Is Marijuana now legal in many places, but is it safe? Two new studies add to indications that people using hemp are more likely to suffer a heart attack than people who do not use the drug, even between younger and other healthy adults. The findings come from a retrospective study of over 4.6 million people published in Jacc is moving forward and a meta-analysis of 12 previously published studies presented at the annual scientific meeting of the American College of Cardiology (ACC.25).
The use of marijuana has increased in the United States, especially in states where it is legal to buy, sell and use drugs entertaining. In the retrospective study, the researchers found that cannabis users under 50 were over six times more likely to suffer a heart attack than non -users. Meta-analysis, which is the largest centralized study to date examining heart attacks and cannabis use, has shown a 50% increased risk between those who used the drug.
Asking about the use of cannabis must be part of the treatment of clinics to understand the overall cardiovascular risk of patients, similar to the question of cigarette smoking. At the policy level, a fair warning must be made for people who consume hemp to know that there are risks. “
Ibrahim Kamel, MD, Clinical Trainer at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine and internal medicine that lived in St. Medical Center. Elizabeth in Boston and the lead author of the study
Kamel and his team conducted the retrospective study using TRINETX data, a global health research network that provides access to electronic medical records. Their findings show that, more than an average monitoring of over three years, cannabis users had more than six times increased risk of heart attack, four times more increased risk of ischemic stroke, twice as high as 50 heart failure, With blood pressure and low density cholesterol (LDL) in a healthy area and without diabetes, tobacco use or previous coronary heart disease.
For meta-analysis, the researchers collected data from 12 previous research studies that collectively included more than 75 million people. Studies were scored as moderate to good quality in terms of methodology. Of the 12 studies, 10 were conducted in the United States, one in Canada and one in India. Some of the studies did not include information on the ages of the participants, but the average age was 41 years between those who did, suggesting that the centralized sample reflected a relatively new population.
Taking individually, seven of the studies found a significant positive correlation between cannabis use and the frequency of heart attack, while four showed no significant difference and one showed slightly negative correlation. When the researchers gathered the data from all the studies and analyzed it together, they found a significant positive correlation, with active cannabis users being 1.5 times more likely to suffer a heart attack compared to those who are not current users.
The use of cannabis and the frequency of heart attack were evaluated in a similar way in the various studies. However, due to inconsistencies available from each study, the researchers were not able to calculate several possible confusing factors, including the duration and quantity of cannabis use or the use of tobacco or other medicines.
“We need to pay attention to the interpretation of findings in the fact that cannabis consumption is usually linked to other substances such as cocaine or other illegal drugs that are not accountable,” Kamel said. “Patients should come with their doctors and remember that we are their lawyer number one and having the full story.”
While the mechanisms through which marijuana or its ingredients can affect the cardiovascular system are not fully understood, researchers assume that it can affect heart rate regulation, increase the demand for oxygen in the heart muscle. One of the studies included in meta-analysis found that the risk of heart attack culminated about an hour after eating marijuana.
Since both studies were limited by their retrospective nature and meta-analysis was limited by the challenges inherent in gathering data from multiple studies, the researchers said additional perspective studies would help to confirm the findings and determine which groups may face.
A previous study presented at the annual scientific meeting of the American College of Cardiology in 2023 found that the daily use of marijuana was associated with an increased risk of developing coronary heart disease.
Meta-analysis will publish at the same time Jacc is moving forward.
