Even occasional marijuana use linked to higher stroke risk, study finds

A new study of nearly 450,000 American adults links cannabis use to an increased risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease.

The findings, scheduled for presentation at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2026 in Chicago Nov. 6–9, show that both casual and heavy marijuana users have higher odds of heart conditions compared to non-users.

Researchers analyzed survey responses collected between 2020 and 2024 through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

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People who reported using cannabis between one and five days per month had 23% higher odds of reporting a history of cardiovascular disease than non-users. Those using it 16 to 30 days per month had 21% higher odds.

“This study raises important concerns about cannabis use and cardiovascular health, particularly stroke,” Dr. Kristen “Nicke” Worth, an Ohio-based physician and medical adviser at NuggMD, a telehealth platform for medical marijuana evaluations, told Fox News Digital.

“One finding I found particularly interesting was that people who used cannabis just one to five days per month had somewhat higher reported odds of a previous stroke than people who used it more frequently,” added Worth, who was not involved in the study.

Low-frequency users had 40% higher odds of a reported stroke, while heavy users had 25% higher odds. The study found no statistically significant link between cannabis use and heart attacks.

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“That isn’t what we’d necessarily expect from a straightforward dose-response relationship, where greater exposure is associated with greater risk. But we shouldn’t interpret this as evidence that heavier use is safer,” Worth said.

The method of consumption did not change the outcome. Whether participants smoked, vaped or consumed edibles like gummies, the risk remained consistent, according to the researchers.

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“We were surprised to find that the link between cannabis use and cardiovascular disease was not straightforward,” said lead author Dr. Aabha Divya, an assistant professor of cardiothoracic surgery at Tulane University School of Medicine, in an AHA press release.

“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.”

The study comes amid growing commercial availability and use of the drug across the country. According to the research team, about one in six adults reported past-month cannabis use in 2024, up from one in 10 in 2020 — a 51% increase over four years.

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Dr. Robert L. Page II, a professor of clinical pharmacy at the University of Colorado and an American Heart Association volunteer expert who was not involved in the study, said the findings challenge common assumptions about the drug’s safety.

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“In patients who use both, cannabis has always been considered an innocent bystander; however, this is not the case,” Page said in a press release.

“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.”

Page added that doctors should question patients about marijuana use just as they do with cigarettes and alcohol.

Researchers noted several key limitations to the findings. Because the study was observational and captured data from only a single point in time, it can only show a statistical link and cannot prove that cannabis causes heart disease or strokes.

The data also relied on telephone surveys, leaving room for errors in participants’ memory regarding their medical diagnoses and drug use. Additionally, the researchers did not track product strength, THC potency or total amounts consumed.

The findings remain preliminary until vetted through the full, peer-reviewed publication process.

“For patients, I wouldn’t recommend making abrupt treatment decisions based on one preliminary study, but I wouldn’t dismiss these findings,” Worth said. “People should not discontinue prescribed cardiovascular medications because of this report.”

“Anyone using cannabis, medically or recreationally, should discuss their cardiovascular history, existing risk factors, medications and treatment alternatives with their healthcare professional,” she added.