Daily cannabis use linked to 25% higher heart attack risk and 42% higher stroke risk in large US survey
Among over 434,000 US adults, daily cannabis use was associated with significantly higher odds of heart attack and stroke, even after accounting for tobacco use, with stronger effects in never-tobacco smokers.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Daily cannabis use was associated with 25% higher odds of heart attack (aOR 1.25), 42% higher odds of stroke (aOR 1.42), and 28% higher odds of any cardiovascular event (aOR 1.28) after adjusting for tobacco and other factors. Among never-tobacco smokers, the associations were even stronger: 49% higher heart attack odds and 116% higher stroke odds.
Key Numbers
434,104 respondents; 4% daily users, 7.1% non-daily users; daily use aORs: coronary heart disease 1.16, heart attack 1.25, stroke 1.42, composite 1.28; never-tobacco smokers: heart attack aOR 1.49, stroke aOR 2.16, composite aOR 1.77; dose-response relationship with days of use
How They Did This
Population-based cross-sectional analysis of 2016-2020 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey data from 27 US states and 2 territories (434,104 respondents aged 18-74). Multivariable regression models assessed associations between cannabis use days per month and self-reported cardiovascular outcomes.
Why This Research Matters
This is one of the largest studies to examine cannabis and cardiovascular risk. The finding that associations were stronger among never-tobacco smokers helps rule out tobacco as the primary driver.
The Bigger Picture
As cannabis use becomes more prevalent across the US, evidence of cardiovascular risk that persists independent of tobacco use has important implications for public health messaging and clinical screening.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional design cannot establish causation; self-reported cardiovascular outcomes and cannabis use; cannot determine method of cannabis consumption; no data on cannabis type or potency; people with cardiovascular conditions may use cannabis for symptom management (reverse causation)
Questions This Raises
- ?Does the method of cannabis consumption (smoking vs. edibles) modify cardiovascular risk?
- ?Is there a safe frequency of cannabis use from a cardiovascular standpoint?
- ?What biological mechanisms drive these associations?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 434,104 adults; stroke risk 42% higher with daily use
- Evidence Grade:
- Very large population-based study with appropriate adjustment for tobacco and demographics, but cross-sectional design with self-reported outcomes limits causal inference.
- Study Age:
- 2024 study analyzing 2016-2020 survey data
- Original Title:
- Association of Cannabis Use With Cardiovascular Outcomes Among US Adults.
- Published In:
- Journal of the American Heart Association, 13(5), e030178 (2024)
- Authors:
- Jeffers, Abra M(2), Glantz, Stanton(2), Byers, Amy L(5), Keyhani, Salomeh
- Database ID:
- RTHC-05406
Evidence Hierarchy
Watches what happens naturally without intervening.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
How much did daily cannabis use increase cardiovascular risk?
After adjusting for tobacco use and other factors, daily cannabis users had 25% higher odds of heart attack and 42% higher odds of stroke compared to non-users. The risk increased proportionally with more days of use per month.
Could tobacco use explain the findings?
The researchers specifically analyzed never-tobacco smokers and found even stronger associations: 49% higher heart attack risk and more than double the stroke risk (116% higher) with daily cannabis use. This suggests the cardiovascular risk is not simply a tobacco effect.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-05406APA
Jeffers, Abra M; Glantz, Stanton; Byers, Amy L; Keyhani, Salomeh. (2024). Association of Cannabis Use With Cardiovascular Outcomes Among US Adults.. Journal of the American Heart Association, 13(5), e030178. https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.123.030178
MLA
Jeffers, Abra M, et al. "Association of Cannabis Use With Cardiovascular Outcomes Among US Adults.." Journal of the American Heart Association, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.123.030178
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Association of Cannabis Use With Cardiovascular Outcomes Amo..." RTHC-05406. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/jeffers-2024-association-of-cannabis-use
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.