Last updated on: 7/8/2008 | Author: ProCon.org

Richard Carmona, MD Biography

Title:
Former US Surgeon General
Position:
Con to the question "Should Marijuana Be a Medical Option?"
Reasoning:

“I cannot recommend to anyone that they smoke, first of all. Smoking is so bad for you. I can’t say it would be safe to eat it, because no one has studied the long- or short-term gastrointestinal effects.”

“Health-Conscious,” New York Times, June 19, 2005
Involvement and Affiliations:
  • Professor, UA Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona
  • Vice Chairman, Canyon Ranch
  • President, nonprofit Canyon Ranch Institute
  • US Surgeon General, 2002-2006
  • Vice Admiral (VADM) in the US Public Health Service, (PHS) Commissioned Corps, 2002-2006
  • Former Professor of Surgery, Public Health, and Community Medicine, University of Arizona
  • Former Chairman, Arizona Southern Regional Emergency Medical System
  • Fellow, American College of Surgeons
  • Former Surgeon and Deputy Sheriff, Pima County Sheriff’s Department
Education:
  • MPH, University of Arizona, 1998
  • MD, U.C. San Francisco, 1979
  • BS, U.C. San Francisco, 1977
  • AA, Bronx Community College, 1975
Other:
  • None found