Heart Attacks Are 6X More Common for Cannabis Users in This Specific Age Range, Shocking Study Reveals

Marijuana use has been a hotly debated topic in recent years. Although it's often praised for its potential benefits in pain relief and mental health, two new studies reveal a serious downside. Individuals under 50 who use cannabis face a sixfold increase in heart attack risk, raising urgent concerns about its impact on cardiovascular health. 

Recent research in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that marijuana users under the age of 50 are six times more likely to experience a heart attack than non-users. The study analyzed data from over four million people and included a meta-analysis of 12 previous studies, which revealed a 50 percent increased risk among users.

“Asking about cannabis use should be part of clinicians’ workup to understand patients’ overall cardiovascular risk, similar to asking about smoking cigarettes,” the study's lead author Ibrahim Kamel, MD, said in a statement. “At a policy level, a fair warning should be made so that the people who are consuming cannabis know that there are risks.”

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For the retrospective study, scientists tracked individuals participating in TriNetX, a global health research network for three years. They uncovered that not only was their risk of a heart attack greater, but were four times more likely to have a stroke, twice as likely to have heart failure, and three times more likely to die of cardiovascular-related issues like a heart attack or stroke compared to non-users.

For the meta-analysis, researchers analyzed 12 previous studies from different parts of the world with the average participant being 41 years old. Of those studies, seven linked cannabis use to a higher heart attack risk, four found no difference, and one suggested a slightly lower risk.

When combined, the studies showed cannabis users had a 1.5 times higher heart attack risk.

It's important to note that while the data does show an increase in cardiovascular disease, there were some inconsistencies such as the duration and quantity of cannabis use and the use (or lack thereof) of tobacco or other drugs. 

“We should have some caution in interpreting the findings in that cannabis consumption is usually associated with other substances such as cocaine or other illicit drugs that are not accounted for,” Kamel said. “Patients should be forthcoming with their doctors and remember that we are their number one advocate and having the full story matters.”