There is growing evidence that daily intake can have negative effects on the heart. A large new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that people who consume cannabis more frequently have a higher risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. Daily users were 25% more likely to have a heart attack and 42% more likely to have a stroke than non-users.
This is the latest in a series of studies showing a link between marijuana and heart health. Important note: All studies are observational. That means the findings are based on surveys that ask people to recall their habits and health, rather than tracking participants in real time. Our memories are prone to mistakes. People can also massage the truth. For example, self-reported cannabis use rates in the new study were lower than those seen in other studies, suggesting some people may not be accepting of their habit.
But even with these limitations, the trend lines are clear enough that people who regularly use cannabis can keep an eye on their risk of cardiovascular disease. That's especially true now that recreational cannabis is on the rise and is being hailed as a “healthy” alternative to alcohol. According to data from the CDC, Gen Z appears to be embracing a “California sober” lifestyle, where they forego alcohol in favor of cannabis.
Cannabis companies are leaning into the aura of health. During Dry January, a public health initiative encouraging people to reevaluate their relationship with alcohol, pitches from cannabis companies seeking to fill the void flooded in (based on data from Morning Consult). , this strategy seems to be working). . One company said its THC-infused drinks are “healthier and more mindful” than alcohol, offering “relaxation and enjoyment without the potential downsides.”
Is it healthier? The answer probably depends on how often and how much you use either substance, and the form in which you use it. But is it healthy? That's a bold claim. Although we don't have as good data on marijuana as we do with alcohol, the lack of evidence should not be confused with evidence that it is harmless.
Conceptually, the idea that cannabis may increase the risk of cardiovascular events for some users is not surprising. Ryan Vandry, who helps run the Cannabis Science Institute at Johns Hopkins University, said delta-9 THC increases heart rate and cardiovascular stress “very reliably and in a dose-dependent manner.” Masu. On the other hand, some users may experience a significant drop in blood pressure when suddenly standing up or standing, causing light-headedness and dizziness.
This latest study, which analyzed data from more than 400,000 Americans interviewed annually for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, answered some of the most vexing questions surrounding cannabis and heart health. We are beginning to unravel one of them. The data was always open to interpretation, given that many marijuana users in early studies also smoked cigarettes, and tobacco has long been associated with heart disease.
People wondered, “Is marijuana an innocent bystander or a contributor to coronary heart disease?” said Robert L. Page, professor at the Skaggs School of Pharmacy at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.
These results drop the facade. Study participants who had never smoked or used e-cigarettes continued to have an increased risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.
“That's a big answer,” Page says. He often tells his patients that they think smoking marijuana is healthier, but “that's a complete misconception.” This is especially true for people who already have underlying risk factors or underlying heart disease, he says.
This study left many important questions worth pursuing. For example, smoking was the primary method of cannabis consumption among study participants. Therefore, this study cannot reveal whether increasingly popular alternatives, such as gummies or THC-infused drinks, pose similar risks to heart health. A small study from Vandry's lab has shown that smoking and edibles cause similar changes in heart rate, and other limited trials have shown that edibles do have cardiovascular risks as well. It has been suggested that there is.
Another missing piece: Does pot potency matter? Most research on cannabis and heart health has focused on what Page calls “first-generation cannabis,” or wild-grown varieties. It was done.
But modern dispensaries don't sell the cannabis your grandparents produced. Today's THC content is typically much higher. Does that mean it's high risk?
What would be most helpful at this point is to conduct large-scale studies that follow participants over time to understand the relationship between cannabis consumption and heart health. The same research may also reveal other health effects (for better or worse) of recreational use.
The United States needs that kind of data. Currently, recreational marijuana is legal in 24 states and decriminalized in seven others, and may soon be expanded to other parts of the country. This has given rise to an industry that offers an ever-evolving array of products (containing different cannabinoids consumed in different doses and in different ways) with little toxicology or pharmacology data. “It's all brand new, and we really don't know how those products will affect long-term health,” Vandry says.
But the data we have suggests that recreational pot users shouldn't think their habit is harmless, much less healthy.
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This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.
Lisa Jarvis is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering the biotechnology, healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. Previously, she served as Editor-in-Chief of Chemical & Engineering News.
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