Chronic
“Data-gt-translate-attributes =” ({“attribute =” “tabindex =” 0 “role =” link “> cannabis The use, whether smoked or eaten as edible, considerably affects the function of blood vessels – with risks reflecting those observed in tobacco smokers, according to UCSF researchers.
The study revealed that marijuana consumers had a reduced vascular function by around 50% compared to non-users, increasing their risk of heart attack and hypertension.
Chronic cannabis uses risk -related risks
A new study by the UC San Francisco has revealed that consumption of chronic cannabis – whether smoked or eaten as edible – can considerably affect your cardiovascular system.
Posted May 28 in Jama cardiologyResearch revealed that people who regularly consumed marijuana had a much lower blood vessels, similar to the levels observed in tobacco smokers. In fact, the vascular function of cannabis users has been reduced by around 50% compared to non-users.
This counts because poor vascular function increases the risk of heart attacks, high blood pressure and other cardiovascular problems.
Study details: which has been studied and how
To discover these effects, the researchers studied 55 adults in good health between October 2021 and August 2024. All participants regularly consumed cannabis – at least three times a week for more than a year, but did not use nicotine.
Participants regularly smoked marijuana or consumed edible products containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive compound found in cannabis. On average, smokers have been consuming marijuana for about 10 years, while those who consumed edible products used them for about 5 years.
Edible vs smoking: a surprising distinction
In addition to a decrease in vascular function, marijuana smokers have changed in their blood serum which were harmful to endothelial cells, which form the inner mucosa of all blood and lymphatic vessels. However, those who have taken edible products containing THC did not display these changes in the blood serum.
We do not know how THC damages blood vessels. But the researchers said it should happen in a way that does not imply these changes in blood serum.
These results suggest that smoking marijuana negatively affects the vascular function for various reasons for the ingestion of THC, according to the first author Leila Mohammadi, MD, PHD and the main author Matthew L. Springer, Phd.
Reference: “Association of endothelial dysfunction with chronic smoking of marijuana and the building use” by Leila Mohammadi, Mina Navabzadeh, Nerea Jiménez-Téllez, Daniel D. Han, Emma Reagan, Jordan Naughton, Lylybell Y. Zhou, Rahul Almeda, Leslie M. Castana, Kathryn S. Park, Keith Uyemura, Christian P. Cheung, Mehmet Nur Onder, Natasha Goyal, Ponam Rao, Judith Hellman, Jing Cheng, Joseph C. Wu, Gregory M. Marcus and Matthew L. Springer, May 28, 2025, Jama cardiology.
DOI: 10.1001 / Jamacardio.2025.1399
The UCSF additional co-authors include Mina Navabzadeh, Pharmd, Daniel D. Han, Emma Reagan, Jordan Naughton, Lylybell Y. Zhou, Rahul Almeida, Leslie M. Casteneda, Shadi A. Abdelaal, MD, Kathryn S. Park, Keith Uyuma, Christian P. Cheung, MSC, Mehmet Nurd on, Nathaa, Christian P. Cheung, MSC, Mehmet Nurd on, Nathaa, Chrishin MD, Poonam Rao, MD and Gregory M. Marcus, MD, Mas.
Research was supported by subsidies from the National Institute on Drug Absor (R01DA058069), California Department of Cannabis Control (RG-603151328-913), California Tobacco Disease Program (27ir-0012), National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and FDA for Tobacco products (U54HL120163). Additional support came from the Elfenworks Foundation (in memory of Deb O’Keefe), the Roy E. Thomas Medical Foundation and the Gootter-Jeansen Foundation.
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