A recent study has raised serious concerns about cardiovascular issues associated with cannabis use. Researchers warned of a troubling increase in deaths from such causes, which have reportedly doubled in recent years, according to HealthDay. These findings challenge the widely held belief that marijuana is harmless.
Led by Émilie Jouanjus of Toulouse University Hospital, the researchers analyzed 24 large-scale observational studies conducted between 2016 and 2023. These studies involved approximately 200 million people aged 19 to 59.
They found that cannabis users faced nearly double the risk of death from cardiovascular diseases, a 29% higher risk of heart attack, and a 20% greater risk of stroke. The review, published in the journal Heart, adds new clarity to the issue. However, the researchers cautioned that the observational nature of the data and possible bias call for careful interpretation.
In an editorial, Stanton Glantz and colleagues from the University of California, San Francisco, emphasized that these results cast serious doubt on the assumption that cannabis poses no significant cardiovascular risk, according to Focus. The researchers advocate for regulatory strategies such as warning labels, public education, marketing restrictions — and treating cannabis more like tobacco, focusing on harm reduction rather than criminalization, along with protecting non-users from secondhand smoke.
However, many of the reviewed studies lacked detailed data on usage patterns. Most participants were simply categorized as current users or non-users, without specifying the method of consumption (smoking, vaping, or edibles) or the dosage. This gap leaves open the question of whether the cardiovascular harm stems primarily from smoke exposure or from THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) itself — the main psychoactive compound in cannabis responsible for the “high.”
Recent clinical research supports the concerns raised by the authors. A small study published in JAMA Cardiology involving 55 adults found that both smokers and edible cannabis users had significantly reduced vascular function — by 42% in smokers and 56% in edible users. This similarity to tobacco-related vascular damage suggests that THC alone may impair cardiovascular health, regardless of smoke inhalation.
Other evidence points to cannabis-related heart problems even among young, otherwise healthy adults. A study involving 4.6 million people showed that users under 50 were six times more likely to suffer a heart attack, and had a higher risk of stroke, heart failure, and cardiovascular death. Earlier studies also reported a nearly fivefold increase in heart attack risk within an hour after smoking in middle-aged individuals.
The average THC concentration in cannabis today (~18%) is significantly higher than in the 1990s (3.7–10%), potentially increasing the likelihood of health complications. This rising risk is especially alarming given the surge in daily cannabis use. Between 2008 and 2023, usage among U.S. adults aged 35–50 tripled from 2.5% to 7.5%, while among those aged 19–30, it quadrupled to 10.4%. Meanwhile, public health messaging continues to downplay cannabis’s impact on heart health.
The study’s authors and reviewers call for urgent action: strengthening warning labels on cannabis packaging, launching public awareness campaigns about cardiovascular risks, and tightening regulations on product potency and marketing — all within a public health framework similar to tobacco control. While they argue criminalization is unnecessary, promoting abstinence and protecting non-users are essential steps.
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