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News
People diagnosed with cannabis use disorder (CUD) are 52% more likely to die from any cause compared to those without it, according to a large matched cohort study. The elevated risk is especially stark for drug overdoses, accidents, and cancer. Researchers say public health strategies need to catch up with the growing prevalence of cannabis use.
As cannabis becomes more widely used and legalized, a new study is sounding the alarm about the dangers of cannabis use disorder (CUD). Researchers from Kaiser Permanente Colorado tracked over 16,000 individuals with CUD and compared them to nearly 84,000 matched controls over a median of 7.7 years — and the results are striking.
People with CUD were significantly more likely to die during the follow-up period (7.2% vs. 3.1%), with elevated risks across both illness- and injury-related causes. Notably, having a co-occurring substance use disorder amplified the mortality risk even further.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: With cannabis use on the rise nationwide, these findings underscore the urgent need for public health strategies that go beyond legalization debates — focusing on prevention, treatment of CUD, and reducing downstream mortality risks from both injuries and chronic illness.
