While the medicinal benefits of cannabis for conditions like chronic pain and epilepsy are well-publicized, a growing body of research is sounding the alarm on its potential risks to cardiovascular health. Cardiologists are now urging for cannabis use to be treated with the same seriousness as other lifestyle risk factors, following a major new analysis that links daily consumption to a significantly higher risk of heart attacks and strokes.
What Are the Known Medicinal Uses of Cannabis?
- Providing relief from chronic neuropathic pain.
- Controlling certain severe forms of epilepsy.
- Reducing nausea and vomiting induced by chemotherapy.
- Stimulating appetite in patients with anorexia.
The documented benefits have justified medical legalization in many regions, yet this emphasis on therapy often overshadows concerns about potential harms for recreational users.
What is the New Cardiovascular Risk Being Highlighted?
Dr. Dmitry Yaranov, MD, a cardiologist, has brought renewed attention to these risks. Citing a “massive new analysis,” he highlights that daily cannabis use poses a significant threat to heart health. The key findings he points to include a substantially higher risk of heart attacks and strokes for daily users.
Most strikingly, the analysis suggests that daily cannabis use can double the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. Dr. Yaranov emphasizes that this isn’t a call to outlaw the substance but a plea for medical honesty. “This isn’t about criminalising cannabis. It’s about being honest with the data,” he stated in an Instagram post. He argues that for effective prevention, doctors must start routinely asking patients about cannabis use and treating it as a serious risk factor, especially among young adults.
Why is This Risk Increasing Now?
The shift in the cannabis itself is a crucial element that is sometimes disregarded. Tetrahydrocannabinol, the primary hallucinogenic ingredient in marijuana, has “exploded” in strength in recent years, according to Dr. Yaranov. Modern cultivated strains are far stronger than what was available decades ago, potentially amplifying both the effects and the risks. A new public health concern that many clinicians feel has “escaped the same scrutiny” as alcohol and tobacco is brought about by the combination of rising usage rates.
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What Other Cognitive Risks Are Associated with Cannabis?
Beyond the heart, research documented in reports like a January 2021 publication in the Psychopharmacology Bulletin outlines significant effects on the brain. It is well recognized that cannabinoids influence important neurotransmitters such as dopamine, which can influence:
Short-term memory: Impairment is common, which becomes more pronounced with chronic use.
Cognitive function: This may include poorer effort, slower information processing, and impaired attention.
Long-term neurocognitive health: Chronic use is considered a risk factor for neurocognitive deficits.
Both the circulatory and central nervous systems are impacted by cannabis, demonstrating its complex and system-wide effects.
