Lester Grinspoon, MD

Biography

Lester Grinspoon was a Harvard psychiatrist and one of the most influential figures in the history of medical cannabis advocacy and research. His 1971 book "Marihuana Reconsidered" — written after he began researching cannabis to discourage his son from using it — became a landmark work that challenged the prevailing view of cannabis as a dangerous drug. Grinspoon spent decades documenting patient experiences with medical cannabis and advocating for its reclassification. He passed away in 2020, but his legacy continues to shape cannabis policy and research.

Key Contributions

• 1Authored "Marihuana Reconsidered" (1971), a landmark work challenging cannabis prohibition
• 2Co-authored "Marihuana: The Forbidden Medicine" (1993), documenting patient experiences
• 3Advocated for cannabis rescheduling at Harvard and in public policy forums for 50 years
• 4Documented hundreds of patient case reports of medical cannabis efficacy
• 5Influenced generations of researchers and policymakers on cannabis medicine

Selected Publications