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1. Name: David M. Fergusson, Ph.D.
2. Title: Research Professor, Department of Psychological Medicine, Christchurch School of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Otago, New Zealand
3. Medical Marijuana
Position:		 No position found to the question "Should marijuana be a medical option?"
4. Reasoning:

"Regression models adjusting for observed and non-observed confounding suggested that daily users of cannabis had rates of psychotic symptoms that were between 1.6 and 1.8 times higher (P<0.001) than non-users of cannabis....

The results of the present study add to a growing body of evidence suggesting that regular cannabis use may increase risks of psychosis.

The present study suggests that:
A. the association between cannabis use and psychotic symptoms is unlikely to be due to confounding factors; and
B. the direction of causality is from cannabis use to psychotic symptoms." ("Tests of Causal Likages Between Cannabis Use and Psychotic Symptoms,"Addiction 2005)
5. Credibility
Ranking:

 Experts
PhD's and JD's (lawyers) with significant post-doctoral involvement in medical marijuana issues; judges who have presided over medical marijuana cases.

6. Involvement:
  • Research Professor, Department of Psychological Medicine, Christchurch School of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Otago
  • Founder and Executive Director of the Christchurch Health and Development Study, Christchurch School of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Otago
  • Keynote Address speaker "The Development and Evaluation of Early Start" at the New Zealand Early Childhood Research 10th Annual Conference 2006
7. Education:
  • Ph.D., school unknown
8. Relevant Affiliations/Honors:
  • Gold medal award for excellence in research at the School of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Otago
9. Contact Info:
Phone: 03 364 0530 x86443CS Fax:  None listed
E-Mail:   david.fergusson@chmeds.ac.nz
Web Site:  www.chmeds.ac.nz/research/chds/staff.htm
10. Other: Select Publications:
  • Co-authored "Mirken Refuted: Reasons for Believing that the Association Between Cannabis Use and Risk of Psychosis is Probably Causal" in Letters to the Editor, Addiction 2005, 100(5): 713-717
  • Co-authored "Tests of Causal Likages Between Cannabis Use and Psychotic Symptoms," Addiction 2005, 100: 354-366
  • Co-authored "Early Onset Cannabis Use and Psychosocial Adjustment in Young Adults," Addiction 1997, 92: 279
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