A large new study of nearly 450,000 American adults has found that both occasional and heavy marijuana use are associated with higher odds of stroke and cardiovascular disease, raising fresh questions as cannabis use continues to climb nationwide.
The research, drawn from CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey data collected between 2020 and 2024, is set to be presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2026 in Chicago from Nov. 6 to 9.
According to the findings, people who reported using cannabis between one and five days a month had 23% higher odds of reporting a history of cardiovascular disease compared with non-users. Those who used it 16 to 30 days a month had 21% higher odds.
The stroke numbers stood out even more. Low-frequency users—those consuming cannabis just one to five days a month—had 40% higher odds of a reported stroke, while heavier users had 25% higher odds. The study found no statistically significant connection between cannabis use and heart attacks.
Dr. Kristen “Nicke” Worth, an Ohio-based physician and medical adviser at the telehealth platform NuggMD who was not involved in the study, said the pattern among light users was unexpected.
“This study raises important concerns about cannabis use and cardiovascular health, particularly stroke,” Worth said. “One finding I found particularly interesting was that people who used cannabis just one to five days per month had somewhat higher reported odds of a previous stroke than people who used it more frequently.”
Worth cautioned against reading too much into the lack of a clear dose-response pattern. “That isn’t what we’d necessarily expect from a straightforward dose-response relationship, where greater exposure is associated with greater risk. But we shouldn’t interpret this as evidence that heavier use is safer,” she said.
Notably, the method of consumption—smoking, vaping or edibles such as gummies—did not change the level of risk, researchers said.
Researchers Say They Were Surprised
“We were surprised to find that the link between cannabis use and cardiovascular disease was not straightforward,” said lead author Dr. Aabha Divya, an assistant professor of cardiothoracic surgery at Tulane University School of Medicine, in an American Heart Association press release. “We expected that the chances of heart disease would gradually rise as people used cannabis more often, but that wasn’t the case. Both low-use and heavy-use groups had higher odds of developing heart disease.”
The research arrives as cannabis use has grown sharply across the country. The study’s authors noted that about one in six adults reported past-month cannabis use in 2024, up from one in 10 in 2020—a 51% increase over four years.
Dr. Robert L. Page II, a professor of clinical pharmacy at the University of Colorado and an American Heart Association volunteer expert who was not involved in the research, said the findings should change how doctors and patients think about marijuana.
“In patients who use both, cannabis has always been considered an innocent bystander; however, this is not the case,” Page said in a press release. “Overall, cannabis is beginning to emerge as a major contributor to premature heart disease in young and older adults, which can lead to serious cardiovascular events.”
Page said physicians should start asking patients about marijuana use with the same regularity they ask about smoking and alcohol.
Limitations of the Study
The researchers acknowledged significant limitations. Because the study was observational and captured data at a single point in time, it can show only a statistical association—not prove that cannabis use causes stroke or heart disease.
The data came from telephone surveys, which leaves room for errors in participants’ recollection of their own medical history and drug use. The study also did not track THC potency, product strength or the total amount of cannabis consumed. The findings are considered preliminary until they go through full peer review.
Worth urged patients not to overreact to a single preliminary study. “For patients, I wouldn’t recommend making abrupt treatment decisions based on one preliminary study, but I wouldn’t dismiss these findings,” she said. “People should not discontinue prescribed cardiovascular medications because of this report.”
She added that anyone using cannabis, whether medically or recreationally, should talk with their doctor about their cardiovascular history, risk factors, medications and treatment alternatives.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login