A new study has found a link between chronic cannabis use − including in edible form − and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease that's comparable to the effects of smoking tobacco.
The study published May 28 is the latest to associate cannabis with negative health impacts and was conducted by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, who analyzed the cardiovascular health of 55 people who consumed cannabis at least three times a week for at least a year.
They found vascular function was reduced by about half when compared with those who did not consume cannabis regularly. They also showed signs of increased risk for premature heart disease, researchers found, similar to tobacco smokers.
Those included in the study were tested to ensure they do not smoke tobacco or vape and were not frequently exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke.
"This study enhances the understanding of the potential risks to vascular health linked to cannabis use and provides more evidence that cannabis use is not benign," the researchers concluded.
