Marijuana And Cannabis Gummies Linked To Health Risk

It has been observed that long-term cannabis use in any form has been linked to a greater risk of heart disease.

In a new study, researchers at UC San Francisco determined that eating edible cannabis, such as gummies, has the same impact on cardiovascular risk as smoking marijuana.

The risk stems from reduced blood vessel function, according to the study, which was published in JAMA Cardiology on 28 May.

The study included 55 people between 18 and 50 years of age who were "outwardly healthy."

The participants were divided into three groups: those who regularly smoked marijuana, those who ate edibles containing THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), and those who didn’t use cannabis, according to a UCSF press release.

The cannabis users had been consuming the substance at least three times weekly for at least one year.

On average, the smokers had the habit for 10 years, while those consuming edibles had been doing so for five years, the release noted.

In September 2024, the participants underwent testing to determine how well their blood vessels functioned and whether the cells lining the blood vessels were affected.

All cannabis users were found to have "decreased vascular function," comparable to those who smoke tobacco.

Their blood vessel function was roughly half compared to those who did not use cannabis.

This side effect has been linked to a higher risk of heart attack, high blood pressure and other cardiovascular conditions, the researchers noted.

The participants who smoked marijuana were also found to have changes in their blood serum that harmed cells lining their blood vessels and lymphatic vessels, an effect that was not seen in those who ate edible cannabis.

The researchers noted that while smoking marijuana and consuming edibles both affect vascular function, they likely do so for different reasons.

"Chronic cannabis smoking and THC ingestion were associated with endothelial dysfunction [impaired functioning of the endothelial cells lining the inside of blood vessels] similar to that observed in tobacco smokers, although apparently occurring via distinct mechanisms," the researchers wrote.

"This study enhances the understanding of the potential risks to vascular health linked to cannabis use and provides more evidence that cannabis use is not benign."