Alzheimer's Added to Minnesota's Medical Marijuana List

The state of Minnesota in 2019 will add Alzheimer's to the list of diseases eligible for treatment with medical marijuana, in spite of little scientific evidence demonstrating cannabis' effectiveness, reports the Minneapolis Star Tribune . Some studies have determined that marijuana inhibits production of tau proteins that speed up dementia and memory loss related to Alzheimer's. "There is some evidence for potential benefits of medical cannabis to improve the mood, sleep, and behavior of people with Alzheimer's disease," acknowledged Minnesota Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm. Minnesota will be the thirteenth U.S. state permitting medical marijuana use either for Alzheimer's or related symptoms. Although the risks of long-term marijuana use are not known, Malcolm said they are less of a concern among the older Alzheimer's population. Sensible Minnesota's Heather Tidd expects cannabis will be of assistance to families living with senior parents or other loved ones with Alzheimer's, particularly in salving anxiety and aggression. Minnesota uses data from certified healthcare beneficiaries to evaluate whether the potential advantages of medical marijuana outweigh the known drawbacks.