Last Updated on 8th November 2019

Popular daytime TV host Dr. Phil has come under fire for making outlandish claims about cannabis on a recent episode of his long-running show.

“When you smoke marijuana it’s like opening your computer up and pouring water inside, a lot of things short out and it connects where it’s not supposed to and really creates problems.”

Dr. Phil made the comments in relation to an 11-year-old boy who appeared on his show for a large number of behavioural issues, including smoking cannabis.

There is evidence to show that the human brain continues maturing until about age 25, however, any claims of cannabis ‘re-wiring’ or ‘re-connecting’ parts of the brain wrong are pretty outlandish. And while cannabis legalisation continues to grow, nobody is condoning recreational cannabis use among children.

Since the segment aired, Dr. Phil has faced a windfall of criticism from media outlets and health professionals for sensationalising the effects of cannabis, when legal substances like alcohol, opioids and benzodiazepines can all pose a threat to children.

In conversation with Vice, Dr. Michael Verbora of the Aleafia Total Health Network states “Pouring water into a computer would destroy the computer and kill all the connections.”

While cannabis can help to reign in chemicals in the brain that cause stress, anxiety and pain, Verbora also stated that “there is no evidence that any type of rewiring is taking place.”

Dr. Phil’s comments come at a time when backlash against growing cannabis legalisation appears to be picking up speed. Earlier this year, former New York Times writer Alex Berenson published a book titled Tell Your Children: The Truth About Marijuana, Mental Illness, and Violence, which has been widely denounced as alarmist and sensationalist.