Washington, D.C. — As marijuana becomes more widely accepted and legalized, new research is raising serious concerns about its impact on heart health—even among young and otherwise healthy adults.
According to two studies presented this week at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session (ACC.25), marijuana users face a significantly elevated risk of heart attacks, strokes and cardiovascular-related death compared to non-users. One retrospective study of 4.6 million people found that cannabis users under 50 were more than six times as likely to suffer a heart attack.
Published in JACC Advances, the study reviewed electronic medical records over a three-year period and revealed cannabis users had a fourfold risk of stroke, a twofold risk of heart failure and a threefold increased risk of cardiovascular death, heart attack or stroke—even when accounting for healthy cholesterol levels, normal blood pressure and no prior heart conditions.
“People who consume cannabis should be aware of these risks,” said Dr. Ibrahim Kamel, lead author and clinical instructor at the Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. “This should become part of the routine cardiovascular risk conversation between patients and clinicians.”
In a separate meta-analysis of 12 prior studies, researchers examined health data from more than 75 million individuals. The findings showed a 50% increased risk of heart attack among cannabis users. While not all the studies showed statistically significant results individually, pooled data revealed a consistent link between cannabis use and heart attack incidence.
Experts say the exact mechanism by which marijuana affects the cardiovascular system is still being studied. However, it’s believed that cannabis may disrupt heart rhythm, increase oxygen demand and impair blood vessel function. One study cited showed that heart attack risk peaked within an hour of marijuana consumption.
Researchers caution that more data is needed, but recommend increased awareness as marijuana use rises nationwide.
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