News & Views
Riggs: ‘What was CNN smokin’?’
Last night, I watched Dr. Sanjay Gupta's documentary, "Weed," which aired on CNN and included a snippet of my two-hour interview with the production team. As I previously wrote, I wanted to reserve judgment until seeing it for myself. Unfortunately, this documentary...
Seeking clarity from Dr. Gupta
Many people have asked for comment about Dr. Sanjay Gupta's mea culpa yesterday regarding his views of marijuana as medicine. I will be featured in a segment of his upcoming documentary on the subject and will reserve judgment until I view it. However, I'm concerned...
Making another note …
For those of us keeping score at home: Michael Roberts and his editors at Denver alt-weekly Westword on July 30 published a third report mentioning Dr. Thurstone by name (and running a photo of him) without giving him a chance to respond or comment before publication....
Thurstone among 2013 ‘Top Docs’
I'm humbled to be named one of Denver's "Top Doctors" in this months' edition of 5280 magazine. For the second time, I’m listed in the addiction psychiatry section along with Dr. Jonathan Ritvo, medical director of the Center for Dependence, Addiction and...
Introducing ‘Encompass’
Encompass is the only evidence-based treatment program that integrates care for psychiatric and substance-use disorders in adolescents and young adults.
Colorado stinks at pot regulation
Two audits released this week by Colorado government officials show the weaknesses and abject failures of this state's efforts to regulate so-called "medical" marijuana. They also cast a harsh spotlight on the accuracy of news coverage that is profoundly influencing...
Survey shows need for marijuana education
Even parents who support marijuana legalization expect strong regulation of the drug that includes bans on public use and advertising of any kind, according to the results of a national survey released today in Denver by The Partnership at Drugfree.org. The survey of...
When sharing is not a virtue
For several months, fellow researchers and I have studied diversion of medical marijuana to Colorado youth. In this peer-reviewed paper, published last year, we explained our findings of diversion of medical marijuana to young people in substance-abuse treatment. It...
How safe is recreational marijuana?
Roxanne Khamsi of has delivered a cursory overview of how recreational marijuana use affects public health and safety in ways that trouble researchers.
The one-way debate
Let's put how I feel as the doctor's wife aside for a moment. I'm a longtime journalist who cares deeply about the ethics and integrity of my trade, and I know when a fellow journalist's work fails to meet basic standards of accuracy, fairness -- and decency. Follow...
Read the book
Clearing the Haze is a guide designed to help parents determine whether their child may have a substance problem and, if so, how to begin to address it. This book includes the voices and insight of experts in substance abuse counseling, young people in recovery, and parents who have lived the nightmare of adolescent addiction.