Cosmic Queries – Pot Luck with Dr. Staci Gruber

About This Episode

Are we “wired for weed”? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly weed out the myth from the science behind marijuana with neuroscientist at Harvard Medical School and director of the MIND Program, Dr. Staci Gruber.

How is cannabis used for medical purposes? Learn about the latest research in the neuroscience of cannabis, how to formulate a longitudinal study, and how the different compounds interact with the brain. Find out the story behind the strain “Charlotte’s Web,” and no, it’s not that it makes you see words in spiderwebs. We explore our endocannabinoid receptors and where THC and CBD bind. Were we designed to get high? How is CBD used to assist people recovering from COVID? 

We contrast the electrochemistry of the brain versus physical damage. Could CBD help CTE patients? How do you run a human trial on brain trauma? Find out about genetic profiling and how your DNA impacts the effects of THC on the body. Does THC cause psychosis? Is it true you should avoid THC if your family has a history of schizophrenia? Does weed help or hinder muscle recovery?

What are common myths about marijuana? We discover whether “reefer madness” is real and if marijuana really is a gateway drug. Are marijuana dependencies getting worse? What would a hippie from the 60s think of today’s weed? Is there a difference between a biochemical dependence and simply liking something a lot? What’s the difference between Indica and Sativa? How does cannabis impact the developing mind? All that, plus, how many other plants remain underutilized? 

Thanks to our Patrons Zero Chill, Matthew Rozak, Matej Michňák, and Gino Colauto for supporting us this week.

NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can watch or listen to this entire episode commercial-free.