We Waited Years to Get Pot Legalized, and Now This

A new study shows that young people who consume marijuana are six times more likely to experience a heart attack than their counterparts.  Research published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) shows that people under the age of 50 who smoke pot are about 6.2 times more likely to experience a myocardial infarction, commonly known as a heart attack, than non-marijuana users. Young marijuana users are also 4.3 times more likely to experience an ischemic stroke and 2 times more likely to experience heart failure, the study shows.

Researchers surveyed over 4.6 million people under the age of 50, of which 4.5 million do not use marijuana and 93,000 do. All participants were free of health conditions commonly associated with cardiovascular risks, like hypertension, coronary artery disease, diabetes, and a history of myocardial infarctions. The study also excluded people who use tobacco to eliminate another potential risk factor.

The newly published study aligns with previous research in the field.  Last year, the Journal of the American Heart Association's study, which surveyed more than 434,000 people between the ages 18-74 , found that marijuana affects the cardiovascular system. The study also singled out marijuana users who didn't use tobacco.  The 2024 study found that people who consume − specifically inhale − marijuana are more likely to experience coronary heart disease, myocardial infraction and stroke. There is a "statistically significant increase in risk," according to one of the study's authors.