Study Finds No Clear Link Between Marijuana Use and Heart Attack Risk

Study Finds No Clear Link Between Marijuana Use and Heart Attack Risk

Oklahoma City, OK – Recent findings published in AJPM Focus suggest that adults who have used cannabis in the past 30 days do not face a significantly higher risk of heart attack compared to non-users.

The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Oklahoma Hudson College of Public Health, analyzed data from over 729,000 adults to explore the relationship between marijuana use and health conditions such as asthma, depression, and myocardial infarction (heart attack).

Initial data showed that cannabis users had a lower likelihood of heart attacks and a higher likelihood of asthma. However, after adjusting for factors such as age and pre-existing health conditions, these associations were no longer statistically significant.

“These findings align with previous research indicating that marijuana use is not independently associated with heart attacks,” the authors stated.

The study did find a statistically significant correlation between current marijuana use and depression, though researchers emphasized that this does not imply a direct cause-and-effect relationship.

While studies on cannabis and cardiovascular health continue to show mixed results, a broader literature review in The American Journal of Medicine noted: “Marijuana itself does not appear to be independently associated with excessive cardiovascular risk factors.”

Full study title: “The association between marijuana use and myocardial infarction, asthma, and depression in racial and sexual minorities: BRFSS 2016-2022,” available in AJPM Focus.