Recent research indicates that smoking marijuana or consuming THC gummies can adversely affect vascular health. Even healthy individuals who use cannabis may have a higher risk of developing heart disease.
Contrary to the common belief that marijuana smoke is harmless, research shows that both smoking and ingesting cannabis impair blood vessel lining function. Blood vessels appear to respond similarly to cannabis smoke as they do to tobacco smoke. Marijuana smoke shares numerous chemicals with tobacco smoke, including fine particles that contribute to cardiovascular disease and death.
The study involved 55 participants, with an average age of 31 years old, categorized as marijuana smokers, edible users, or nonusers. The marijuana smokers only smoke cannabis, and do not vape THC or use vaporizers. None of the participants were regularly exposed to secondhand smoke and all were not tobacco users. All participants using cannabis engaged in their preferred method at least three times a week for over a year, classifying them as regular, not occasional, users.
Researchers assessed flow-mediated dilation (FMD), an indicator of blood vessel relaxation and contraction. It is a standard clinical tool for evaluating endothelial function and predicting potential vascular disease. On average, FMD values were lower in marijuana smokers and edible users compared to nonusers. Greater cannabis use, whether smoked or ingested, was linked to reduced FMD values.
Cannabis use, similar to cigarette use, disrupts the cardiovascular system within blood vessels, causing increased inflammation, which heightens the risk of heart attack. A 2024 American Heart Association survey found that daily cannabis users had a 42% higher risk of heart attack and a 25% increased risk of stroke.
Similar to early tobacco studies, these epidemiological findings may justify stricter cannabis regulations. Historically, such evidence prompted warning labels, public smoking bans, and increased health monitoring.
To view the original scientific study click below:
Association of Endothelial Dysfunction With Chronic Marijuana Smoking and THC-Edible Use
