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Is it a miraculous cure-all for all sorts of diseases and symptoms? Or is it a slippery slope to social chaos? It all depends which side you support. There is currently a proposed citizen-initiated amendment to the Ohio Constitution, the Ohio Medical Cannabis Act. If it makes it to the ballot, expect an even more tumultuous election than last year. Here are some positive and negative effects of marijuana on certain diseases and ailments.

Arthritis

Benefits: According to Christina Cooper, part of the Downriver Wellness Group, a marijuana dispensary in Allen Park, Mich., marijuana helps with anxiety and hunger. “A hemp based oil called Rick Simpson oil has been rumored to help shrink tumors,” she said. Cannabis has been shown to kill cancer cells in the laboratory, she said.

Drawbacks: Cannabis is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use as a cancer treatment and there is no evidence that cannabis’ effects on the immune system help the body fight cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute’s website.

Alzheimer’s

Drawbacks: “There is also no evidence yet that cannabinoid-based Alzheimer’s drugs can slow the decline in human Alzheimer’s patients,” according to the Alzheimer’s Research Trust.

Benefits: “Our results provide a mechanism whereby the THC molecule can directly impact Alzheimer’s disease pathology,” according to the article “A Molecular Link Between the Active Component of Marijuana and Alzheimer’s Disease Pathology” by L.M. Eubanks, C.J. Rogers, A.E. Beuscher, G.F. Koob, A.J. Olson, T.J. Dickerson, and K.D. Janda, on the U.S. National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health website.

Glaucoma

Benefits: According to the article published for the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, “Marijuana Smoking and Reduced Pressure in Human Eyes: Drug Action or Epiphenomenon?” by Merton C. Flom, Anthony J. Adams, and Reese T. Jones, marijuana can lower intraocular pressure within the eye.

Drawbacks: According to the Glaucoma Research Foundation’s website, it does not support marijuana as an adequate substitute for other prescribed drugs and treatment for glaucoma. “These products are less effective than medicines prescribed by an eye doctor.”

Migraines

Benefits: “[Marijuana] is more about the relaxation,” Cooper said. “It definitely helps out for migraines; It depends on what type of headache it is though, stress, weather, etc.”

Drawbacks: “There are almost no clinical data on the use of marijuana or cannabinoids for migraine[s],” according to the article, “Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing the Science Base” by Alison Mack and Janet Joy on the National Academies Press Website.

Cancer

Benefits: According to Christina Cooper, part of the Downriver Wellness Group, a marijuana dispensary in Allen Park, Mich., marijuana helps with anxiety and hunger. “A hemp based oil called Rick Simpson oil has been rumored to help shrink tumors,” she said. Cannabis has been shown to kill cancer cells in the laboratory, she said.

Drawbacks: Cannabis is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use as a cancer treatment and there

is no evidence that cannabis’ effects on the immune system help the body fight cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute’s website.

Contact Brian Thursby at [email protected].