A new study has found that cannabis use may significantly increase the risk of fatal heart conditions, prompting health experts to call for urgent public health measures similar to those used against tobacco.
The meta-analysis, published Tuesday in the journal Heart, reviewed 24 studies conducted between 2016 and 2023. Covering nearly 200 million individuals across six countries—including the United States, Canada, France, Sweden, Egypt, and Australia—the research found that cannabis users face a 29% higher risk of heart attacks, a 20% increased risk of strokes, and are twice as likely to die from cardiovascular events compared to non-users.
The findings suggest that weekly or more frequent use, particularly among younger adults and men—the most common users—amplifies the risks.
“These are not insignificant numbers,” said a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), Dr. Beth Cohen who co-authored an editorial linked to the study.
He buttressed, “When you burn something, whether it is tobacco or cannabis, it creates toxic compounds, carcinogens, and particulate matter that are harmful to health.”
A clinical professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at UCSF, Dr. Lynn Silver, added that cannabis should be treated like tobacco in clinical practice. “Clinicians need to screen people for cannabis use and educate them about its harms, the same way we do for tobacco,” she said. “In some population groups, it’s being used more widely than tobacco.”
Dr. Silver also criticized U.S. cannabis regulation for prioritizing commercial interests over public health. “Our regulatory system… needs to focus much more strongly on health warnings that educate people about the real risks,” she said.
While the meta-analysis offers compelling evidence of cardiovascular risks, the researchers noted that most of the included studies were observational and had moderate to high risk of bias, largely due to incomplete data and inconsistent definitions of cannabis use.
Nevertheless, the findings add to a growing body of research. A 2024 study linked long-term daily marijuana use with a 3.5% to 5% increased risk of head and neck cancers, while two 2023 studies tied regular use to higher odds of heart attack, stroke, and heart failure.
With cannabis legalization spreading globally and recreational use on the rise, experts are urging governments and health agencies to launch comprehensive public awareness campaigns and develop stricter, health-centered regulations to mitigate the emerging risks.
