By American Heart Association News
Using cannabis—through smoking, eating, or vaping—could potentially increase the likelihood of heart attacks and strokes, according to new research.
Survey data indicates that individuals who reported using cannabis, or marijuana, had a higher risk of cardiovascular issues, regardless of tobacco use or other cardiovascular risk factors. The findings were published on Wednesday in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
“Despite its common use, we know relatively little about the risks associated with cannabis, particularly with cardiovascular diseases,” stated lead study author Dr. Abra Jeffers, a data analyst at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. “Perceptions surrounding the dangers of smoking cannabis are diminishing, and many people do not see cannabis use as harmful to their health.”
Additionally, Dr. Jeffers indicated, “smoking cannabis—the most common method of consumption—could carry extra risks due to the inhalation of particulate matter.”
The number of cannabis users in the U.S. has surged over the past few decades, with recreational use legalized in 24 states and the District of Columbia. A federal survey conducted in 2019 found that over 48 million individuals aged 12 and older reported using marijuana at least once, nearly double the figure from 2002. However, marijuana remains illegal federally.
Previous studies linking marijuana use to heart attacks or strokes have been limited for several reasons. The prevalence of frequent marijuana users is relatively low, most research focuses on younger, lower-risk populations, and the overlap of marijuana and tobacco use complicates the isolation of marijuana’s effects.
In this study, researchers evaluated survey data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, analyzing responses from 434,104 U.S. adults collected between 2016 and 2020. They explored how the frequency of cannabis use in the prior month correlated with self-reported cardiovascular outcomes, including coronary heart disease, heart attacks, and strokes, across the general adult population and among those who had never used tobacco or e-cigarettes. The analysis also focused on men under 55 and women under 65 who were at risk for heart disease.
Any marijuana use was associated with increased risks for heart attacks and strokes, with the highest risk seen among frequent users.
Adults who consumed marijuana daily had a 25% greater chance of experiencing a heart attack and a 42% higher chance of having a stroke compared to non-users. Smoking was the predominant method of consumption, followed by consumption methods such as eating or vaping.
Among men under 55 and women under 65, marijuana use resulted in a 36% higher likelihood of coronary heart disease, heart attack, or stroke, regardless of concurrent tobacco use. Even non-tobacco users demonstrated elevated odds.
“Cannabis smoke is quite similar to tobacco smoke, aside from the psychoactive element: THC vs. nicotine,” noted Dr. Jeffers. “Our study indicates that smoking cannabis presents notable cardiovascular risks just like smoking tobacco does. This is particularly significant as cannabis use is on the rise while traditional tobacco use continues to decline.”
Dr. Robert L. Page II, who led the writing group for the American Heart Association’s 2020 scientific statement on marijuana’s impact on heart health, emphasized the findings should serve as a “call to action for all practitioners” regarding a potentially dangerous combination. He is a professor of clinical pharmacy, medicine, and physical medicine at the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Aurora, though he was not part of the recent study.
“As cannabis use becomes increasingly legal and accessible nationwide, healthcare providers must remember to address cannabis use at every patient visit to facilitate open, non-judgmental discussions about potential cardiovascular risks and methods to mitigate those risks,” Page advised.
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American Heart Association News addresses heart disease, stroke, and associated health topics. The opinions expressed in American Heart Association News articles do not necessarily reflect the official stance of the American Heart Association. The findings, conclusions, accuracy, and reliability of studies published in American Heart Association scientific journals or presented at American Heart Association scientific meetings are solely those of the respective authors and do not necessarily represent the American Heart Association’s official guidance, policies, or positions.
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