Madam Secretary pushes dangerous narrative on CBS

A letter to CBS Corporation, 524 W. 57th Street, New York, New York, 10019-6188, dated January 8, 2019

Re:  Madam Secretary program of January 7, 2019

We have been fans of “Madam Secretary” and are always astounded at how closely the programming reflects actual news stories of the week or two preceding the program.  However, we were stunned and dismayed by this week’s program which promoted the use and legalization of marijuana.  The alleged “facts” as presented in the program are misleading and/or incorrect.

As parents who have lost a child to drugs at a state university whose “substance abuse” counselor advocated that “cocaine is neither harmful nor addictive if used in moderation,” we are appalled that CBS/Madam Secretary would incorporate into its programming the use of marijuana and marijuana products by the Secretary’s highest ranking staff member.  That staff member is shown being incoherent on a phone call with another staff member. But even worse is his promotion and association with a member of the marijuana lobby to effect a political change.  Absolutely  abhorrent!

I am enclosing copies of two recent newspaper stories regarding the dangers of marijuana that somehow managed to see the light of day (although I am well aware that most mainstream media suppresses anything that illuminates the many dangers associated with marijuana use, particularly by youngsters).  These two articles may open your eyes.

Because marijuana is known to adversely impact various prescription medications, my husband, director of transplant at Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland, Oregon, requires that all potential recipients test negative for marijuana use for 6 months prior to receiving a transplant.  There are thousands of individuals waiting for the opportunity to receive a transplant (an extremely expensive medical procedure) and wasting one because a recipient is too stoned to remember to take the prescribed anti-rejection medication or a medication the patient must take has a negative interaction with the marijuana product the patient decides to take, is a tragic and costly event that could have been avoided.

I am enclosing two articles that I hope will persuade you to change the next episode and all future episodes of Madam Secretary by removing any references suggesting that the use of marijuana or marijuana products (other than cannabis-based medications that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration) are safe or beneficial.

Sincerely,

Sandra S. Bennett and William M. Bennett, MD

Enclosures:   Marijuana is More Dangerous Than You Think (WSJ, 01/04/2019)

            It’s High Time We Took a Breath From Marijuana Commercialization (Denver Post , 9/28/18)