Science
Study Finds Cannabis Edibles Pose Similar Heart Risks As Smoking Marijuana
Because of its “calming” effects, some people enjoy smoking and consuming cannabis, but doing so may be increasing their chance of developing more significant health issues down the road.
Cannabis can be harmful to you in the long run, regardless of whether you consume it as an edible, bong, dab, joint, or oil.
You may be asking yourself, “How can a naturally occurring plant cause bad health?” at this point. Particularly considering that it is a substance that is permitted for recreational use in 24 states and for medical use in 39 of the 50.
On May 28, the results of a long-term cannabis usage study conducted by UC San Francisco researchers were published in JAMA Cardiology.
55 “outwardly healthy” individuals between the ages of 18 and 50 were surveyed and split into three groups.
There were people who smoked cannabis on a daily basis, those who used edibles that included THC, and people who never used cannabis.
Those who ate edibles reported having been smoking for five years, whereas those who smoked reported having been smoking for ten years.
The press statement states that in September 2024, the study participants were tested to determine whether their cannabis consumption had an impact on the cells lining their blood vessels and how well their blood vessels functioned.
It was discovered that smoking and consuming cannabis increased the chance of heart issues for all users in later life.
The study found that the consumption of the plant in any form has been associated with an increased risk of heart disease due to the possibility of decreased blood vessel function.
It was discovered that the group members had “decreased vascular function,” which was similar to that of tobacco product users.
It’s shocking to learn that the individuals who tested had blood vessel function that was about half that of those who did not use cannabis at all. This made them more susceptible to heart attacks, hypertension, and other cardiovascular problems.
This study is not the only one to conclude that cannabis is harmful to the body; another previously discovered that cannabis use is associated with dementia and that it has a detrimental impact on the brain.
Researchers found that people who smoked cannabis had blood serum alterations that damaged the cells lining their lymphatic and blood vessels, whereas people who consumed edibles had the same risk as those who smoked cannabis.
“Chronic cannabis smoking and THC ingestion were associated with endothelial dysfunction [impaired functioning of the endothelial cells lining the inside of blood vessels] similar to that observed in tobacco smokers, although apparently occurring via distinct mechanisms,” the investigators concluded.
They further stated, “This study enhances the understanding of the potential risks to vascular health linked to cannabis use and provides more evidence that cannabis use is not benign.”
The findings did not surprise Dr. Bradley Serwer, chief medical officer and cardiologist at VitalSolution.
“We have known that the chronic use of THC-containing compounds can have negative health consequences — this study just reaffirms those prior studies,” he stated to Fox News Digital.
However, the results contributed to a better understanding of the effects of cannabis use.
“This study enhances the understanding of the potential risks to vascular health linked to cannabis use and provides more evidence that cannabis use is not benign,” the investigators stated.
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