Doing a” reverse Bill Clinton” proves Bad for Health:

As a medical student I did a reverse Bill Clinton— why we now know that is bad for health:

Doing a” reverse Bill Clinton” proves Bad for Health:

As a medical student I did a reverse Bill Clinton—why we now know that is bad for health:

In the summer of love, there were free concerts in Golden Gate Park every Sunday as we medical students studied together---yes we listened to absolutely “free” concerts given from the back of AVIS trucks in the Golden Gate meadow—the “Loving Spoonful”, the Grateful Dead” Jimmy Hendrix, etc, they all played for an hour at a time, 2 every Sunday. And the others in the crowd smoked pot as it was called in those days. A yellow haze waifed over the protected from wind slightly sunken meadow as we medical students gathered in groups at the far end of the meadow reviewing the weeks last info, and read the assignments for the next week’s physiology course with the great Dr Ganong. We didn’t smoke but we did inhale-the reverse of what Bill Clinton said he did.

We probably increased our joy and our retention of the medical material from these sessions choice—a posse to learn with, a purpose to learn, play with the bands (the three P’s of stress management, which we 100 hour a week in class and studying people needed, and very low doses of marijuana, Low doses have been shown to improve memory— https://doi.org/10.1111/eci.12920---and that is probably what we non-smokers inhaling the yellow haze got. We really felt no psychic or mood changing effects we thought—just the joy of the great music. And we were healthy enough that the inflammation caused by particles we didn’t realize we were inhaling had little immediate effect. But probably not so for Bill Clinton now nor current “weed” smokers. And that is a problem now.

As products containing cannabis ramp up in popularity among those over age 60, maybe by and in you, be warned. And use in those over age 60 has more than quadrupled in the last 2 decades with over 40% in Colorado in one study using (https://doi.org/10.1177/2333721419843707). And according to data published in JAMA Internal Medicine, the number of older adults over 65 using cannabis (due to chronic pain, mood, mental health, or sleep) has increased 45% in the last two years (doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.10173).

Why should these people be warned: The latest data now (multiple confirming studies from 2016-2023 [doi:10.1136/heartjnl-2024-325429]) show cannabis use nearly doubles your risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, increases the risk of stroke by 20%, and acute coronary syndrome by 29%. The individuals who are increasing their use—yes especially the over 60’s with time and a chronic disease like preexisting osteoarthritis , insomnia, heart valve and artery plaque, diabetes, hypertension, cancer, and COPD. The inflammation caused by smoking cannabis proved dangerous and often lethal in the short and intermediate term. (very few used cannabis in other forms in these studies so we do not have data to say it is the cannabis versus the smoke and particulates that are hazardous)

The potential short term side effects of THC and CBD include dry mouth, nausea, increased heart rate, and increased appetite. Furthermore, on a mental level you can experience relaxation, confusion, impaired memory, and dizziness. In instances of taking large doses (and today’s Cannabis products are not our 1967 pot), one can experience psychosis, delusions, and hallucinations.

The long term risks of persistent use include increased risk of developing dementia, schizophrenia, lung damage, and gum disease. But if that is not enough to scare you (it is me but I have’s done any Bill Clinton’s on this issue since those times in the Golden Gate meadow ),

It’s worth repeating, In these observational studies from January 2016 to December 2023, cannabis nearly doubles your risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, increases the risk of stroke by 20%, and acute coronary syndrome by 29%. (doi:10.1136/ heartjnl-2024-325429)

While we in the older populations may not be wise in our increasing use of cannabis , the young seem to getting smarter. Yes marijuana use and even vaping seem to not be increasing and may be decreasing, despite vaping isnot increasing despite the makers of vapes targeting the young. A vape, pen, or e-cigarette is an electronic device that heats liquid into an aerosol usually contains nicotine or weed, flavoring, along with other additives. Unlike the pungent smell and taste of cigarettes, vapes have fruity and tropical smells and flavors to lure younger populations.

These apes and e-cigs have even been sold to medical groups as ways to help patients quit smoking- BS-Bad Science. . In a recent study, it was found that “80% of those who quit smoking using e-cigarettes continued to use them” in addition to the e-cigs (doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2021.101363). You can see Dr Oz’s and my approach to coaching smoking cessation with over a 60% 2 year breathing free rate in YOU: The Owner’s Manual Revised.

Vaping can be just as addictive as smoking cigarettes. But the long term impacts are unknown since this isa recent development. But what we do know is that it causes organ damage, asthma, lung damage (popcorn lungs), and cancer.

Bottom line smoking, whether tobacco or cannabis is dangerous to your brain and heart and not in a little way—cannabis ages your heart in a way greater than tobacco…a pack a day makes your ActualAge (the risk of disability and death) 8 years older; 4 joints a week makes your ActualAge 17 years older for risk of disability or death so a 70 year old more than doubles their risk of death or disability by doing 4 joints a week. Sorry we just do not have data on other ways of getting cannabis such as gummies or edibles.

Thanks for reading,

Michael F. Roizen MD

Jermani Jones, Research Associate