Daily marijuana use increases heart disease risk by over a third, study finds
- US researchers analysed data on how often 175,000 people used cannabis and their rates of heart disease
- More countries are easing the rules around the drug in recent years, although it’s still illegal in most of the world
Using marijuana every day increases the risk of developing heart disease, US researchers found, adding to an increasingly complex picture about the drug’s health impact.
The results released on Friday showed daily cannabis users were 34 per cent more likely to have coronary artery disease, the most common form of heart disease, compared to those who never used the drug. The findings will be presented at a cardiology conference in March.
Previous studies suggested cannabis smokers, especially younger people, may have an elevated risk of suffering strokes or other ailments.
On the other hand, its use is on the rise in many parts of the world because of its ability to relieve chronic pain and help with conditions like chemotherapy-induced nausea.
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“In terms of the public health message, it shows that there are probably certain harms of cannabis use that weren’t recognised before, and people should take that into account,” said lead author Ishan Paranjpe, a resident doctor at Stanford University.