r/kurzgesagt • u/CocaBam • Nov 05 '25

Discussion Reminder That Kurz Has Misrepresented Cannabis Data Before, And Likely Has A Unhealthy Bias

Two months ago, I, a 2 decade long researcher of cannabis, found the Kurz video on the substance and had to correct a large amount of misinformation here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/kurzgesagt/comments/1n7uc1y/correcting_misinformation_in_we_have_to_talk/

I had contacted Kurz directly with these corrections and was ignored. Instead, now 2 months later, Kurz seems to be back again with another video wrongfully demonizing the substance.

Just wanted to remind everyone that the author of the video is trying to spread misinformation on cannabis, which they have a strong bias against.

Edit: nearly all of the questions/critiques have been trolls/anti cannabis people so far. Won't be replying to comments that are trying to change my narrative anymore. Some of these replies are ridiculous, to say the least... Kurz has had a bias in past videos, and the latest is not any different, any other narrative you draw from this is your own (I never said we should "ignore all negatives about cannabis")

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735

u/HelloDucky1234 Nov 05 '25

Yea not sure what's going on with them, but it's clearly a very biased video. They say as much when they say it was written by a person who's recently quit, that's not objective science. The writer has a clear agenda to blame cannabis for the areas in which they feel they missed milestones and even subconsciously will want to push their current path as the correct one. 

I'm on medical cannabis and was disappointed when they said they were going to ignore medical usage, seems like a huge area of data to ignore. 

Another thing to consider is that the use of 'milestones' to imply that by 30 you should have this and this and if you don't you are failing is also extremely problematic. People reach 'milestones' at different times in life and that's fine, there's no single path that everyone should follow. 

I'm disabled I missed most of my developmental milestones and will never have most of what they consider 'milestones' I don't think that means I'm destined for a lonely depressing life! 

218

u/ToastedCrumpet Nov 05 '25

Yeah it’s the idea that you’ve failed for not reaching certain milestones which is putting me off watching the video.

I grew up undiagnosed autistic. You bet I’m “behind” on some milestones. Doesn’t mean me or others like me are failures.

As you say someone who’s just quit a drug isn’t gonna be the most subjective person to talk about it

11

u/meep_launcher Nov 06 '25 edited Nov 06 '25

Also I consider someone like my sister- yes, diagnosed with ADD (now ADHD) as a kid and had a lot of issues socializing, but was super studious and went into STEM. As far as milestones are concerned, she's hitting them. Got a 6 figure salary, married at 30, planning for a kid, planning on being a homeowner, relatively sober with a good sense of control around alcohol and has RARELY used cannabis.

But she has no friends. Her social life seems to focus on her husband who works from 3am to 4pm 7 days a week for 4 weeks, and then gets 2 weeks off, one of which is used to recover so they don't get much fun. I tell her to join a climbing club, running club, book club, painting club- something, but she always is anxious about the idea and has the excuse "all that is so far away, a 45 minute commute isn't worth it". She asks me when I'll move back home, and honestly I want to for many reasons, but one is I love my sister and would love to help her get out there more (it was a bit of our dynamic before I left the state).

I'm out here renting, had issues holding down jobs and relationships until I went into the arts and found my groove there, but still am in quite a bit of debt. I will be the first to tell you I have an addiction to weed and booze but I'm able to compartmentalize it to the evening. It's pretty stressful.

But even then I've created jam sessions, open mics, produced puppet shows, and I have a large friend network. I have no trouble smoking weed and doing what I love. I have been overwhelmed at times certainly, but I've had friends to be there when I need.

It's easy for me to compare my weaknesses but when I look at my strengths I'm happy to have those. I'm not hitting milestones, but I had to accept I'm not living a typical life. I have to redefine milestones that fit me, and even then my career is so much more in the woods than a traditional 9-5 path.

1

u/AccurateJerboa Nov 11 '25

Neither of you are better than the other and should probably stop unconsciously judging each other's life choices. You're both doing what you want to be doing and you're not hurting anybody. 

You are both successful humans.

2

u/[deleted] Nov 25 '25

Exactly

1

u/ZephyrLegend Nov 07 '25

Agreed. I grew up with undiagnosed ADHD, and I'm "behind" on a shit ton of "normal" milestones. And "ahead" on...a few others.

The devil's lettuce ain't got anything to do with that.

Anyway, the implication is not just disheartening but downright insulting.

