Friday Fact: Using marijuana makes death after heart failure more likely

More bad news for marijuana users: Researchers from Thomas Jefferson University conducted a study that found that among patients with heart failure, marijuana users had a 19% higher chance of readmission and a 60% higher chance of death than nonusersThe researchers explicitly juxtapose these findings with the increasing social and legal acceptance of marijuana, cautioning clinicians to be well aware of their patients’ marijuana use. This research comes on the heels of data suggesting that marijuana use was linked to a quadrupled increase in the risk of diabetes, a risk that disproportionately impacts low-income folks and people of color; the TJU researchers also underscore that “marijuana users represent a socioeconomically vulnerable population” more likely to “lack insurance coverage.” A vice industry targeting the most vulnerable and making their health even worse? Nothing to see here. . .