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Medical Marijuana. Anthony Bourdain's Top 10 "Parts Unknown" Episodes. Aired 8:30-9a ET

Aired April 16, 2015 - 06:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

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[08:32:55]

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's unique. It's different. I never thought I would be smoking weed in the hospital.

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Janelle Lashose (ph) is a painter. She was also born with sickle cell anemia and has been in pain for as long as she can remember.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And exhale now.

GUPTA (on camera): How long after you smoke do you start to have some sort of relief of your pain?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Instantly. It's like, instantly.

GUPTA: Within minutes?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I like - yes, a couple minutes afterwards you feel the relief of pain.

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POPPY HARLOW, CNN ANCHOR: That was a clip from a new CNN documentary "Weed 3: The Marijuana Revolution." It examines the politics and the policies of legalizing medical marijuana. CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta joins us now.

Sanjay, the first two were fascinating. I've seen parts of this one. It is equally fascinating.

GUPTA: Right.

HARLOW: Congrats to you and your team for doing this. You say, you know, you hear from Janelle, right, who's suffering from sickle cell anemia, how it's helping her. You spend a lot of time with this veteran who's suffering from PTSD, about the positive effect this had on him. You call this reporting from the frontlines of a battle. Who's winning?

GUPTA: Well, I think, for the first time, you're starting to see the signs of a revolution when it comes to medicinal marijuana. Look, you know, it's a heavily stigmatized substance. For 40 years now, almost 50 years, it's been a schedule one substance. Basically it's illegal federally. It's preordained as having no medicinal use. But, you know, there have been more studies now that have been federally approved in the last 12 months, Poppy, than in the previous 12 years. So the - it's the - I think the scientist and people who wanted to study this just couldn't get it done for a long time, but that part of it is changing.

HARLOW: Is it because they're responding to numbers like this, this Pew study showing us that 77 percent of people now think that marijuana has a legitimate medical use, versus just 16 percent that think it doesn't? That is a sea change. What's driving it? what's driving the change?

GUPTA: I think - look, there is data that exists on this from other countries around the world. Look, I fell into this trap some time ago where I just looked at the United States data on medicinal marijuana and, frankly, didn't find it very compelling. But when you look at most things, as you know, Poppy, you dig a little deeper and you realize that part of the reason the United States data didn't look good is because the studies that were getting approved were already designed to look for harm. So if you looked at it you'd say, well, this - this just doesn't look very good.

[08:35:17] You go to Israel, where they've been doing research for decades on this, and allowing patients to actually use marijuana in hospitals as part of trials, as part of their therapy now, and you start to see a different picture that emerges. So there is data out there and, you know -

HARLOW: Yes.

GUPTA: You know, people can dismiss a lot of these patience of malingers who are just trying to get high, and part of that's going to be true, but there are legitimate patients out there as well for whom this really benefits them.

HARLOW: No question. I've spent time with some of those patients.

Sanjay, let's pull up the map so people can see all the states where medical marijuana is now legal. You're talking about 23 states across this country. Let's talk about Sean. This is what - probably the most moving part of the documentary for me was Sean, a veteran suffering from PTSD. And I was shocked to find out what smoking marijuana helps him with in terms of his dreams and his concentration.

GUPTA: To give you a - just a quick background. Sean's an investment banker. He was a Wall Street investment banker for a long time. He's a veteran. He was in Panama. Had significant post-traumatic stress symptoms when he came back. Four children, a beautiful wife. That's his life and yet he is - he nearly killed himself because he could not get any relief. That background's important because 22 veterans kill themselves every day.

And I met someone, Sean, who was almost one of those people. What he says this offers him is a significant improvement of his symptoms. He had tried lots of things before. Suppressing dream recall. Very important when it comes to post traumatic stress. And also being able to ignore things from the past and focusing more on the present, which may cut back on the - the - the anxiety that's associated with past memories, for example.

We know what it does in the brain more than ever before. We know it affects the anterior cingulate cortex. You don't need to remember that name, but that's a part of the brain that deals with empathy, emotion, decision making. All things that go into post-traumatic stress as well. So it's fascinating to see it not only working but also the studies and why it works.

HARLOW: One of the questions Chris and I had is, does it matter what kind of marijuana is being smoked? There are all different strains. And also for you, Sanjay, just this personal journey reporting this out, what's been the biggest surprise to you?

GUPTA: Well, so on the first point it absolutely matters the different strains, the different doses, just like any other medication. I mean you - there are certain things that are going to work better. We know for children with epilepsy, a high CBD, oil, non-psychoactive oil seems to work better, for example, for those children. That's part of a study that's ongoing right now as well.

You know, I think - I think the personal journey, Poppy, in part as journalist and in part as doctor, I think, you know, you - we all get presented all sorts of data all the time and it's easy to look at the data and even do a little bit of digging and sort of accept that data for what it is. But when you start to dig deeper and say, well, what drove the data in the first place, what were the questions that were being asked? In marijuana's case, the vast majority of questions were, what was the harm that we could find in it -

HARLOW: Yes.

