Health

Cannabis Could Be Putting Your Heart at Serious Risk New Study Reveals Shocking Stats

Published on June 18, 2025

A new global review of data has raised serious concerns about the impact of cannabis use on heart health, revealing that it may double the risk of dying from heart disease and increase the likelihood of having a stroke by 20%, reported CBS News. With cannabis use having skyrocketed over the past decade, the study’s findings shed light on an area of health risk that hasn’t been fully understood until now.

While previous research has pointed to cannabis being linked to heart issues, the scale of the risk has been unclear—until now. Researchers from the University of Toulouse in France decided to dig deeper, particularly in light of major changes in how people are using cannabis. They reviewed large observational studies published between 2016 and 2023, focusing on the effects of cannabis on heart health.

The review pulled together data from 24 studies, involving around 200 million people. The studies included a mix of 17 cross-sectional studies, six cohort studies, and one case-control study. The majority of participants were aged between 19 and 59, with cannabis users in these studies tending to be younger men compared to non-users, according to CNN.

What they found was worrying. Cannabis users faced a 29% higher risk of acute coronary syndrome, a 20% increased risk of stroke, and a staggering double the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. These alarming findings were published in the journal Heart.

However, the researchers were quick to point out some limitations to their study. Many of the studies they included had a moderate to high risk of bias, mainly because of missing data and the way cannabis exposure was measured. Most of the studies were observational, and some even used the same data, which can limit the conclusiveness of the findings. Despite these issues, the team believes their work offers a thorough analysis of the available data on cannabis and its connection to major heart conditions, providing real-world insights into the risks involved.

In a linked editorial, Prof. Stanton Glantz and Dr. Lynn Silver from the University of California raised concerns about the assumption that cannabis doesn’t pose any significant cardiovascular risks. They pointed out that as cannabis has become more potent and diverse, with new forms like high-potency concentrates, synthetic cannabinoids, and edibles, it’s more crucial than ever to assess how these changes might affect heart health.

“The way cannabis has evolved requires further clarification,” they wrote. “We need to understand whether the cardiovascular risks come from inhaling the products or from the cannabinoids themselves.”

They also stressed that cannabis should be treated similarly to tobacco in terms of regulation. This means cannabis should not be criminalised, but there should be more effective regulations in place to protect public health, particularly in terms of warning users about potential risks. They argue that cardiovascular disease prevention should be part of the regulation of the cannabis market, ensuring that health risks are considered as the evidence base grows.

As cannabis continues to be legalized in many places and its use becomes more widespread, it’s clear that further research is needed to understand the full scope of its health risks. With the potential to affect heart health significantly, cannabis could soon be included in discussions about preventing cardiovascular disease in the same way we’ve come to view tobacco.

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