As marijuana continues to gain popularity across the U.S., especially with its increasing legalization for recreational and medicinal use, a growing body of research is raising serious red flags—particularly when it comes to heart health.

While many view cannabis as a harmless or even therapeutic substance, new findings suggest that frequent use could be far riskier than most people realize.

Study Shows Significant Risks to the Heart

A team of researchers from the University of California has crunched the numbers across 24 separate studies involving a staggering 200 million people—and their conclusion is eye-opening.

Their analysis found that marijuana users are:

29% more likely to experience acute coronary syndrome (a serious heart condition involving blocked blood flow),
20% more likely to suffer a stroke, and
Twice as likely to die from heart-related diseases compared to non-users.

Cardiovascular disease is already the leading cause of death in the U.S., taking the lives of nearly 1 million Americans every year.

With such a heavy burden already, these findings suggest marijuana might be quietly adding to the problem.

Researchers Say Weed Should Be Regulated Like Tobacco

Given the scale of the risks, the researchers are now urging health authorities and lawmakers to treat marijuana more like tobacco—discouraged through education, warning labels, and product regulation, but not criminalized.

They also emphasized the danger of secondhand marijuana smoke, warning that even people who aren’t actively using weed could be exposed to cardiovascular risks.

America’s Cannabis Boom Keeps Growing

The numbers back this concern up. According to the CDC, over half of Americans have tried marijuana, and its regular use is steadily climbing.

A 2024 study found that nearly 18 million Americans use cannabis daily or almost daily—a massive jump from just 1 million three decades ago.

Researchers noted that global legalization efforts and expanded medical access have reshaped public attitudes.

Cannabis is now viewed by many as a low-risk substance—but that perception may need to change.

Risk Remains, Even With Edibles

One key takeaway is that this isn’t just about smoking weed.

A recent study published in JAMA Cardiology in May 2025 found that people who used cannabis edibles—not just smoked it—still experienced damage to their blood vessels.

Both forms of consumption were associated with reduced vascular function, making it harder for blood vessels to dilate and increasing the likelihood of plaque buildup, heart attacks, and strokes. In fact:

Smokers had a 42% drop in vascular function
Edible users saw a 52% reduction

This suggests that even supposedly “cleaner” forms of cannabis, like gummies or infused snacks, may carry just as many cardiovascular dangers.

Data Has Its Limits—But the Trend Is Clear

The researchers admit their study isn’t perfect.

Many of the 24 studies relied on self-reported cannabis use, which can be unreliable.

There wasn’t always a clear picture of how often or how much people were using weed, and the type of cannabis product wasn’t always specified.

Also, many of the studies were observational, meaning they show associations rather than clear cause and effect.

Still, the consistency of findings across so many different groups of people adds weight to the overall message.

Time to Rethink Cannabis in Heart Health Discussions

One of the study’s main conclusions is that marijuana must be part of conversations between doctors and patients when discussing heart health, especially for those already at risk of cardiovascular disease.

They also called on lawmakers to factor in health concerns when designing cannabis regulations.

So far, much of the policy focus has been on setting up legal markets, with little attention to long-term health consequences.

What Happens Next?

The team is calling for better product labeling, public awareness campaigns, and regulatory frameworks that don’t ignore these emerging health concerns.

They believe future cannabis laws should consider not just how to make the product accessible, but also how to minimize harm.

And although more research is still needed, this latest round of findings makes one thing crystal clear: the assumption that marijuana is a heart-safe drug may no longer hold up under scrutiny.