A 32-year-old with no cardiac risk factors had a heart attack with complete artery blockage four hours after smoking Mojo.
Emergency physicians, cardiologists, and young adults.
What the researchers found
A 32-year-old with ASCVD risk 3.6% presented with chest pain 4 hours after smoking Mojo. Total occlusion of left circumflex artery. Treated with PCI and stent.
Why it matters
Synthetic cannabinoids are full agonists, far more potent than natural cannabis, and can cause life-threatening cardiac events in healthy young adults.
The numbers in context
Age 32; ASCVD risk 3.6%; symptoms 4 hours post-use; total artery occlusion; successful PCI.
How the study worked
Case report with ECG, emergent catheterization, and urine toxicology.
What this study cannot tell us
Single case. Cannot prove causation. Mojo composition varies.
How to read the evidence
Well-documented case but single report.
When this study was published
2025 case report of synthetic cannabinoid-induced STEMI.
The bigger picture
Full agonism at cannabinoid receptors triggers sympathetic activation, platelet aggregation, and endothelial injury.
Questions still open
- How common are synthetic cannabinoid cardiac events?
- Should EDs test for synthetic cannabinoids in young MI patients?
Common questions
Can synthetic cannabinoids cause heart attacks?
Are synthetic cannabinoids more dangerous than marijuana?
Read the original research
Synthetic Cannabinoid (Mojo)-Induced ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: A Case Report.
Cureus, 17(5), e84570
Citation
Udoh, Kubiat E; Udoh, Kuseme E; Udoh, Andikan E. (2025). Synthetic Cannabinoid (Mojo)-Induced ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: A Case Report.. Cureus, 17(5), e84570. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.84570
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