A recent study published in JACC Advances, which is affiliated with the American College of Cardiology, found that marijuana users under the age of 50 were six times more likely than non-users to experience a heart attack (myocardial infarction).
The study, which analyzed data from more than 4.6 million individuals, also found that the risks of experiencing an ischemic stroke and heart failure were four and two times greater among marijuana users, respectively. Additionally, the risk of experiencing Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events (MACE)––defined as ischemic stroke, coronary revascularization, and ventricular fibrillation/tachycardia––was three times greater among marijuana users.
Dr. Ibrahim Kamel, the study’s first author and an affiliate of the Boston University School of Medicine, said that “at a policy level, a fair warning should be made so that the people who are consuming cannabis know that there are risks,” according to a press release from the American College of Cardiology about the study.
The study concluded that “this analysis provides evidence linking cannabis-use to adverse cardiovascular events,” including heart attacks, stroke, and heart failure. The authors added: “notably, cannabis use appears to pose a substantial and independent risk for these outcomes, even in a population without traditional cardiovascular risk factors. These findings suggest cannabis as a novel and underrecognized risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.”
The alarming results of this study were covered by numerous news outlets, including the New York Post, Fox News, People, and the Daily Mail.