Just Try Not to Smoke….

As the number of cannabis users continues to increase and legalization spreads across the United States, we are seeing more studies on cannabis use.  A number of studies are looking at cardiovascular disease, stroke, and heart attack risk in cannabis users versus non users.   But is it really the marijuana plant that increases the risk of cardiovascular diease or the smoking?  Let’s break it down.

Studies find marijuana increases risk of cardiovascular disease

This was the headline of multiple articles after the American Heart Association released two studies showing that daily cannabis users are at higher risk for certain heart problems.  One study presented at their conference in November 2023 showed that daily cannabis use had a 34% increased risk of developing heart failure, compared to those who never used cannabis.  Further analysis showed that weekly users had a 3% increase risk of heart disease and 5% increased risk of stroke.  The second study presented looked at over 28,000 hospitalized older patients with known cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension or diabetes but who did not use tobacco products. The cannabis users had a 20% increased risk of having a major heart or brain event while hospitalized versus non users.

Is it the marijuana or the method? Limitations to these studies

The evidence sounds damming, but a key analysis was left out of these studies – the route of cannabis consumption and the amount.  Is the daily user that takes an edible to sleep at night and a daily user that smokes morning, noon, and night at the same risk of cardiovascular disease?  Therein lies the limitations of these two studies.  They do not specify the method of cannabis use.   For this reason, I find the title of these studies misleading.  The studies show that cannabis users had higher risk, but they do not prove it is the cannabis it and not the method, ie. smoking, that increases the risk.  

New study confirms SMOKING cannabis increases risk of cardiovascular disease

In February 2024,  a study published showed that smoking cannabis daily was associated with a 25 % increased risk of heart attack and 42% increased risk of stroke compared to non users.  I like to call this “duh” science.  We know that smoking of any kind releases toxins, so it should not be surprising that smoking cannabis increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.   For this reason,  I often advise my patients, especially those with underlying lung disease or younger patients to try alternative forms of cannabis and only resort to smoking or vaping if absolutely necessary.  In this study 75% of the participants smoked cannabis and were found to be at higher risk of cardiovasular disease.  However, there was no risk analysis of the 25% that used other forms of cannabis.  Are they at risk? To answer that, we are just going to have to wait for further studies.  But I think common sense would say, its not the cannabis, its the smoking, duh.

Conclusion

More studies than I can mention have demonstrated the medicinal benefits of cannabis.  I witness these benefits everyday talking with my patients.  It helps nausea, pain, anxiety, insomnia, inflammation, neuropathies, appetite, and PTSD just to name a few. My favorite appointments are when a patient tells me that medicinal cannabis use has been “life changing.”  As with many things in life, including most traditional pharmaceuticals and cannabis, there is a risk-benefit.  From the scientific data we have thus far, cannabis appears to be safe.  Smoking is still dangerous.  It doesn’t matter if it is tobacco or cannabis.  Just don’t smoke (or vape) it.

In Pennsylvania, smoking marijuana is illegal anyway so I shouldn’t even have to be telling you this.  Moreover, the medicinal cannabis producers in Pennsylvania have significantly increased the edibles and tinctures available.  Consult your local dispensary pharmacist and discuss alternatives to smoking and vaping cannabis today.  If you are thinking about medicinal marijuana to help your medical condition or are looking for an awesome certifying physician in Pennsylvania, visit Cannabis Care Consultants today.