You probably know that smoking cigarettes is bad for your health. The habit has been linked to a wide range of health conditions, including heart disease, stroke and cancer.
But what about marijuana?
You may not want to hear this, but there is growing evidence that smoking weed puts you at higher risk for both heart attack and stroke. The more you smoke, the greater your risk.
Smoking and Your Heart
Smoking is responsible for one of every five deaths in the U.S. each year, despite the fact that these deaths are largely preventable.
When you smoke, you inhale toxic chemicals that cause inflammation and damage to lung tissue and the DNA of cells found in your lungs. This creates the potential for damage throughout your body, including heart disease and stroke. Among the other conditions linked to smoking:
- Lung cancer and other cancers in the body
- Asthma
- Lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Type 2 diabetes
- Reproductive issues
- Immune system issues, including rheumatoid arthritis
While you may be tempted to think of cigarettes and marijuana as completely different, that’s only partially true. The biggest difference between the two types of smoke is the nicotine found in cigarettes and the THC (the substance responsible for marijuana’s mind-altering ability) found in weed. That means most of the other toxic chemicals found in regular cigarettes are also found in marijuana when smoked.
The Marijuana Threat
Researchers are increasingly learning about the health dangers of smoking marijuana as it becomes more widely accepted around the nation. As of 2024, 24 states have legalized recreational marijuana, while 39 states – including Florida – allow its use for medical purposes.
In a recent study, researchers looked at data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to assess whether marijuana use was associated with coronary heart disease, heart attacks and strokes. The study used data collected from 2016 to 2020 from more than 430,000 U.S. adults. Researchers focused on marijuana users who had never smoked tobacco or used e-cigarettes. They also looked for associations among men who were under 55 and women who were under 65, and at risk for heart disease.
Researchers found that even casual users had an elevated risk for heart attack and stroke. The danger was substantially higher for frequent users. Adults who used daily had a 25 percent higher risk of heart attack and a 44 percent higher risk for stroke, when compared with people who never touched weed.
And while smoking was the most common method of cannabis consumption, there were also dangers associated with vaping and taking the drug orally.
But I Have a Prescription
The nation’s changing marijuana landscape makes this a challenging subject – particularly if you are using it for medical reasons. Even though your doctor may prescribe it, that doesn’t mean there aren’t potential health risks associated with using it.
Vaping, for example, has its own issues. It was once thought to be a safer way to use cannabis, as it involves fewer toxic emissions. That perception of safety may give people a false sense of security. However, it has been linked to lung injuries and often exposes users to more potent doses of THC.
Even oral consumption has its unique risks. It takes much longer to feel the effects when compared with smoking or vaping. That can lead to overuse. And there is still the risk of increased vulnerability to heart attack and stroke.
With this in mind, there’s no way to say that any form of consumption is truly safe. But smoking is the riskiest way to consume marijuana.
As with other things in life, you have to weigh the benefits against the potential health risks. For someone dealing with chronic pain or anxiety, this may be an acceptable tradeoff.
It’s important that you have an honest conversation with your doctor, who will be in a much better position to help you if they have a complete picture. This is particularly important if you have any pre-existing cardiovascular conditions, including high blood pressure or a history of heart failure or heart attack.
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