Professor says marijuana benefits the body

By Jessica Else
ONTARIO — Curious locals and supporters of medical marijuana were offered some nuggets of information at the U People Like Me Medical Marijuana Awareness Blitz Friday night in Ontario. The event was hosted by the Stormy Ray Cardholders’ Foundation at the Four Rivers Cultural Center, and wasn’t without it’s technical issues. Throughout the entire evening there were periodic microphone glitches.

“Someone turned off our live feed right before we started,” said Stormy Ray, who heads up the foundation. “It was devastating to all of us who put in our hard work.”

In spite of the difficulties, however, the show went on in the midst of a packed house. More than 70 people attended, causing standing room only.

William Lopez was the master of ceremonies and the group raffled off several vaporizers as well as a glass bong. Several people gave testimonies on the benefits of medical marijuana and there was a presentation by Eastern Oregon University assistant chemistry and biochemistry professor, Jeremy Riggle.

Riggle spoke on the chemical compounds in marijuana that give it healing properties.

“There’s a treasure trove of different chemicals that have different effects,” Riggle said. “All the compounds have been shown to have benefits and we’re just barely scratching the surface on this stuff.”

The main chunk of Riggle’s presentation focused on the human body’s endocannabinoid system, which regulates homeostasis within cells and inside the body, overall. This system helps regulate things like appetite, mood, and the sensation of pain.

"That’s why it’s so good for fighting cancer. It tells sick cells to commit suicide.
— Jeremy Riggle, assistant chemistry and biochemistry professor at Eastern Oregon University

Riggle explained that the cannabinoids within medical marijuana interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system in a large variety of ways, promoting healthy cells and causing unhealthy cells to self-abort.

“That’s why it’s so good for fighting cancer,” Riggle said. “It tells sick cells to commit suicide.”

Chris Artiach, a student at Treasure Valley Community College, a 2015 gold medalist in the Special Olympics, and a veteran with PTSD, said medical marijuana is his only medication for constant pain because he is allergic to both opiates and narcotics.

“They say it’s bad for our community and it will cause problems, but we’re already the second worst in Oregon,” Artiach said. “We don’t get addicted to it. We don’t die. We just smile.”

The event concluded with a mixer for the audience, which packed the meeting room at the cultural center, to mingle and enjoy live music.