The Tudor Dixon Podcast: Exposing Cannabis, Big Pharma, and the Hidden Mental Health Crisis with Dr. Josef Witt-Doerring

Date: September 24, 2025
Host: Tudor Dixon
Guest: Dr. Josef Witt-Doerring
Podcast: The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show, iHeartPodcasts

Overview

In this episode, Tudor Dixon is joined by psychiatrist Dr. Josef Witt-Doerring to dive deep into controversial issues around the psychiatric profession, the legalization and consequences of cannabis use, the hidden long-term risks of psychiatric medications (especially SSRIs/antidepressants), and the influence of big pharmaceutical companies on medical narratives. They also tackle hot-button topics like the transgender medical movement, medical ethics, and the social, psychological, and physiological roots of the current mental health crisis.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Cannabis, Psychosis, and Mental Health

[03:05–12:19]

• Potency of Modern Cannabis:
  Dr. Witt-Doerring details how “high potency cannabis products are the norm these days, and they're about 40 times more potent than the ditch weed that a lot of people grew up smoking back in the day.” ([03:54])
• Cannabis-Induced Psychosis:
  He warns that psychosis induced by cannabis has a uniquely high risk of converting into persistent psychiatric illness (like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder) compared to other drugs:

  “The one drug that…if you have a psychotic reaction…you have the highest likelihood of going on to being diagnosed with bipolar or schizophrenia…it's cannabis.”
  — Dr. Witt-Doerring ([05:19])

• Neurological Impact and Misdiagnosis:
  He describes cases where patients continue to experience lasting psychotic symptoms for years after stopping cannabis, arguing that it’s not simply “unmasking” underlying schizophrenia but may be causing a toxic brain injury that requires a very long recovery.

  “…even after they stop smoking the cannabis, they still have enduring psychosis for several years afterwards…there is something toxic about cannabis that is actually harmful to the neurons...your brain is actually healing, it's recovering from a toxic insult.”
  — Dr. Witt-Doerring ([07:22])

• Cannabis-Induced Hyperemesis:
  Both discuss cases where heavy cannabis users develop intractable vomiting—a syndrome that is not rare, can be life-threatening, and is typically unrecognized. ([09:10–10:27])

2. The Pharmaceutical Industry and Overdiagnosis

[12:19–15:20]

• Production-Line Healthcare & Quick Diagnoses:
  There’s a financial incentive for doctors to use brief visits to hand out psychiatric diagnoses and medication:

  “There is a commercial incentive to see people in a short period of time…just say you have depression and there's an FDA treatment for that, you know, I'm covered legally for it...”
  — Dr. Witt-Doerring ([12:57])

• Big Pharma’s Narrative Control:
  Dr. Witt-Doerring discusses the deep reach of pharmaceutical companies in medical education, journals, funding patient groups, and silencing critics:

  “You got this billion dollar industry that is essentially just controlling the narrative…my medical education didn’t emphasize [lifestyle factors], because they didn’t have a big industry there.” ([14:08])

3. The Risks of Speaking Out

[15:20–17:41]

• Personal Risks & Professional Reprisal:
  Dr. Witt-Doerring acknowledges that exposing potential harms of widely prescribed drugs and challenging industry interests makes him a target:

  “People have been coming after my medical license for a long time…after watching [recent events], yeah, I do worry about it…I'm not suicidal…” ([15:40])

• The Importance of Public Discourse:
  He maintains his resolve to continue speaking out “for those who don’t know yet” as well as those already harmed, paralleling other outspoken advocates. ([17:12])

4. SSRIs and Permanent Sexual Dysfunction

[17:41–22:43]

• Prevalence of Sexual Side Effects:
  Dixon raises the profile of Post-SSRI Sexual Dysfunction (PSSD), citing figure that 70% of users may experience sexual side effects; Dr. Witt-Doerring clarifies that while most experience sexual dysfunction on the drug, the rate of permanent PSSD is lower but still significant.
• Nature of PSSD:

  “The constellation is they get sexual dysfunction…genital anesthesia...cognitive dysfunction…massively dissociated...People have used the term chemical lobotomy to describe this.”
  — Dr. Witt-Doerring ([19:56])

• Global Recognition but US Silence:
  He notes that other countries’ drug labels now warn of lasting sexual side effects, but US precautions lag due to industry pressure.

