Study Links Cannabis Use With Higher Stroke Odds

Researchers analyzed U.S. health survey responses collected from 2020 through 2024 and found that cannabis users were more likely than non-users to report a history of cardiovascular disease. Those who used cannabis one to five days in the previous month had 23% higher odds; for people using it 16 to 30 days, the odds were 21% higher.

Stroke showed a stronger association. Low-frequency users had 40% higher odds of reporting a previous stroke, while the figure for heavy users was 25%. Researchers detected no meaningful statistical association between cannabis consumption and heart attacks. The results were similar whether people smoked, vaped or consumed edibles.

The study’s lead author, Dr. Aabha Divya, said the pattern was not a simple progression in which higher use corresponded to higher odds. The findings are due to be presented at the heart association’s annual scientific conference in Chicago from November 6 to 9.

The research was observational and relied on participants’ reports of cannabis use and medical diagnoses, so it cannot establish that cannabis caused the conditions. Researchers also lacked information on product strength and THC potency. Dr. Robert L. Page II said clinicians should ask patients about cannabis use as they do about tobacco and alcohol. A medical adviser quoted in the report urged people not to make abrupt treatment changes based on preliminary findings and to discuss cannabis use and heart health with a healthcare professional.