A population-based, retrospective study looked at the associations between cannabis use and effects on heart health.
In a study published in the journal Addiction in September 2023, researchers used compiled data from five Canadian health databases to examine the connections between cannabis use disorder (CUD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) (1). The purpose of the study, researchers explained, was to address the lack of conclusive and recent literature on the topic by measuring the association between CUD and CVD (1). The study examined data from 2012 to 2019 on a total of 59,528 individuals, half of whom had a CUD diagnosis (1).
In reportedly one of the first Canadian studies looking into these associations, researchers did not find a causal link between CUD and CVD, but did conclude that compared to individuals without CUD, “Canadian adults with cannabis use disorder appear to have an approximately 60% higher risk of experiencing incident adverse cardiovascular disease events,” (1).
Researchers explained the significance of their findings for patients (1). “Importantly, this evidence suggests that cannabis use may place a healthier population at increased risk of major cardiovascular events,” the Conclusion stated (1). “As a result, our study points to the importance of educating our patients about the potential risks associated with cannabis use and CUD.”
The study’s lead researcher, Anees Bahji, MD, commented on the implications of the study (2). "The relationship between cannabis use and cardiovascular events is complex and may also be influenced by factors such as the method of cannabis consumption, the presence of other co-occurring health conditions, and individual variations in response to cannabis," Dr. Bahji said (2). "Further research is needed to better understand these mechanisms and the overall impact on cardiovascular health."
Peter Grinspoon, MD, primary care physician at Massachusetts General Hospital and cannabis specialist also commented on the findings (2). “The presence of cannabis use disorder isn't very accurate in helping us to determine anything," Dr. Grinspoon said of this study (2). “That said, if you take too high a dosage of cannabis, it can cause anxiety which, in turn, can trigger an arrhythmia [an irregular heartbeat] or possibly a coronary event, so, inpatients with a history of coronary disease, particularly recent, unstable coronary disease, or with a history of arrhythmia, I treat very carefully if at all with medicinal cannabis.”
Hear what Dr. Grinspoon has to say on medical cannabis in our Cannabis Science and Technology in-depth interview.
References
Ep 24, Part III: Data Transparency in Cannabis Testing with Yasha Kahn
December 26th 2024In the final part of this episode, Evan Friedmann and Yasha Kahn discuss the need for a national entity to centralize cannabis data collection, moving from snapshot data to continuous updates. They emphasize the importance of accurate lab data and adverse event tracking, suggesting QR codes on packaging to report issues. Yasha suggests harsher consequences for result manipulation and suggests collaboration between state departments and federal entities to support underfunded regulators. They also discuss the potential benefits of off-the-shelf testing and the importance of stability testing. Finally, Yasha shares his top three reading recommendations for the audience.
Ep 24, Part II: Data Transparency in Cannabis Testing with Yasha Kahn
December 12th 2024Evan Friedmann and Yasha Kahn, co-founder of MCR Labs, discuss the discrepancies between current regulations and data on mycotoxins and pesticides in cannabis products. They highlight the need for updated regulations based on new data, emphasizing the importance of accurate testing and labeling. They also discuss the issue of result manipulation, particularly in THC content, and the need for public health officials to address this. Yasha suggests making testing data public to enhance oversight and suggests a national entity to manage this data for better consistency and public safety.