GUPTA: As opposed to what was the benefit.

HARLOW: Yes.

GUPTA: You can extrapolate that to all other aspects of your life. Two years ago people would hardly talk to us about this topic and now, you know, the president will be in this documentary. Senators who are -

HARLOW: Yes.

GUPTA: Proposing really audacious legislation, scientists, patients. It's a remarkable story and I think it's one that really reflects, in many ways, the United States and its overall drug policy.

HARLOW: It absolutely does. If you want to see what the president has to say about it, Sanjay posed that question to him, be sure to watch "Weed 3: The Marijuana Revolution." Thank you, Sanjay. Congrats to you and your team. 9:00 Eastern, Sunday night, only right here on CNN.

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: So, Anthony Bourdain is joining us, talking about his favorite episodes. His. What do you think they are? Of course he's got a new season rolling out as well and he - he wants to know what some of you have liked best about his work. Stick around for a very tasteful conversation.

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[08:42:41] JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Time now for the five things to know for your new day.

Number one, "The Tulsa World" reports its supervisors were ordered to falsify the records of the reserve deputy who shot and killed an unarmed black man earlier this month, giving him field and weapons certifications that he never earned.

Former NFL star Aaron Hernandez, now a convicted murder. Hernandez was sentenced to life in prison without patrol for killing his friend, Odin Lloyd. Hernandez also faces trial for a double murder in 2012.

A Florida man in custody this morning for landing his tiny gyrocopter on the Capitol lawn. Doug Hughes says he carried out the stunt act to make a statement about corruption resulting from money in politics.

Two Army National Guardsmen in San Diego busted in a federal sting for allegedly trying to sell guns, ammunition and body armor to members of Mexico's drug cartels.

And it will be a lingering issue for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. The board of a Clinton Foundation deciding to keep taking donations from Australia, Canada and four European countries, although limiting the amounts.

For more on the five things to know, go to newdaycnn.com for the very latest.

Poppy.

HARLOW: All right, John, thanks.

In today's "New Day, New You," early success in a trial of a new breast cancer drug. Pfizer says the first formal late stage trial of Ibrance met its goal of delaying progression of the disease in previously treated patients. The results were so promising the trial was even stopped early. The FDA has already approved the drug for some patients with an advanced stage of breast cancer. That is great news.

CUOMO: So it shows promise. Is this one of those things where we've got to be careful in the qualifications?

HARLOW: Always have to be careful, right? It's still a study, but they stopped the study early and they're saying that it is delaying the process of the disease in previously treated patients. So not - not a cure-all.

CUOMO: Well, take any hope you can get, right?

HARLOW: Absolutely. CUOMO: All right, so, your man, Anthony Bourdain, he's got a new season. It's almost here. And John's somehow fascinated with him being in a hot tub. We'll discuss that and we'll discuss his favorite shows, his favorite foods.

BERMAN: It's not just me. Everyone's fascinated with him in a hot tub.

CUOMO: Nobody else has mentioned it but you.

HARLOW: I'm fascinated.

CUOMO: No one.

Also, a young couple dreaming to build the world's first legal marijuana empire. It's all part of CNN's series "High Profits." Take a look.

[08:44:55] (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ullr Fest is so funny. They throw out condoms every year. It's like a legit adult party in the middle of downtown Breck. I think our float will be received pretty well.

[08:45:10] I found it! I found it! Look at this. Nice. The girls are on their way.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The mayor is able to lift our open container restrictions. So for Ullr Fest, they don't have a liquor license, but the mayor does lift the restrictions on open containers for Main Street and the bonfire just because it would become a nightmare if he didn't.

(SCREAMING AND YELLING)

THOMAS GORMAN, DIRECTOR, ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH INTENSITY DRUG TRAFFICKING AREA PROGRAM: What we want to do with any kind of drug is reduce the number of people using it. Yes, some people are responsible, and a whole lot of people are irresponsible people. Alcohol is our best example. We have 11,000 people killed every year by drunk drivers. We accept that. It shouldn't be (INAUDIBLE). So there's what happens when you have a drug that is readily available, socially acceptable, low perception risk and relatively cheap. I don't want that for the other drugs.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are making our presence known and everyone after this parade will know that they can come in and buy weed at our store.

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[08:50:06] ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: The CNN hit show "Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown," returns Sunday April 26, but before it does, CNN is giving you the chance to pick which episode from the past seasons you would like to see again before season five's big premiere. Anthony Bourdain himself has chosen his top 10 destinations and you get to vote and decide which one makes the cut.

Anthony Bourdain, host of "Parts Unknown," joins us now. Hi.

ANTHONY BOURDAIN, CNN HOST, "PARTS UNKOWN": Hi.

