Daily Weed Use Doubles Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke, Study Finds

For years, cannabis has been painted as the safe drug natural, relaxing, even medicinal. But new research is sending a clear warning: using marijuana may be far more dangerous to your heart than many realize.

A major new study led by scientists at the University of California has revealed that marijuana users are up to twice as likely to suffer a heart attack, stroke, or die from heart disease compared to non users.

Published in the medical journal Heart, the study reviewed 24 separate research papers covering over 200 million people between the ages of 19 and 59. Across the board, the findings were alarming. 29% higher risk of heart attacks 20% higher risk of stroke 2x higher risk of death from heart disease

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And that risk remained steady regardless of how cannabis was consumed whether it was smoked, eaten in edibles, or used in other forms.

The researchers stated clearly: these findings “raise serious questions about the assumption that cannabis imposes little cardiovascular risk.”

This comes on top of a 2023 warning from the American College of Cardiology, which found that people who use cannabis daily through smoking or edibles are 33% more likely to develop coronary artery disease (CAD), the most common and deadly form of heart disease.

CAD occurs when cholesterol builds up in the arteries that feed the heart, leading to symptoms like chest pain, fatigue, and shortness of breath. It can lead to sudden heart attacks even in younger users.

What’s especially concerning is that the elevated risk remains even when controlling for other factors, like tobacco use, alcohol consumption, or preexisting health conditions. Age and sex didn’t make a difference either.

Dr. Ishan Paranjpe, lead author and a resident physician at Stanford University, emphasized the link.

We found that cannabis use is linked to CAD, and there seems to be a dose response relationship meaning the more frequently people use cannabis, the higher their risk.

Experts now recommend that anyone using cannabis regularly should inform their doctor, so heart health can be monitored.

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