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President Donald Trump’s new nominee for surgeon general has expressed concerns about marijuana, saying at one point that using it is linked to the development of enlarged breasts in men, or “man boobs.” She has also, however, acknowledged that medical cannabis does have “potential benefits.”
Trump announced on Thursday that he would tap Nicole Saphier, who currently serves as director of breast imaging at Memorial Sloan Kettering, to serve as surgeon general of the United States.
Saphier has repeatedly discussed what she sees as the dangers of marijuana use, while appearing more open to the potential benefits of its nonintoxicating component CBD.
“There’s a common misconception that marijuana is safer than alcohol and other drugs,” she wrote in an op-ed for Fox News in 2019. “As a medical doctor I know that marijuana is far from harmless and can have serious damaging effects on the health of users.”
“And as a mother of three sons (one in college), I worry that legalizing the drug for adults sends a clear message to children that they can get high on pot with no negative impact on their health,” she said.
Saphier went on in the piece to criticize 2020 Democratic presidential candidates who supported marijuana reform, which she said is a “politically popular cause, particularly among young voters.”
“These candidates appear more interested in how their endorsement of legalized pot will affect their election hopes than in how legalization will affect public health,” she wrote.
Among the health concerns she raised is that cannabis consumption is “directly linked” to “man boobs.”
“Physically, we know that marijuana is directly linked to breathing problems (if smoked), cardiovascular disease and gynecomastia (“man boobs”). As a breast radiologist, the first question I ask men when they come in because of enlarging breasts is whether they currently smoke marijuana or have smoked it in the past. Many times, the answer is ‘yes.’”
Trump’s nomination of Saphier comes as his administration is moving forward with the federal rescheduling of marijuana.
While the surgeon general has no formal involvement in drug scheduling, which is handled by the Department of Justice and Department of Health and Human Services, the position is widely seen as “America’s doctor” and does play a role in explaining health issues on behalf of the government.
In a podcast earlier this year, Saphier acknowledged that there are “potential benefits” of medical cannabis.
“Sure, there’s evidence supporting cannabinoids for chemotherapy induced nausea, certain seizure disorders, chronic pain syndromes, multiple sclerosis,” she said. “But that’s very different than just, you know, blanket normalization of recreational high-potency daily use cannabis, especially in those who brains are still developing, which doesn’t happen until about 25.”
In the same podcast she also said she personally doesn’t “like” and has “never tried” cannabis.
“I think CBD products are probably significantly less harmful if they don’t contain THC. I am not a fan of THC,” Saphier said. “I think if people are trying to get away from alcohol and they want to take low doses of CBD, not inhaling it, not smoking anything, I’m sure it’s probably less risky than some of the other things out there.”
“Let’s be honest, today’s cannabis, it’s not your parents’ marijuana. THC potency has increased dramatically over the past two decades. High concentrate products, vapes, dabs, edibles, whatever the kids are doing these days, I don’t even know.”
In another interview focused on concerns about cannabis consumption by pregnant women, Saphier said that “as we continue to legalize marijuana, people are equating that to, ‘well it must be safe.’”
She suggested in a separate interview that cannabis legalization is driving increased use by young people, which she said leads to addiction and increased rates of psychosis.
“One on six kids who try it, they become addicted. Cannabis use in kids, four time the risk of psychoses,” she said. “What have we done? Legalized it. Normalized it.”
Trump’s prior, now-withdrawn nominee Casey Means had previously discussed her own “meaningful experiences” with psychedelics while saying that marijuana can “vastly diminish your ability to make Good Energy.”
Means said at a confirmation hearing in February that she wouldn’t recommend that Americans experiment with psychedelics like she has, but noted there’s “exciting” research indicating that substances such as psilocybin can effectively treat serious mental health conditions.
Tom Angell is the editor of Marijuana Moment. A 25-year veteran in the cannabis and drug law reform movement, he covers the policy, politics, science and culture of marijuana, psychedelics and other substances. He previously reported for Forbes, Marijuana.com and MassRoots, and was given the Hunter S. Thompson Media Award by NORML and has been named Journalist of the Year by Americans for Safe Access. As an activist, Tom founded the nonprofit Marijuana Majority and handled media relations, campaigns and lobbying for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition and Students for Sensible Drug Policy.
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