A study by UC San Francisco researchers indicates that the cardiac risks associated with smoking marijuana are on par with those of smoking tobacco. With the increasing legalization and use of cannabis, there is concern about the potential rise in heart health problems. Daily cannabis use is linked to a significant increase in the risk of heart attack and stroke. Credit: SciTechDaily.com
The study found that people who used cannabis daily had a 25% increased risk of heart attack and a 42% increased risk of stroke compared to non-users. They examined whether cannabis use was associated with coronary heart disease, acute myocardial infarction, and stroke among the general adult population and among people who had never smoked tobacco.
The study also examined the effects for those who had never smoked or vaped tobacco, finding that just using cannabis was associated both with stroke, and with the combination of coronary heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.