The relationship between cannabis and cardiovascular disease: clearing the haze 2025 Chandy et al

Sly Saint

Sly Saint

Senior Member (Voting Rights)
Abstract


Cannabis has been consumed for centuries, but global regulatory changes over the past three decades have increased the availability and consumption of cannabis. Cannabinoids are touted to have therapeutic potential for many diseases and could be a replacement for opioids for analgesia and sedation. However, cannabinoids can cause substantial adverse cardiovascular events that would mitigate any potential benefit. The endocannabinoid system regulates mood, satiety and memory, and modulates the cardiovascular system. The link between cannabinoids and cardiovascular disease, which used to be limited to evidence from preclinical studies, case reports and case series, is now evident in epidemiological studies. Cannabinoids adversely affect the cardiovascular system, causing myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accidents, arrhythmia and heart failure. The effects of novel cannabinoids are unknown, and synthetic cannabinoids have the potential to cause even more substantial harm than traditional cannabinoids. Therefore, with the increasing availability and use of cannabis, the acute and chronic effects of this drug are becoming apparent.

Key points
  • Cannabis use has increased as a result of decriminalization and legalization, but the cardiovascular effects need research to inform public health policies.

  • Cannabis, via cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1)-mediated oxidative stress and inflammation, is linked to adverse cardiovascular outcomes, including myocardial infarction, arrhythmias and cardiomyopathy.

  • CB1 antagonists and CB2 agonists are promising novel treatments for cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular disease, but clinical translation is complicated by adverse effects and limited data.

  • Synthetic cannabinoids (such as ‘K2’ and ‘Spice’) are an emerging public health concern owing to their potent toxicity and cardiovascular implications.

  • The co-use of cannabis and tobacco has synergistic adverse effects on cardiovascular health and addiction potential.

  • Induced pluripotent stem cell modelling and genetic tools should be used to discover novel cannabinoid signalling pathways and potential new therapeutic targets for cardiometabolic disease.
The relationship between cannabis and cardiovascular disease: clearing the haze | Nature Reviews Cardiology
 
Global cannabis boom brings unexpected cardiovascular risks to light
A comprehensive review challenges the perception of cannabis as harmless, linking it to severe heart health issues.

Against the global backdrop of escalating cannabis use, a recent review published in Nature Reviews Cardiology reviews current knowledge on the effects of cannabis consumption on the human cardiovascular system.

They study the different types of cannabis—both traditional/organic and synthetic—along with the receptors they interact with, their mechanisms of action, and their links to cardiovascular risk factors, including cardiomyopathies, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, and arrhythmias.

Their findings reveal that contrary to the public perception, mounting epidemiological evidence emphasizes that cannabis is not harmless, linking the drug to severe cardiovascular complications. These findings are critical to informing users, citizens, and policymakers of the potential harms of cannabis use in today's increasingly cannabis-tolerant world.
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full article here
Global cannabis boom brings unexpected cardiovascular risks to light
 
Well, I've used cannabis for more than 50 years and have never had a heart problem!

It aids sleep, boosts appetite, and reduces pain.

I don't use tobacco, which causes a lot of problems, including cancer (which killed my mother).
 
Yann04 said:
I don’t have the energy to do more than skim. I wonder if it depends on how you take it, Smoke vs Edible vs Oil etc also on if this is unique to THC or it affects CDB too.
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That's CBD - cannabidiol. Is it the same in Swiss German? (or French?)
 
The cardiovascular risks are no joke. With all the changes in cannabis laws, it feels like everyone’s jumping in without really understanding the long-term effects. That’s why I’ve tried to be more selective with what I use.

One of the better sources I’ve come across is Joy Organics. Their Delta 9 THC gummies use naturally extracted cannabinoids, and they’re really upfront about ingredients and testing. For anyone worried about side effects, that kind of transparency goes a long way
 
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I don't doubt that the cardiovascular risks are real. I am surprised though that there aren't more threads here on the subject of cannabis and ME. For over a decade it was about the most effective medication I had for some of the symptoms associated with PEM, until sadly it wasn't.

I often wonder what was going on there and what it might suggest about ME.
 
Starrynight said:
I am surprised though that there aren't more threads here on the subject of cannabis and ME. For over a decade it was about the most effective medication I had for some of the symptoms associated with PEM, until sadly it wasn't.
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Simple really. There isn't research on it. Our focus is on discussing research. We do also have threads on treatments where people can share their experiences.
 
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