More than half the states in the US now allow the use of marijuana for medical purposes, as well as at least 16 other countries. Yet of the hundreds of purported medical benefits, only three are concretely supported by scientific evidence: treating chronic pain, nausea after chemotherapy, and symptoms of multiple sclerosis. This is the conclusion of a new 400-page report from the US National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, which analyzed more than 10,000 scientific studies.

One of the biggest benefits of such large reviews is that they put in context the weight of evidence supporting the many claims made in the name of cannabis. To help you understand those, we’ve coded the claims about both benefits and harms of cannabis. The ones with the strongest evidence are in bold, those with mild evidence in normal text, and those with limited or no evidence grayed out.

Purported benefits

Strong evidence

Helps chronic pain in adults

Lessens chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting

Relieves some symptoms of multiple sclerosis

Moderate evidence

Relieves sleep problems caused by obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic pain, and multiple sclerosis

Doesn’t increase risk of cancers

Limited or no evidence

Counters the loss of appetite associated with HIV/AIDS

Relieves symptoms of anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, Tourette’s syndrome, dementia, depression, all cancers, irritable bowel syndrome, epilepsy, Parkinson’s, and schizophrenia

Purported risks

Strong evidence

Worsens respiratory problems, such as chronic bronchitis episodes

Motor-vehicle accidents

Low birth weight in babies

Schizophrenia or other psychoses

Moderate evidence

Injuries, such as respiratory distress, among children who smoke cannabis

who smoke cannabis Impaired learning, memory, and attention

Social-anxiety disorder, depression, and bipolar episodes in people with diagnosed bipolar disorder

Substance abuse disorder for alcohol, tobacco, and other illicit drugs

Limited or no evidence