New research from the University of California, San Francisco, reveals that chronic cannabis use, whether smoked or consumed as edibles, poses significant cardiovascular risks. Published in JAMA Cardiology on Wednesday (May 28), the study found that regular cannabis users had blood vessel function reduced by about half compared to non-users. This reduced vascular function is linked to an increased risk of heart attacks and high blood pressure.
The study, known as the CANnabis: Does It Damage Endothelium (CANDIDE) study, involved 55 participants aged 18 to 50 from the San Francisco Bay Area. These participants, who neither smoked tobacco nor were frequently exposed to secondhand smoke, were divided into three groups: marijuana smokers, THC-edible users, and non-users. The cannabis users consumed the drug at least three times a week for a year or more, with smokers averaging 10 years of use and edible users five years.
According to UCSF researchers, both marijuana smokers and THC-edible users exhibited impaired vascular endothelial function. However, only the smokers showed changes in blood serum that were harmful to endothelial cells, which form the inner lining of blood vessels. The study suggests that while both forms of cannabis use are associated with endothelial dysfunction, they may affect vascular health through different mechanisms.
The findings highlight potential health risks associated with increased cannabis use due to its legalization for recreational and medicinal purposes. The study’s authors, including first author Leila Mohammadi, MD, PhD, and senior author Matthew L. Springer, PhD, emphasize the need for further research to understand how THC damages blood vessels.
The study suggests that both smoking and ingesting THC can lead to vascular issues similar to those caused by tobacco, although the mechanisms may differ.
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