Cannabis users under 50 face higher heart attack risk

A new study shows that cannabis use is linked to a much higher risk of heart attacks and strokes in people under the age of 50. Researchers from Boston University examined healthcare records of over 4.6 million patients and found that those who used cannabis had a sixfold increase in heart attack risk compared to those who did not use it. The study revealed that cannabis users also faced a four times greater risk of stroke, double the risk of heart failure, and a three times higher chance of dying from heart-related issues. This research will be published in the journal JACC: Advances. The team focused on data from 2010 to 2018, looking specifically at about 90,000 cannabis users and a similar number of non-users. The findings highlighted significant health risks associated with cannabis use. Ibrahim Kamel, a clinical instructor at Boston University, emphasized that doctors should ask patients about their cannabis use. He noted this is important to understand overall heart health, similar to how they inquire about smoking cigarettes. However, Kamel cautioned that many cannabis users might also consume other drugs, which could influence the results. The study did not distinguish between different forms of cannabis use, like smoking versus edibles, or the amount consumed. Despite these limitations, the study's findings serve as a reminder that cannabis may have serious health consequences, challenging the perception that it is risk-free.