations for medical marijuana, as he explained in a 2013 interview with Patch.com.

During the interview, Dr. Gottlieb was asked “How many patients have you prescribed medical marijuana for?” Dr. Gottlieb answered “Approximately 10.”

The doctor was then asked to share a success story, which he did:

A multiple sclerosis patient was in a great deal of pain. She tried all types of medication in addition to massage, yoga and even meditation. Nothing worked. Medical marijuana gave her some relief, and she was able to resume some of her normal activities and almost return to her baseline level of function.

The full interview can be found by clicking here.

Last year Dr. Gottlieb was a panelist at the Innovation in the Cannabis Industry conference in Philadelphia. At the event Dr. Gottlieb said that he’s seen many patients with neuopathatic pain find relief in medical marijuana.

As we’ve reported Jim O’Neil has also been in the running for head of the FDA (and according to RAPS he still is) ; O’Neil is not only a supporter of legalizing marijuana, he has actively worked towards it as a member of the board of directors for the Coalition for Cannabis Policy Reform, which helped legalized cannabis in California.

Source: Trump’s Leading Choice for FDA Chief has Prescribed Medical Marijuana | The Joint Blog