Hello to our vibrant cannabis community and to all curious minds alike! We have something for your intellectual appetites today. In the ever-evolving world of cannabis science, a recent study might just be the game changer we’ve been waiting for. Or at least, it may put a common misconception to rest: The supposed link between cannabis use and heart disease.
Now, we all know that the cannabis story is not complete without its fair share of stigmatisation. For years, cannabis has been looked upon with a wary eye, its potential risks frequently pitted against its bountiful therapuetic benefits. One of these lingering concerns was its suspected role in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), which includes coronary artery disease (CAD) and acute ischemic stroke (AIS).
An exciting study published on May 24, 2023, in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology reveals new insights into the cannabis-heart disease narrative. The research led by R de La Harpe and team employed a genetic approach, using Mendelian randomisation principles, to unravel any causal associations between cannabis use and ASCVD.
Now, you might be wondering, what exactly is Mendelian randomisation? It’s a method that helps researchers determine whether a risk factor (like cannabis use) could cause a disease (like heart disease) when traditional clinical trials aren’t feasible or ethical. It’s a bit like playing detective but with genetics, which is why we love it!
![](https://cannabisnewsdotau.files.wordpress.com/2023/05/gianni.drm_a_glowing_heart_with_cannabis_leaves_in_the_backgrou_018c169a-abcf-4042-885f-57074f86497d.png?w=1024)
In this comprehensive study, the team used 65 independent genetic markers associated with “ever use of cannabis” across 184,765 European individuals to determine any causal link with ASCVD. They analysed cases of CAD and AIS separately to ensure a thorough examination.
So, what’s the verdict, you ask? Drumroll, please…
The genetic analysis found no evidence for a causal effect of cannabis use on the risk of CAD or AIS. Let me repeat, NO causal effect was found! This outcome persisted even after rigorous sensitivity analyses.
“MR-Egger, weighted median MR, Steiger filtering and multivariate MR analysis, yielded similar results, and no heterogeneity and directional pleiotropy were observed.”
To back their findings, a meta-analysis of six observational studies was undertaken, sealing the verdict – no association between cannabis use and these outcomes could be identified. The researchers concluded:
“Using a genetic approach that mimics a clinical trial, we found no evidence in support of a causal effect between cannabis use and CAD or AIS”
So, our cannabis community and the public at large can breathe a little easier as it seems the plant we’ve come to appreciate for its myriad of therapeutic benefits is not, based on this study, putting our hearts at undue risk.
Reference
R de La Harpe, T Schoeler, C W Thorball, A Thomas, Z Kutalik, J Vaucher. (2023). Cannabis use and risk of atherosclerosis cardiovascular disease: a two-sample mendelian randomization study. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, Volume 30, Issue Supplement_1, June 2023, zwad125.147. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurjpc/zwad125.147