Marijuana & Heart Health: Risks & New Study Findings
- Regular cannabis use, whether through smoking marijuana or consuming edibles, is associated with significant cardiovascular risks, according to a new study from UC San Francisco researchers.
- The study, conducted between October 2021 and August 2024, involved 55 outwardly healthy participants who regularly used marijuana or consumed edibles containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
- Researchers found that vascular function in cannabis users was reduced by approximately half compared to non-users.
New research spotlights the dangers of regular cannabis use on heart health.This study links marijuana use, whether smoking or edibles, to significantly impaired blood vessel function—reducing it by roughly half in regular users compared to non-users. Published in JAMA Cardiology, the research from UC San Francisco reveals risks akin to those seen in tobacco smokers.The study,which examined 55 individuals,showed distinct impacts from smoking versus ingesting THC. Marijuana smokers experienced detrimental changes in blood serum, while edible users did not, suggesting different pathways of damage. News Directory 3 keeps you informed on the latest health findings. What specific mechanisms are at play, and what does this research mean for the future? Discover what’s next, as scientists continue to explore these pressing questions.
Cannabis Use, Cardiovascular risks Linked in New Study
Updated may 29, 2025
Regular cannabis use, whether through smoking marijuana or consuming edibles, is associated with significant cardiovascular risks, according to a new study from UC San Francisco researchers. Teh findings, published in JAMA Cardiology, indicate that chronic cannabis consumption impairs blood vessel function to a degree comparable to that seen in tobacco smokers.
The study, conducted between October 2021 and August 2024, involved 55 outwardly healthy participants who regularly used marijuana or consumed edibles containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Participants consumed cannabis at least three times a week for a minimum of one year. Marijuana smokers had an average of 10 years of chronic use, while those who consumed edibles averaged five years.
Researchers found that vascular function in cannabis users was reduced by approximately half compared to non-users. Reduced vascular function elevates the risk of heart attack, hypertension, and other cardiovascular ailments. Marijuana smokers also exhibited changes in their blood serum detrimental to endothelial cells, which line blood and lymphatic vessels. However, those who consumed THC edibles did not show these blood serum changes.
The mechanism by which THC damages blood vessels remains unclear. Researchers suggest that smoking marijuana and ingesting THC affect vascular function through different pathways, autonomous of changes to blood serum.
“These results suggest smoking marijuana negatively affects vascular function for different reasons than ingesting THC does,” said Dr. Leila Mohammadi, lead author, and Dr. matthew L. Springer, senior author.
What’s next
Further research is needed to fully understand how different methods of cannabis consumption impact cardiovascular health and to identify the specific mechanisms involved in THC-related vascular damage.