Chronic cannabis use, whether smoked or eaten as edibles, significantly impairs blood vessel function — with risks mirroring those seen in tobacco smokers, according to UCSF researchers.
The study found that marijuana users had roughly 50% reduced vascular function compared to non-users, increasing their risk for heart attack and hypertension.
Chronic Cannabis Use Linked to Heart Risks A new study from UC San Francisco has found that chronic cannabis use—whether smoked or eaten as edibles—may significantly harm your cardiovascular system.
In fact, vascular function in cannabis users was reduced by about 50% compared to non-users.
That matters because poor vascular function increases the risk of heart attacks, high blood pressure, and other cardiovascular problems.
UCSF researchers have found that long-term cannabis use, whether in the form of smoke or edibles, significantly impairs blood vessel function, with risks similar to those experienced by tobacco users.
According to the study, people who use marijuana have a 50 percent lower vascular function than people who don’t use it, which increases their risk of heart attacks and high blood pressure.
Chronic Cannabis Use and Heart Risks Are Associated.
Chronic cannabis use, whether smoked or consumed as edibles, may seriously impair your cardiovascular system, according to a recent study from UC San Francisco.
Researchers found that regular marijuana users had significantly reduced blood vessel function, comparable to that of tobacco smokers, in a study published May 28 in JAMA Cardiology. In actuality, compared to non-users, cannabis users had roughly 50% less vascular function.
This is significant because vascular dysfunction raises the risk of heart attacks, hypertension, and other cardiovascular issues.
Details of the Study: Who and How Were Studied?
Researchers looked at 55 otherwise healthy adults from October 2021 to August 2024 to find these effects. All of the participants did not use nicotine, but they all regularly used cannabis—at least three times a week for more than a year.
Regular marijuana use or ingestion of edibles containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, were the options for the participants. Smokers had been using marijuana for roughly ten years on average, whereas edibles users had been using them for about five years.
Foods vs. Smoking: An Unexpected Difference.
The endothelial cells that make up the inner lining of all blood and lymphatic vessels were harmed by the alterations in blood serum that marijuana users experienced in addition to their decreased vascular function. However, those who consumed edibles containing THC did not exhibit these blood-serum alterations.
The exact mechanism by which THC damages blood vessels is unknown. However, the researchers concluded that it must be occurring in a manner distinct from those blood serum alterations.
According to first author Leila Mohammadi, MD, PhD, and senior author Matthew L., these findings imply that smoking marijuana has a detrimental impact on vascular function for distinct reasons than consuming THC. PhD, Springer.
Reference: Leila Mohammadi, Mina Navabzadeh, Nerea Jiménez-Téllez, Daniel D. Han, Emma Reagan, Jordan Naughton, and Lylybell Y. found a correlation between endothelial dysfunction and chronic marijuana smoking and THC-edible use. Leslie M. Castaneda, Rahul Almeida, Shadi A. Zhou. Abdelaal, Christian P., Keith Uyemura, and Kathryn S. Park. Judith Hellman, Jing Cheng, Joseph C., Poonam Rao, Natasha Goyal, Mehmet Nur Onder, and Cheung. Wu, Marcus, Gregory M., and Matthew L. “JAMA Cardiology,” Springer, May 28, 2025.
DOI: jamacardio 10.1001/. 2025point 1399.
Other co-authors from UCSF include Emma Reagan, Jordan Naughton, Lylybell Y., Daniel D. Han, Mina Navabzadeh, PharmD. Leslie M. Casteneda, Shadi A., Rahul Almeida, and Zhou. Christian P., Kathryn S. Park, Keith Uyemura, and Abdelaal, MD. Gregory M. Dot Marcus, MD, MAS; Natasha Goyal, MD; Poonam Rao, MD; Mehmet Nur Onder; and Cheung, MSc.
The study was funded by grants from the FDA Center for Tobacco Products (U54HL120163), the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the California Department of Cannabis Control (RG-1603151328-913), the California Tobacco-Related Disease Program (27IR-0012), and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01DA058069). The Elfenworks Foundation (in honor of Deb O’Keefe), the Roy E. Parker Foundation, and others provided additional support. Gootter-Jensen Foundation and Thomas Medical Foundation.
