NEW YORK, BRONX (ORDO News) — The global landscape of cannabis use has undergone significant transformation in recent years, with a growing number of countries legalizing its medicinal applications. However, despite the strides made in the acceptance and availability of cannabis for therapeutic purposes, the specter of cannabis abuse continues to cast a shadow over the global healthcare system.
A new study has brought to light a concerning revelation: individuals who are addicted to marijuana face an elevated risk of heart attacks and strokes compared to those who do not grapple with this addiction.
Statistics paint a stark picture of the cannabis landscape. Over 200 million people worldwide use cannabis, with a significant portion of them, roughly 27-34%, grappling with associated disorders. As the trend of cannabis legalization continues to gain momentum, there is a growing apprehension that this will coincide with an increase in its consumption, abuse, and the negative consequences that follow.
A poignant example of this phenomenon can be observed in Canada, where cannabis was legalized in 2018. Subsequent to this move, the percentage of surveyed residents who admitted to cannabis use increased by 5% over the following three years, reaching a concerning 27% in 2020.
Recent research conducted by scientists from the University of Calgary in Canada, in collaboration with counterparts in the United States, has uncovered a worrying link between marijuana addiction and cardiovascular diseases. Their findings, published in the scientific journal “Addiction,” reveal that individuals addicted to marijuana face an approximately 60% higher risk of developing cardiovascular conditions.
To arrive at this conclusion, the experts meticulously scrutinized the medical records of nearly 60,000 Canadians over an eight-year period. Half of these individuals had diagnoses related to cannabis use disorder, while the other half did not exhibit signs of marijuana addiction.
Analysis of the data yielded compelling insights. Between 2012 and 2019, a total of 721 patients with cannabis addiction (comprising 2.4% of the group) were diagnosed with various cardiovascular diseases. These conditions included heart attacks, strokes, cardiac arrhythmias, and peripheral vascular diseases. In stark contrast, during the same time frame, only 1.5% of the participants from the non-addicted group (amounting to 458 people) experienced similar cardiovascular issues.
Remarkably, the increased risk of cardiovascular disease was observed even among cannabis addicts who did not have coexisting mental disorders, had not recently visited a doctor, were not prescribed any medication, and did not present any comorbidities.
The findings of this study echo the chorus of previous clinical and laboratory investigations, which have consistently reported adverse health effects stemming from regular cannabis use. There is compelling evidence linking cannabis consumption to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, particularly among younger individuals. Cannabis has been associated with conditions such as myocardial infarction, stroke, cardiomyopathy, atherosclerosis, and cardiac arrhythmia.
The precise mechanisms through which cannabis may induce cardiovascular disease are still not entirely understood. According to scientists, these effects are likely mediated through the activation of the endogenous cannabinoid system, which comprises endocannabinoids, their receptors, and intricate downstream signaling pathways.
When cannabinoids enter the systemic circulation, they activate G-protein coupled cannabinoid receptors, which, in turn, trigger a cascade of physiological responses within the body. These responses may include tachycardia (rapid heartbeat), vasospasms (narrowing of blood vessels), platelet aggregation, vascular inflammation, and changes in cardiomyocytes (heart muscle cells).
In a recent study, researchers also unveiled concerning findings regarding prenatal exposure to cannabis, suggesting that it can lead to irreversible changes in the brains of offspring. These insights further underscore the intricate web of consequences woven by cannabis abuse, signaling the importance of continued research, awareness, and healthcare strategies to address this global issue.
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News agencies contributed to this report, edited and published by ORDO News editors.
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