Cannabis Use Linked to Higher Risk of Heart Attack in Adults Under 50, Study Finds
- Addiction Policy Forum
- Apr 3
- 2 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Adults under 50 who use marijuana may face a significantly higher risk of heart attack, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC).
Researchers analyzed data from more than 4.6 million adults and found that individuals under 50 who use cannabis were more than six times as likely to suffer a heart attack compared to non-users. The study also found that those who use cannabis are four times more likely to experience an ischemic stroke, three times more likely to experience major adverse cardiovascular events, and twice as likely to experience heart failure.
“Asking about cannabis use should be part of clinicians' workup to understand patients' overall cardiovascular risk, similar to asking about smoking cigarettes," said Ibrahim Kamel, MD, clinical instructor at the Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine and internal medicine resident at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Boston and the study's lead author in a press release. "At a policy level, a fair warning should be made so that the people who are consuming cannabis know that there are risks."
The findings applied even to individuals who did not use tobacco products, suggesting marijuana may be an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that marijuana use can increase heart rate and blood pressure — both of which may contribute to cardiovascular strain. Researchers believe these effects could play a role in damaging blood vessels and increasing the risk of blood clots.
Experts advise that cannabis should be considered alongside other recognized risk factors when evaluating heart health, particularly in younger adults. “Until we have more solid data, I advise users to try to somehow put some regulation in the using of cannabis,” said Ahmed Mahmoud with Boston University. “We are not sure if it's totally, 100% safe for your heart by any amount or any duration of exposure.”
