08/12/2026
What if the most important question in medicine isn’t “What works?” but “What works for this patient?”
After more than four decades in medicine, I’ve learned that there is rarely a one-size-fits-all answer.
I recently had the privilege of joining Montel Williams on his “Let’s Be Blunt with Montel” podcast for a conversation about my journey through medicine, my work with older adults living with dementia, and the evolving role of medical cannabis.
One message kept coming up throughout our conversation:
Our job as physicians isn’t to defend old assumptions. It’s to remain curious, follow the evidence, and never lose sight of the person sitting in front of us.
Medical cannabis isn’t a miracle cure, and it isn’t right for everyone. But for some patients, it can be an important part of an individualized approach to symptoms such as chronic pain, anxiety, agitation, sleep disturbances, appetite changes, and behavioral symptoms associated with dementia.
What excites me most is where the field is going.
🔬 Biomarkers
🤖 Artificial intelligence
🧬 Personalized cannabinoid medicine
Research in these areas may eventually help us understand why one patient responds to a particular cannabinoid profile while another doesn’t—and help move us beyond trial and error toward truly individualized care.
I don’t see the future as medical cannabis versus conventional medicine.
I see it as having more tools, better research, and the willingness to keep asking better questions.
Ultimately, it comes down to one:
What can we do to help this particular patient?
I’m grateful to Montel Williams for creating a platform where these conversations can happen with nuance, compassion, and scientific curiosity.
🎥 Watch the full interview with Montel Williams — link in bio.
What do you think personalized cannabis medicine will look like in the next 5–10 years? Comment down below👇