Study Shows Young Adult Weed Smokers are Twice as Likely to Suffer Heart Attacks

Research published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal shows that such marijuana users were nearly twice as likely to suffer a heart attack than people who didn't use the drug. Stoners under the age of 45 are twice as likely to suffer heart attacks than people who don't indulge. The study found adults under 45 who smoked weed in the past 30 days suffered twice as many heart attacks as those who didn't.

Cannabis refers to psychoactive preparations of the Cannabis sativa plant, the psychoactive chemical of which is tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, according to the World Health Organization. While researchers didn't look into why cannabis increases the chances of a heart attack, a previous study found marijuana can increase a user's heart rate, according to data published in Tuesday's edition of the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

The researchers found that marijuana users were more likely to be male, smoke cigarettes, vape, and drink alcohol massively. These factors might also contribute to the participants' heart attack risk, but they were adjusted for in the analysis. Robert Page, chairman of the American Heart Association, says he believes the problem stems from the fact that today's marijuana is more potent than ever before. "This isn't what your granddaddy used to smoke at Woodstock; this is highly potent," Page says. You can read more on this study here.