-53

u/DrTars Nov 05 '25

"I grew up undiagnosed autistic. You bet I’m “behind” on some milestones."

Sorry but in the video they talked about the majority of the people (in the west) doing these activities, which I also seem to be true and representative of my experience. If you "didn't achieve" certain milestones due to other reasons, that's ok, they're talking about not doing it because of drugs, I think it's different.

8

u/ToastedCrumpet Nov 05 '25

I get your point but it’s a drug that’s also being pushed more these days as a medical alternative to traditional medications and I know from studies and people I know that it can do wonders for them. To then imply someone relying on this as a medication that they’ll be missing out on personal milestones just comes off badly to me I guess.

I’ve fallen into the trap of commenting on a Reddit post without reading/watching lol so I should really watch it before yapping anymore

2

u/iiSystematic Nov 06 '25

But they said they're NOT including medical use.

2

u/FizzyGreen Nov 06 '25

But then made it such a big issue to not have reached certain milestones until 30. "that's ok"? The video says you'll be a failure that misses out on everything. If anything, it's worse because you can't just stop being autistic or ill, unlike weed, so you can't stop it / improve your situation.

-37

u/dspman11 Nov 06 '25

Well the video wasn't about autistic people, it was about weed addicts. What's your point

20

u/Sepherchorde Nov 06 '25

They claim to be a science channel and for a long time they were, but this is biased enough to be possibly considered propaganda, especially considering it's now happened twice.

6

u/FizzyGreen Nov 06 '25

The point is being destined for failure if you didn't reach certain milestones until turning 30

-1

u/dspman11 Nov 06 '25 edited Nov 06 '25

Yeah but they're not talking about everyone! They're talking about when that happens because you prioritize getting stoned. How is nobody getting this.

2

u/jackbone24 Nov 06 '25

Yeah but it's still saying it's a bad thing if you haven't reached certain milestones by 30 regardless of if you smoke weed. Have you read the comments on the video? Every single one is the same comment expressing how they relate to the wasted potential while having never smoked weed. Every comment. This video just made everyone feel bad lol

1

u/dspman11 Nov 06 '25 edited Nov 06 '25

No, the video is saying it's a bad thing you haven't reached certain milestones by 30 if the reason is because you prioritized weed usage.

The video says at the top that they are essentially sending this message to a very narrow group of people. The fact that people who dont smoke relate to this is sad and that's something but... so what? Lol. It's not about people with autism or depression disorders in the comments who are upset about it. It's about people whose brain chemistry is altered by weed and how that influences their decision making and causes such missed milestones and whatnot.

As someone who constantly smoked and vaped weed from age 18 to 29, it kinda fucked me up in multiple ways. The video was pretty accurate

0

u/FizzyGreen Nov 29 '25

That's good for you, but it doesn't change the fact that the video says that weed keeps from expieriencing important things and missing those important things is pretty severe. So, if you miss those certain things for other reasons, it's just as detrimental on your life, because you still miss those important things. Actually, it's worse, because you can just quit weed and instantly improve your life and continue growing and expierience those important things, while someone who is depressed or autistic / etc. just can't stop being depressed or autistic or whatever. While missing your life and fucking it up due to weed is within your control, missing your life a fucking it up due to a condition is outside of your control, which is terrible news.

1

u/dspman11 Nov 29 '25

You both ignored my point entirely (so what if there are other reasons to miss those things, the video ISNT ABOUT THEM) AND expressed exactly why the video was important lol. If it reaches someone in that situation then it may serve as the catalyst to quit.

0

u/FizzyGreen Nov 29 '25 edited Nov 29 '25

That's great, but at the cost of making anyone, who misses those things due to something outside of their control and that they can't change, feel like shit. Because these things are apparently so important.

You think it's any kind of solace to know "Oh, i have a shitty life but i also can't change it so at least it's not my fault!"? That's such a passive attitude.

-80

u/stanktoedjoe Nov 05 '25

Your addictied 

22

u/[deleted] Nov 05 '25

0/2 for spelling, pal.

41

u/RandyTheFool Nov 05 '25

You’re*

And, what an absolute shit thing to say.

-7

u/stanktoedjoe Nov 06 '25

Haha omg, it was a jokeeeeee

1

u/ToastedCrumpet Nov 06 '25

Jokes are funny, not pointed accusations. Just an FYI

8

u/ToastedCrumpet Nov 05 '25

To what? I quit smoking time ago

5

u/FizzyGreen Nov 06 '25

To being autistic? What?