Cannabis Use May Harm Heart Like Tobacco: Study Finds
A new study has found that chronic cannabis use, whether it's smoked or consumed in edible form, is associated with significant cardiovascular risks.
The report, published in JAMA Cardiology, found that people who regularly used marijuana in either form had reduced blood vessel function that was comparable to tobacco smokers. Vascular function in those who used cannabis by either means was reduced roughly by half compared to those who did not use it. Decreased vascular function is associated with a greater risk of heart attack, hypertension, and other cardiovascular conditions.
The researchers recruited 55 people between October 2021 and August 2024 who were outwardly healthy and either regularly smoked marijuana or consumed edibles containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive compound found in cannabis.
The participants, none of whom used any form of nicotine, consumed cannabis at least three times a week for at least a year. Smokers averaged 10 years of chronic use, and those who took edibles averaged five years.
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