President Donald Trump nominated Nicole Saphier, director of breast imaging at Memorial Sloan Kettering, as surgeon general on Thursday. Saphier has a documented record of warning against marijuana use while expressing cautious openness to medical cannabis.
In a 2019 Fox News op-ed, Saphier called marijuana "far from harmless" and criticized 2020 Democratic presidential candidates who backed reform, arguing they appeared more focused on electoral appeal than on public health. She explicitly connected cannabis to gynecomastia:
"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.'"
In separate interviews she said that legalization leads people to assume cannabis is safe, and warned that one in six young users become addicted while cannabis use in children carries four times the risk of psychosis.
On medical use, Saphier said in a podcast earlier this year: "Sure, there's evidence supporting cannabinoids for chemotherapy induced nausea, certain seizure disorders, chronic pain syndromes, multiple sclerosis. 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." She added that she has never tried cannabis, is "not a fan of THC," and considers low-dose, non-inhaled CBD products probably less harmful than other alternatives.
The nomination comes as the Trump administration moves forward with federal marijuana rescheduling, a process managed by the Department of Justice and Department of Health and Human Services. The surgeon general holds no formal scheduling role but is widely considered "America's doctor."
Trump's prior nominee, Casey Means, was withdrawn after past statements surfaced about having "meaningful experiences" with psychedelics and claiming marijuana harms the "ability to make Good Energy." At a February confirmation hearing, Means said she would not recommend Americans use psychedelics as she had, though she pointed to "exciting" research on psilocybin for mental health treatment.
