Overview

• The meta-analysis published June 17 in Heart reviewed 24 studies from 2016 to 2023 and covered medical records of about 200 million adults aged 19 to 59.
• Researchers found cannabis users faced double the risk of fatal cardiovascular disease along with a 29 percent greater chance of acute coronary syndrome and a 20 percent higher stroke risk compared with nonusers.
• Elevated cardiovascular risks were most pronounced among younger adults and individuals reporting weekly or more frequent cannabis consumption.
• Epidemiologists Stanton Glanz and Lynn Silver argue for warning labels and public education to discourage cannabis use in a manner similar to tobacco regulation.
• Authors note that reliance on self-reported use, varied exposure definitions and observational designs limit causal conclusions and underscore the need for further research into potency, consumption forms and long-term outcomes.