Turn on cookies to sign in
Signing in saves your progress to your Curie account. We can only do that with cookies on — turn them on to continue.
States that legalized recreational cannabis early are seeing more heart-related hospital visits. A new BMJ Open study analyzing 50+ million discharge records found CVD hospitalization rates — including heart attacks, heart failure, and arrhythmias — ran 2%–4% higher per year post-legalization in Western states. Experts say the findings aren't proof of causation, but the evidence is piling up.
States that were first to legalize recreational cannabis are also seeing a notable uptick in cardiovascular (CV) hospitalizations, according to a new study published in BMJ Open. Researchers analyzed over 50 million hospital discharge records from 2012 to 2018 using the National Inpatient Sample, focusing on Western US states — the earliest adopters of recreational cannabis laws — and comparing them to other regions.
The culprit? THC, cannabis's main psychoactive compound, which can elevate heart rate and blood pressure, trigger coronary vasospasm, and raise the risk of arrhythmias like atrial fibrillation. Experts note that while combusted cannabis carries higher CV risk due to smoke exposure, even edibles have been linked to adverse cardiac effects.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: This is the first study to examine cannabis legalization's impact on CV hospitalizations at scale. While causality isn't confirmed, clinicians are urged to have individualized conversations with patients — especially those with existing heart conditions — about cannabis use and its cardiac risks.
