Last updated on: 10/18/2011 | Author: ProCon.org

Richard Beasley, MBChB, DM, FRACP, DSc Biography

Title:
Director of the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand
Position:
Con to the question "Should Marijuana Be a Medical Option?"
Reasoning:

“[I]ncreasing use of cannabis among young adults and adolescents is becoming a major public health problem.”

Interview with Reuters, Jan. 29, 2008
Theoretical Expertise Ranking:
     Key Experts
Physicians [Physicians are the "key experts" in the medical marijuana debate because the issue is thought by many to be ultimately based on the medical value and risks of marijuana, and Physicians, with their training and clinical work, should (at least in theory) have the best knowledge of marijuana's medical value and risks.] [Note: Key Experts definition varies by sites that have this designation.]
Involvement and Affiliations:
  • Director, Medical Research Institute of New Zealand
  • Programme Director, Asthma, Venous Thromboembolism, Medical Research Institute of New Zealand
  • Visiting Professor, University of Southampton
  • Adjunct Professor, University of Canterbury, University of Otago, Victoria University Wellington
  • Executive Committee Member, International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC)
  • Interim Regional Coordinator for North America, International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC)
  • Consultant Physician, Capital and Coast District Health Board of New Zealand
  • Former Head, Department of Medicine, Wellington School of Medicine, University of Otago
  • Fellow, American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
  • Fellow, Royal College of Physicians London
  • Fellow, Faculty of Occupational Medicine, Royal College of Physicians London
  • Recipient, World Lung Health Award, American Thoracic Society, 2001-2002
  • Recipient, University of Southampton Hartley Visiting Award
  • Recipient, Aventis Medal, Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand
Education:
  • DSc [Doctor of Science, a higher doctorate awarded in many countries for outstanding research beyond a doctorate], University of Otago, date unknown
  • FRACP [Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, a post-graduate specialist training program in medicine in New Zealand], date unknown
  • DM [Doctor of Medicine], University of Southampton, date unknown
  • MBChB [Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery], school and date unknown
Other:
  • None found
Quoted in:
  1. Does the Regular Smoking of Marijuana Cause Lung Cancer or in Any Way Permanently Injure the Lungs?