Cannabis use linked to higher risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease

A new study of nearly 450,000 American adults links cannabis use to an increased risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease.

The findings, scheduled to be presented at the American Heart Association’s 2026 Scientific Sessions in Chicago Nov. 6-9, show that occasional and heavy marijuana users have a higher risk of heart disease than nonusers.

Researchers analyzed survey responses collected between 2020 and 2024 through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

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People who reported using cannabis between one and five days per month were 23% more likely to report a history of cardiovascular disease than non-users. Those who used it 16 to 30 days per month had 21% higher odds.

“This study raises important concerns about cannabis use and cardiovascular health, particularly stroke,” Dr. Kristen “Nicke” Worth, an Ohio-based physician and medical advisor at NuggMD, a telehealth platform for medical marijuana evaluations, told Fox News Digital.

A study of nearly 450,000 American adults found that cannabis use is linked to a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular disease, particularly stroke. (iStock)

“One finding I found particularly interesting was that people who used cannabis only one to five days per month had a slightly higher risk of having already had a stroke than people who used it more frequently,” added Worth, who was not involved in the study.

Infrequent users were 40% more likely to have a stroke, while heavy users were 25% more likely to have a stroke. The study found no statistically significant link between cannabis use and heart attacks.

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“This is not what we would necessarily expect from a simple dose-response relationship, in which greater exposure is associated with greater risk. But we should not interpret this as evidence that greater consumption is safer,” Worth said.

The mode of consumption did not change the result. Whether participants smoke, vape, or consume edibles like gummies, the risk remains constant, researchers say.

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“We were surprised to find that the link between cannabis use and cardiovascular disease was not simple,” said lead author Dr. Aabha Divya, assistant professor of cardiothoracic surgery at Tulane University School of Medicine, in an AHA press release.

“We expected that the risks of heart disease would gradually increase as people used cannabis more often, but that was not the case. Both the low-use and high-use groups had higher risks of developing heart disease.”

Although the study showed a strong correlation with stroke, researchers found no statistically significant link between cannabis frequency and heart attacks. (Getty Images)

The study comes amid growing commercial availability and use of the drug across the country. According to the research team, approximately one in six adults reported using cannabis in the past month in 2024, compared to one in 10 in 2020, an increase of 51% over four years.

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Dr. Robert L. Page II, a professor of clinical pharmacy at the University of Colorado and a volunteer American Heart Association expert who was not involved in the study, said the findings challenge common assumptions about the drug’s safety.

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“Among patients who use both, cannabis has historically been viewed as 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, potentially leading to serious cardiovascular events.”

“People should not discontinue prescribed cardiovascular medications because of this report.”

Page added that doctors should ask patients about marijuana use, just as they do with cigarettes and alcohol.

The researchers noted several key limitations to the findings. Because the study was observational and captured data from a single point in time, it can only show a statistical link and cannot prove that cannabis causes heart disease or stroke.

Adult cannabis use has increased nationally, increasing 51% between 2020 and 2024 to reach one in six Americans. (iStock)

The data also relied on telephone surveys, leaving room for participant memory errors regarding their medical diagnoses and drug use. Additionally, researchers did not track product strength, THC potency, or total amounts consumed.

Results remain preliminary until reviewed through the full, peer-reviewed publication process.

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“For patients, I would not recommend making abrupt treatment decisions based on a preliminary study, but I would not dismiss these results,” Worth said. “People should not discontinue prescribed cardiovascular medications because of this report.”

“Anyone using cannabis, whether medically or recreationally, should discuss their cardiovascular history, existing risk factors, medications and treatment alternatives with their healthcare professional,” she added.