Research Highlights:
Embargoed until 4 a.m. CT/5 a.m. ET, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026
DALLAS, Nov. 2, 2026 — Cannabis use, including marijuana, appears to be linked with increased cardiovascular risk, especially for stroke, making it an important consideration for heart disease and stroke prevention and counseling, according to independent, new preliminary research to be presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2026 . The meeting, Nov. 6-9, in Chicago, is a premier global exchange of the latest scientific advancements, research and evidence-based clinical practice updates in cardiovascular science.
Regardless of the form (smoked or edible, etc.), cannabis use, which includes marijuana, was associated with the same outcome. From a scientific standpoint, cannabis is the plant, while marijuana is a common term for cannabis products that contain enough THC to produce psychoactive effects.
“Previous research has indicated that cannabis use is rapidly increasing in the United States, with 1 in 6 adults in 2024 reporting having used it within the last month, up from 1 in 10 in 2020 – a 51% increase,” said study author Aabha Divya, M.B.B.S., M.Ch., an assistant professor in the division of cardiothoracic surgery at the Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans.
Between 2016 and 2020, prior research found that cannabis use was linked to poor cardiovascular outcomes, and using cannabis more days per month was associated with an increased risk of poor cardiovascular outcomes.
“We wanted to expand on this earlier work because cannabis use has become increasingly common in the United States, as recreational legalization and commercial availability of various products with cannabis have also expanded. Previous studies have raised concerns about possible cardiovascular effects; however, the results have not been consistent,” Divya said.
For the current study, the researchers analyzed pooled data for almost half a million adults in the U.S. who responded to telephone interview questions about cannabis use as part of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). This was limited to jurisdictions with available cannabis-use information between 2020 and 2024. Participants also reported if a health professional had ever told them they had cardiovascular disease — if they had experienced a heart attack or stroke or if they had been diagnosed with coronary heart disease.
What are the main findings?
“We were surprised to find that the link between cannabis use and cardiovascular disease was not straightforward. We expected that the chances of heart disease would gradually rise as people used cannabis more often, but that wasn’t the case. Both low-use and heavy-use groups had higher odds of developing heart disease,” Divya said.
“As cannabis use becomes more common, it is increasingly important that people and their healthcare professionals include it in conversations about cardiovascular health, just as they discuss tobacco, alcohol and other commonly used substances,” she added.
Robert L. Page II, Pharm.D., M.S.P.H., FAHA, chair of the writing group for the American Heart Association’s 2020 cannabis scientific statement , said, “Unfortunately, many patients who use cannabis may also smoke tobacco, which completely clouds the issue when addressing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk. In patients who use both, cannabis has always been considered an innocent bystander; however, this is not the case. This is the second observational study to suggest that cannabis exposure (without tobacco smoking) may be a potential risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease. Overall, cannabis is beginning to emerge as a major contributor to premature heart disease in young and older adults, which can lead to serious cardiovascular events. To this end, clinicians should be addressing cannabis use with their patients as they would tobacco use when considering the risk of cardiovascular disease.” Page is also a professor in the department of clinical pharmacy and the department of physical medicine/rehabilitation at the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in Aurora, Colorado, and was not a part of this study.
What are the study details, background, design and limitations?
Co-authors, disclosures and funding sources are listed in the abstract.
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