5. The Medicalization of Gender Identity and Transition

[26:03–42:00]

• Physical & Psychological Consequences of Gender-Affirming Surgeries:
  Dixon shares her perspective, informed by personal experience with surgery, that physical sensation and intimacy are irreversibly affected by gender reassignment surgeries ([26:03]).
• Political Pressures vs. Patient Welfare:
  Both argue that political advocacy, rather than medical science, has driven widespread adoption of puberty blockers and surgeries for minors.

  “Many doctors aren't acting like scientists, they're acting like political activists.”
  — Dr. Witt-Doerring ([29:32])

• Historical Rarity, Social Contagion:
  Dixon draws parallels with the earlier “contagion” of anorexia, suggesting current rates of youth gender questioning are similarly socially driven.

6. Potential Impact of SSRIs on Gender and Sexual Identity

[31:07–37:13]

• Animal and Human Research:
  Studies in mice show that SSRI exposure in utero blunts sexual behavior and increases autistic-like traits; similar findings are seen in human brain imaging. ([33:32–36:30])
• Speculative but Plausible Link to Identity Confusion:
  Both consider whether in utero or early-life SSRI exposure may contribute to the spike in sexual/gender identity uncertainty among youth:

  “I don't think it's a stretch to think that…we may be leading to people being asexual, people being more confused about their sexuality. That could be kind of caught up into the transgender thing, especially with the political climate right now.”
  — Dr. Witt-Doerring ([36:36])

7. Beyond Politics: Restoring Scientific Integrity in Mental Health

[40:33–47:20]

• Advocating for Non-Drug Approaches:
  Witt-Doerring calls for radical change in research focus, with government and academic leadership evaluating lifestyle, nutrition, and relationship interventions on par with drugs ([45:16–47:20]).
• Call to Action – Demand Science over Industry Narrative:

  "For the longest time, the pharmaceutical industry…have been controlling the narrative…We need government behind this, really." ([45:45])

8. Advice for Patients & Ending Stigma

[48:05–50:23]

• Support for Deprescribing:
  Dr. Witt-Doerring promotes careful, supported withdrawal from psychiatric drugs and notes it can take a year or more—“there is a way off if that's something that you want.” ([49:32])
• Destigmatizing Withdrawal Symptoms:
  Patients should not accept the story that withdrawal struggle means they “need” medication for life ([50:23]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the unique dangers of modern cannabis
  “Most doctors will...say it’s schizophrenia and [patients] need to stay on the drug indefinitely, when really what they need to do is completely stop smoking weed.”
  — Dr. Witt-Doerring ([08:40])

• On industry control of medical culture
  “We’ve had our medical education taken over by commercial interests.”
  — Dr. Witt-Doerring ([15:04])

• Regarding SSRI-induced sexual dysfunction
  “People have used the term chemical lobotomy to describe this.”
  — Dr. Witt-Doerring ([19:56])

• On the politicization of transgender medicine
  “Many doctors aren't acting like scientists, they're acting like political activists.”
  — Dr. Witt-Doerring ([29:32])

• Broad call for change:
  “We've never had a study that's looked at things like nutritional interventions, relationship coaching…against standard of care SSRIs over time…We're heading in the right direction now.”
  — Dr. Witt-Doerring ([46:11])

Timestamps for Major Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|---------| | 03:05–12:19 | Cannabis, psychosis, and hyperemesis | | 12:19–15:20 | Overdiagnosis, Big Pharma, and medical education | | 15:20–17:41 | Risks and consequences of being a medical dissenter | | 17:41–22:43 | Sexual dysfunction due to SSRIs/PSSD | | 26:03–29:48 | Gender medicine, surgery outcomes, and puberty blockers | | 31:07–37:13 | SSRIs’ possible contribution to sexuality/gender confusion | | 40:33–47:20 | Rethinking mental health policy and research agenda | | 48:05–50:23 | Safe withdrawal and patient empowerment |

Conclusion

Dr. Witt-Doerring and Tudor Dixon deliver a pointed critique of the psychiatric-pharmaceutical complex, challenge the safety and efficacy of contemporary cannabis and SSRI medications, and expose concerning intersections between medical practice, social trends, and industry influence. The episode encourages skepticism of easy drug-based solutions for complex personal and social struggles, and urges listeners and policymakers to demand evidence-based, compassionate, and holistic mental health care.

Relevant resources mentioned:

• Dr. Witt-Doerring’s YouTube channel and Tapir Clinic (for support with medication tapering)
• PSSD Network
• International drug label warnings on SSRIs

Listeners looking for more information or support are encouraged to visit Dr. Witt-Doerring’s social media or website.