CAMEROTA: You have boiled down your globetrotting to your ten favorite destinations?

BOURDAIN: Right. Well, my favorite shows. I don't know that I would be recommending vacation in Libya right now or Democratic Republic of the Congo, but these were shows that I am most proud of and sort of happiest with the result.

CAMEROTA: What did you like most about your Congo show?

BOURDAIN: That it was so difficult, that we worked for -- it took years and years and years to set up, to be able to get in there and to be able to do it reasonably safely, and the level of difficulty was unlike any other show, a level of uncertainty, and we worked really hard on it and came back with a show I am really proud of. Very complex, very big story, and took a lot to do and I am proud of the work we did.

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: So I would imagine it's almost like picking amongst your children when you look at some of these because each of them hold such a special memory, whether it's the food, of course, which we know you love, but the people and the stories that they have to share with you.

BOURDAIN: We meet a lot of people and hear a lot of stories that are very moving, confusing, upsetting, and inspiring.

PEREIRA: Complicated?

BOURDAIN: Complicated. We try really hard to tell those stories in a compelling and creative way, and I guess the shows that I am most proud of are the ones that I feel that using the strange and terrible powers of television, we were able to put together a compelling story.

CUOMO: By the way, there is Tony's list.

CAMEROTA: That is a whole smattering of unusual choices.

CUOMO: Still a little bit of everything in there.

CAMEROTA: You brought up your Libya show. What did you like about that?

BOURDAIN: I was there during what turned out to be a brief window of tremendous hope and optimism and idealism and occasional goodwill. I met a lot of extraordinary people, and it was an uncertain show, and the security situation was deteriorating rapidly, but I allowed myself, as I think many people did at the time, to feel hopeful for the country and since that time, a lot of the people who were on the show are no longer with us and --

CAMEROTA: Because they got caught up in the violence?

BOURDAIN: Or perpetrated it themselves. It's a very complicated story and in retrospect, even more complicated than I thought, but it appeared to be a hopeful time.

PEREIRA: When we set out on these projects in television, you know very well, having done a number of them, that you -- you set out with one goal and often these things take on a life of their own. How far apart are those two visions or realities?

BOURDAIN: That's sort of the fun. I love being proven wrong, I love going into a place with preconceptions or prejudices and having them -- I don't mind looking like an idiot on television. I like a steep learning curve. I like going into a place thinking it's going to be one way and having it just completely turned upside down. Or just coming out of a place deeply confused not knowing what to think of the experience. Iran, I think, would be an example of that. It was just - the split, the dichotomy between what we see in Iran's foreign policy and behavior internationally and what it is like walking the streets of Tehran. Very hard to reconcile.

CAMEROTA: That's what makes it so great to watch.

CUOMO: And there's such a through line between what CNN does and what Tony does because when you're on scene in a location, nothing winds up bringing home the experience for you like when you actually get to share a meal and be with the people in that type of intimate setting. Everything winds up becoming much more clear. That's the hope -

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CAMEROTA: You boiled it down to ten of your favorite shows. We would like to see all of them again, but you can't. You have to choose. Vote for the episode you want to see air before the season five premiere of "Parts Unknown" at CNN.com/partsunkown. There they are on your screen. Also, be sure to tune in, April 26, to watch both those episodes on CNN.

Anthony Bourdain, thanks so much.

BOURDAIN: Thanks so much.

[08:54:39] CUOMO: No, it was not the effects of "Weed 3" that made you think that those were different people, we did that earlier in the week. Now what you are looking at now is a very special daughter who is getting a very special gift for a special edition of The Good Stuff that's coming up. You don't want to miss this.

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CUOMO: The Good Stuff is too good for me, it requires someone gooder (sp), so Christine Romans is here with the story she brought to our attention and thank you for doing it.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Thank you. This is a really good story. We recently met an extraordinary young woman, her name is Rhea Shannon. Like millions of Americans, she was buried under thousands of dollars in student loan debt, but her case is different. The cosigner on her loan was her father, Michael, a Marine, and when he died in Afghanistan she was left with a broken heart and a pile of bills.

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RHEA SHANNON, IN STUDENT LOAN DEBT: He told me, you know, it would be okay that we would pay it off. Being that he is not here, them continuously calling, it's like, you are not getting this money.

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ROMANS: So we published Rhea's story on "CNN MONEY" and within hours, the survivors group TAPS reached out to her, figured out how to clear her debt. They work with banks to get survivors' student loans forgiven.

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ROMANS: Rhea's loans, is she free and clear, $54,000?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Completely. JPMorgan Chase is waving the entire things. They have already done it.

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[08:59:50] ROMANS: It's gone. Took just a few hours. The debt is gone. And the whole point here is that the debt is owed to her and her family, there should be no debt. That she owes. She has also found out through this group, TAPS, that there are scholarships and programs for her to go and get a master's degree if she would like for free because of the debt we owe to her and her family, not the other way around.