Smoking cannabis associated with increased risk of heart attack and stroke

NIH-funded observational study shows risk grows sharply with more frequent use.

Frequent cannabis smoking may substantially heighten an individual’s susceptibility to heart attack and stroke, as indicated by an observational study endorsed by the National Institutes of Health.

The study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, utilizes data from a substantial sample of almost 435,000 American adults, making it one of the most comprehensive explorations to date on the correlation between cannabis use and cardiovascular events.

The study, funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), part of NIH, found that daily use of cannabis — predominately through smoking — was associated with a 25% increased likelihood of heart attack and a 42% increased likelihood of stroke when compared to non-use of the drug.

Less frequent use was also associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events. Weekly users showed a 3% increased likelihood of heart attack and a 5% increased likelihood of stroke.

Around 75% of the study respondents reported that they mainly used cannabis by smoking the drug. Approximately 25% of the respondents reported using cannabis by some method other than smoking, such as vaping, drinking, or eating the drug.

“We know that toxins are released when cannabis is burned, similar to those found in tobacco smoke,” said corresponding author Abra Jeffers, Ph.D., a data analyst at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and formerly a researcher at the Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education at the University of California, San Francisco, where she conducted the study as part of her postdoctoral work.

Researchers suggest that though the specific relationship between cannabis and heart disease remains unclear and was not investigated in this study, there are various factors that may contribute to this connection.

In addition to toxins, the body’s cardiovascular tissues contain widespread endocannabinoid receptors, which are responsible for recognizing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive ingredient in cannabis. This presence of receptors might contribute to potential heart risks.

Read the rest here or check for related articles or updates National Institutes of Health

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