It has pot-tential to ease your mind, but cannabis could put strain on your heart.
Two major studies suggest that active cannabis users face a staggering six times higher risk of heart attack compared to those who stay away from the drug, even among young and otherwise healthy adults.
“Asking about cannabis use should be part of clinicians’ workup to understand patients’ overall cardiovascular risk, similar to asking about smoking cigarettes,” said Dr. Ibrahim Kamel, the study’s lead author and clinical instructor at the Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine.
Kamel and his team utilized data from TriNetX, a global health research network, to conduct the retrospective study.
The participants, all aged 50 and under, had no major heart issues at the outset, with healthy blood pressure, cholesterol levels and no history of diabetes, tobacco use or coronary artery disease.
After an average follow-up of more than three years, they found that cannabis users had more than a sixfold increase in heart attack risk and double the chance of heart failure.
But the risks don’t stop there. Marijuana users were found to have a fourfold increased risk of ischemic stroke — a condition where a blood clot disrupts blood flow to the brain — and a threefold increased risk of cardiovascular death, heart attack or stroke.
Kamel’s team combed through data from 12 studies involving over 75 million people, including research from the US, Canada and India.
Seven of the studies found a strong link between cannabis use and heart attack risk, while four showed no significant difference and one showed a slightly negative association.
When they pooled all the data together, researchers found that active cannabis users were 1.5 times more likely to suffer a heart attack than those who didn’t use the drug.
However, Kamel pointed out some limitations in the study. Researchers didn’t consider the amount and duration of cannabis use, nor did they explore other potential contributing factors.
“We should have some caution in interpreting the findings in that cannabis consumption is usually associated with other substances such as cocaine or other illicit drugs that are not accounted for,” Kamel said.
He added, “Patients should be forthcoming with their doctors and remember that we are their number one advocate and having the full story matters.”
Cannabis is still banned at the federal level, but 39 states and DC have legalized it for medical use. On top of that, 24 states and the nation’s capital have given the green light to recreational marijuana for adults 21 and over.
As marijuana legalization spreads across the country, the number of regular users is on the rise. In fact, research shows that regular cannabis use has now become more common than regular alcohol consumption.
New Yorkers in particular are living the high life. The Big Apple has earned the title of the world’s marijuana consumption capital, with residents smoking, vaping and eating an impressive 62.3 metric tons of weed each year, according to the 2023 Cannabis Global Price Index.
Proponents have long lauded the medicinal benefits of cannabis, including helping people break free from opioid addictions, easing chemotherapy side effects and treating insomnia. Additionally, many rely on marijuana to manage chronic pain and alleviate symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
However, there are growing concerns over the potential harms of regular and long-term use.
Multiple studies have linked cannabis to an elevated risk of heart attacks, cardiovascular disease and stroke. Still, the precise ways marijuana impacts the cardiovascular system remain unclear.
Kamel and his colleagues hypothesize that cannabis may interfere with heart rhythm regulation and increase the oxygen demand in the heart muscle. They also suggest the drug could contribute to endothelial dysfunction, making it harder for blood vessels to relax and expand, which disrupts blood flow.
Other research has linked cannabis use to impaired brain function, mental health issues, gastrointestinal problems and an increased risk of developing head, neck or throat cancer. Smoking marijuana can also cause damage to your lungs.
There’s also the risk of becoming addicted to marijuana. About 3 in 10 users develop a cannabis use disorder, characterized by compulsive use despite negative consequences, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Worse, evidence suggests that cannabis products with high THC concentrations — the psychoactive compound in weed — are linked to more severe cannabis use disorder symptoms.
That’s particularly concerning as the drug continues to become more potent. In the 1990s, THC levels ranged from 3.7% to 10%. Today, the average potency in Colorado is a staggering 18.7%, according to a lab test.
