Cannabis Use Raises Alarm Over Heart Risks in Younger Adults

With marijuana becoming more mainstream across the U.S., new research is bringing up red flags about its impact on heart health—particularly for younger, seemingly healthy individuals.

Two separate studies, presented by the American College of Cardiology (ACC), have revealed a startling link between cannabis use and an increased risk of cardiac events. In fact, younger cannabis users under 50 were found to be over six times more likely to experience a heart attack compared to non-users. If that’s not alarming enough, they were also significantly more likely to suffer strokes, heart failure, or even fatal cardiac events. Sobering statistics, right?

One of the studies reviewed data from over 4.6 million people, while another combined findings from 12 prior studies, encompassing a whopping 75 million participants. According to the researchers, these risks peak within the first hour of cannabis use—talk about bad timing.

The studies focused on individuals who were otherwise in good health: no prior heart conditions, no tobacco use, healthy blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and no diabetes history. Yet, even with these clean slates, marijuana seemed to mess with heart rhythm regulation, increase oxygen demand in the heart muscle, and disturb blood vessel function, potentially disrupting blood flow. Not exactly the carefree image cannabis usually enjoys.

Dr. Ibrahim Kamel, the lead author of the study, emphasized the importance of clinicians asking about cannabis use during patient assessments. He argued that patients should be informed about the risks, much like they are for smoking cigarettes. A fair warning, indeed.

However, the researchers did acknowledge limitations in their work. For instance, inconsistencies in data regarding the duration and amount of cannabis use were noted, as well as the potential influence of other substances, such as cocaine, that weren’t accounted for. Dr. Jasdeep Dalawari, an interventional cardiologist not involved in the study, echoed these concerns, calling for more definitive data and randomized trials—though he admitted those would be tough to conduct.

Dalawari advised patients to avoid smoking all substances, as the risks are hard to ignore. He also pointed out the need to differentiate between ingesting versus smoking cannabis, a nuance that’s yet to be fully explored by current research.

As cannabis legalization continues to expand, these findings serve as a timely reminder that even seemingly harmless habits can carry hidden dangers. For now, it might be wise for cannabis users to rethink their consumption—preferably before their heart does.